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Cluster Randomized Trial Evaluating Impact of a Community-based Microfinance Scheme on Childhood Nutritional Status

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Summary

The objective of this cluster randomized trial was to determine if Rojiroti microfinance, for poor Indian women in the state of Bihar, improves child nutrition. Women with children under 5 years formed self-help groups, and saved their money to provide loans to group members. After an interval of 6 months, they received larger external loans and tolas were randomized to receive Rojiroti immediately or after 18 months. The primary outcome measure was mean weight for height Z score (WHZ) of children under 5 years in the intervention versus control tolas who attended for weight and height measurement 18 months after randomization. Total 28 tolas to each arm were randomized and data were collected from 2469 children (1560 mothers) at baseline and 2064 children (1326 mothers) at follow-up. WHZ was calculated for 1718 children at baseline and 1377 (674 intervention and 703 control) at follow-up. At 18 months, mean WHZ was significantly higher for intervention (–1.02) vs controls (–1.37; regression coefficient adjusted for clustering b=0.38, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.61, P=0.001). Significantly fewer children were wasted in the intervention group (122, 18%) vs control (200, 29%; OR=0.46, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.74, P=0.002. The authors concluded that in marginalized communities of rural Bihar, child nutrition was better in thosewho received Rojiroti microfinance, compared with controls.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India

    Joseph L Mathew

  2. The INCLEN Trust International, New Delhi, India

    Manoja Kumar Das

  3. Department of Pediatrics, LHMC & KSCH, New Delhi, India

    Praveen Kumar

Authors
  1. Joseph L Mathew
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  2. Manoja Kumar Das
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  3. Praveen Kumar
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Correspondence to Joseph L Mathew, Manoja Kumar Das or Praveen Kumar.

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Mathew, J.L., Das, M.K. & Kumar, P. Cluster Randomized Trial Evaluating Impact of a Community-based Microfinance Scheme on Childhood Nutritional Status. Indian Pediatr 57, 459–464 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-020-1822-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-020-1822-x

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