Objective: To investigate whether the recommended dietary intake of Ca in anaemic infants compromises the expected Hb response, via home fortification with a new Ca-and Fe-containing Sprinkles TM micronutrient powder (MNP). Design: A double-blind, randomized controlled, 2-month trial was conducted in Bangladesh. Infants were randomized to one of two MNP intervention groups containing Fe and other micronutrients, with or without Ca. Hb, anthropometrics and dietary intake were measured pre-and post-intervention while family demographics were collected at baseline. Setting: Twenty-six rural villages in the Kaliganj sub-district of Gazipur, Bangladesh.

ObjectiveTo measure the relative efficacy of Benzalkonium Chloride containing, water‐based hand sanitizers (HS) and multiple micronutrient powder (MNP) along with nutrition and hygiene education (NHE) to prevent infections and linear growth faltering among low birth weight (LBW) infants.MethodsProspective 2×2 factorial, cluster‐randomized trial, conducted among 467 full‐term LBW infants from 0–12 months (mo) in rural Bangladesh, using 48 clusters randomly assigned as follows: from 0–6 mo, i) NHE only or ii) NHE plus HS; from 6–12 mo, i) NHE only; ii) NHE plus HS; iii) NHE plus MNP (to be provided with complementary foods); and iv) NHE plus HS and MNP.ResultsDuring 0–6mo, the proportion of LBW infants with any infection was significantly lower in the ‘NHE plus HS’ group compared to the ‘NHE only’ group (P<0.001). Mean duration of diarrhea among LBW infants was significantly lower in the ‘NHE plus HS’ group compared to ‘NHE only’ (3.4±1.2 vs. 6.0±1.6 days, P<0.01). Upper respiratory tract infections and cough were also significantly lower in the ‘NHE plus HS’ group in comparison with ‘NHE only’ (29.8% vs. 33.0% and10.6% vs. 12.2%, P<0.05, for both).ConclusionsCaregiver use of hand sanitizers might effectively reduce infections among term LBW infants in the first six months of life.Grant Funding Source: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to FHI 360, through the Alive & Thrive Small Grants Program managed by UC Davis.

ObjectiveTo investigate if use of water‐based hand sanitizer along with nutrition and hygiene education can prevent linear growth faltering among term, low birth weight (TLBW) infants in Bangladesh.MethodsCommunity‐based, cluster randomized, controlled trial using 48 clusters randomly assigned to two groups: i) Nutrition and Hygiene Education (NHE) plus directed use of Benzalkonium Chloride‐based Hand Sanitizers (HS) by mothers and other family members; ii) NHE only. We followed 467 TLBW infants for 6 months with weekly morbidity and monthly anthropometry.ResultsAt enrolment, mean ± SD anthropometric measures were comparable between HS and NHE groups (birth weight: 2.27±0.2 vs. 2.26±0.2 kg; and birth length: 44.2±1.8 vs. 43.8±1.9 cm). Although results at 1 month postpartum showed no difference in anthropometry between groups, infants in the HS group had reduced rates of skin lesions (12.6% vs.19.4%); infected umbilicus (0.8% vs. 1.4%) and eye infections (0.0% vs. 2.1%) compared to the NHE group. Reported household expenditure on care seeking due to neonatal illness was significantly less in the HS group than that of the NHE group (P<0.009). These preliminary findings suggest a positive effect of hand sanitizer on morbidity at 1 month in term, low birth weight, rural Bangladeshi infants. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to FHI 360, through the Alive & Thrive Small Grants Program managed by UC Davis.Grant Funding Source : Alive and Thrive Small Grants Program, managed by UC Davis