Protocol for a quasiexperimental study testing the effectiveness of strengthening growth monitoring and promotion in community clinics for improving the nutritional status of under-two children in rural Bangladesh

INTRODUCTION: The Government of Bangladesh is implementing growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) through community clinics (CC) to improve the nutritional status of children. However, little primary evidence is available on the effectiveness of GMP when delivered through CCs. We aim to examine the effectiveness of GMP activities strengthened in CCs to improve the nutritional status of children under 2 years of age. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a quasiexperimental, two-arm, mixed methods study. In the intervention arm, a non-governmental organisation is providing support to strengthen GMP implementation in the 30 CCs. The comparison arm has no intervention to strengthen GMP implementation in the 30 CCs. Study participants will be under-two children and their caregivers, and CC service providers (community healthcare provider, CHCP). We will collect quantitative information on children and mothers’ anthropometry, sociodemographic condition, food security, children’s feeding practices, morbidity and vaccination history at baseline, and follow them up every third month thereafter for 12 months. We will collect qualitative information on (1) knowledge, skill and practice of CHCPs to implement GMP; (2) mothers/caregivers’ perception, knowledge and experience of GMP from CCs; (3) experience and suggestions of programme managers about operational challenges and for improving quality of GMP service delivery; and (4) views of the concerned policy planners to strengthen GMP at the CC level. Qualitative information will be collected through key informant and in-depth interviews at baseline and endline. The primary outcome will be the change observed in length-for-age Z-score of children. A difference-in-difference and linear mixed effects analysis of quantitative data will be done. Thematic analysis will be conducted for qualitative information. Triangulation of data derived from different methods will be carried out. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study received ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, and results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03824756