The impacts of task shifting on the management and treatment of malnourished children in Northern Kenya: A cluster-randomized controlled trial

Treating children with acute malnutrition can be challenging, particularly regarding access to healthcare facilities during treatment. Task shifting, a strategy of transferring specific tasks to health workers with shorter training and fewer qualifications, is being considered as an effective approa...

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Autores principales: Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre, Daniel, Tewoldeberhan, Wilunda, Calistus, Mwaniki, Elizabeth, Njiru, James, Keane, Emily, Schofield, Lily, Maina, Lucy, Kutondo, Edward, Agutu, Olivia, Okoth, Peter F., Raburu, Judith, Samburu, Betty, Mwangi, Bonventure, Zerfu, Taddese Alemu, Khamadi, Jemimah Wekhomba, Cuellar, Pilar Charle, Kavoo, Daniel, Karimurio, Lydia, Matanda, Charles, Mutua, Alex, Gichohi, Grace, Chabi, Martin, Codjia, Patrick, Oteyza, Saul Guerrero, Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Oxford University Press 2024
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/145096
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author Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre
Daniel, Tewoldeberhan
Wilunda, Calistus
Mwaniki, Elizabeth
Njiru, James
Keane, Emily
Schofield, Lily
Maina, Lucy
Kutondo, Edward
Agutu, Olivia
Okoth, Peter F.
Raburu, Judith
Samburu, Betty
Mwangi, Bonventure
Zerfu, Taddese Alemu
Khamadi, Jemimah Wekhomba
Cuellar, Pilar Charle
Kavoo, Daniel
Karimurio, Lydia
Matanda, Charles
Mutua, Alex
Gichohi, Grace
Chabi, Martin
Codjia, Patrick
Oteyza, Saul Guerrero
Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth
author_browse Agutu, Olivia
Chabi, Martin
Codjia, Patrick
Cuellar, Pilar Charle
Daniel, Tewoldeberhan
Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre
Gichohi, Grace
Karimurio, Lydia
Kavoo, Daniel
Keane, Emily
Khamadi, Jemimah Wekhomba
Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth
Kutondo, Edward
Maina, Lucy
Matanda, Charles
Mutua, Alex
Mwangi, Bonventure
Mwaniki, Elizabeth
Njiru, James
Okoth, Peter F.
Oteyza, Saul Guerrero
Raburu, Judith
Samburu, Betty
Schofield, Lily
Wilunda, Calistus
Zerfu, Taddese Alemu
author_facet Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre
Daniel, Tewoldeberhan
Wilunda, Calistus
Mwaniki, Elizabeth
Njiru, James
Keane, Emily
Schofield, Lily
Maina, Lucy
Kutondo, Edward
Agutu, Olivia
Okoth, Peter F.
Raburu, Judith
Samburu, Betty
Mwangi, Bonventure
Zerfu, Taddese Alemu
Khamadi, Jemimah Wekhomba
Cuellar, Pilar Charle
Kavoo, Daniel
Karimurio, Lydia
Matanda, Charles
Mutua, Alex
Gichohi, Grace
Chabi, Martin
Codjia, Patrick
Oteyza, Saul Guerrero
Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth
author_sort Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Treating children with acute malnutrition can be challenging, particularly regarding access to healthcare facilities during treatment. Task shifting, a strategy of transferring specific tasks to health workers with shorter training and fewer qualifications, is being considered as an effective approach to enhancing health outcomes in primary healthcare. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of integrating the treatment of acute malnutrition by community health volunteers into integrated community case management in two sub-counties in northern Kenya (Loima and Isiolo). We conducted a two-arm non-inferiority cluster-randomized controlled trial across 20 community health units. Participants were children aged 6–59 months with uncomplicated acute malnutrition. In the intervention group, community health volunteers used simplified tools and protocols to identify and treat eligible children at home and provided the usual integrated community case management package. In the control group, community health volunteers provided the usual integrated community case management package only (screening and referral of the malnourished children to the health facilities). The primary outcome was recovery (MUAC ≥12.5 cm for 2 consecutive weeks). Results show that children in the intervention group were more likely to recover than those in the control group [73 vs 50; risk difference (RD) = 26% (95% CI 12 to 40) and risk ratio (RR) = 2 (95% CI 1.2 to 1.9)]. The probability of defaulting was lower in the intervention group than in the control group: RD = −21% (95% CI −31 to −10) and RR = 0.3 (95% CI 0.2 to 0.5). The intervention reduced the length of stay by about 13 days, although this was not statistically significant and varied substantially by sub-county. Integrating the treatment of acute malnutrition by community health volunteers into the integrated community case management programme led to better malnutrition treatment outcomes. There is a need to integrate acute malnutrition treatment into integrated community case management and review policies to allow community health volunteers to treat uncomplicated acute malnutrition.
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publishDate 2024
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spelling CGSpace1450962025-12-08T10:11:39Z The impacts of task shifting on the management and treatment of malnourished children in Northern Kenya: A cluster-randomized controlled trial Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre Daniel, Tewoldeberhan Wilunda, Calistus Mwaniki, Elizabeth Njiru, James Keane, Emily Schofield, Lily Maina, Lucy Kutondo, Edward Agutu, Olivia Okoth, Peter F. Raburu, Judith Samburu, Betty Mwangi, Bonventure Zerfu, Taddese Alemu Khamadi, Jemimah Wekhomba Cuellar, Pilar Charle Kavoo, Daniel Karimurio, Lydia Matanda, Charles Mutua, Alex Gichohi, Grace Chabi, Martin Codjia, Patrick Oteyza, Saul Guerrero Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth children community involvement malnutrition policy innovation risk Treating children with acute malnutrition can be challenging, particularly regarding access to healthcare facilities during treatment. Task shifting, a strategy of transferring specific tasks to health workers with shorter training and fewer qualifications, is being considered as an effective approach to enhancing health outcomes in primary healthcare. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of integrating the treatment of acute malnutrition by community health volunteers into integrated community case management in two sub-counties in northern Kenya (Loima and Isiolo). We conducted a two-arm non-inferiority cluster-randomized controlled trial across 20 community health units. Participants were children aged 6–59 months with uncomplicated acute malnutrition. In the intervention group, community health volunteers used simplified tools and protocols to identify and treat eligible children at home and provided the usual integrated community case management package. In the control group, community health volunteers provided the usual integrated community case management package only (screening and referral of the malnourished children to the health facilities). The primary outcome was recovery (MUAC ≥12.5 cm for 2 consecutive weeks). Results show that children in the intervention group were more likely to recover than those in the control group [73 vs 50; risk difference (RD) = 26% (95% CI 12 to 40) and risk ratio (RR) = 2 (95% CI 1.2 to 1.9)]. The probability of defaulting was lower in the intervention group than in the control group: RD = −21% (95% CI −31 to −10) and RR = 0.3 (95% CI 0.2 to 0.5). The intervention reduced the length of stay by about 13 days, although this was not statistically significant and varied substantially by sub-county. Integrating the treatment of acute malnutrition by community health volunteers into the integrated community case management programme led to better malnutrition treatment outcomes. There is a need to integrate acute malnutrition treatment into integrated community case management and review policies to allow community health volunteers to treat uncomplicated acute malnutrition. 2024-08-08 2024-06-10T17:18:47Z 2024-06-10T17:18:47Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/145096 en https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002564 Open Access Oxford University Press Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre; Daniel, Tewoldeberhan; Wilunda, Calistus; Mwaniki, Elizabeth; Njiru, James; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu; et al. 2024. The impacts of task shifting on the management and treatment of malnourished children in Northern Kenya: A cluster-randomized controlled trial. Health Policy and Planning 39(7): 710–721. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czae036
spellingShingle children
community involvement
malnutrition
policy innovation
risk
Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre
Daniel, Tewoldeberhan
Wilunda, Calistus
Mwaniki, Elizabeth
Njiru, James
Keane, Emily
Schofield, Lily
Maina, Lucy
Kutondo, Edward
Agutu, Olivia
Okoth, Peter F.
Raburu, Judith
Samburu, Betty
Mwangi, Bonventure
Zerfu, Taddese Alemu
Khamadi, Jemimah Wekhomba
Cuellar, Pilar Charle
Kavoo, Daniel
Karimurio, Lydia
Matanda, Charles
Mutua, Alex
Gichohi, Grace
Chabi, Martin
Codjia, Patrick
Oteyza, Saul Guerrero
Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth
The impacts of task shifting on the management and treatment of malnourished children in Northern Kenya: A cluster-randomized controlled trial
title The impacts of task shifting on the management and treatment of malnourished children in Northern Kenya: A cluster-randomized controlled trial
title_full The impacts of task shifting on the management and treatment of malnourished children in Northern Kenya: A cluster-randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr The impacts of task shifting on the management and treatment of malnourished children in Northern Kenya: A cluster-randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed The impacts of task shifting on the management and treatment of malnourished children in Northern Kenya: A cluster-randomized controlled trial
title_short The impacts of task shifting on the management and treatment of malnourished children in Northern Kenya: A cluster-randomized controlled trial
title_sort impacts of task shifting on the management and treatment of malnourished children in northern kenya a cluster randomized controlled trial
topic children
community involvement
malnutrition
policy innovation
risk
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/145096
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