BMJ Open (Dec 2021)
Mixed-methods, descriptive and observational cohort study examining feeding and growth patterns among low birthweight infants in India, Malawi and Tanzania: the LIFE study protocol
- Christopher R Sudfeld,
- Karim Manji,
- Rodrick Kisenge,
- Tisungane Mvalo,
- Melda Phiri,
- Christopher Duggan,
- Lauren Spigel,
- Anne CC Lee,
- Bethany A Caruso,
- Laura Subramanian,
- Megan Marx Delaney,
- Shivaprasad S Goudar,
- Linda Vesel,
- Katherine EA Semrau,
- Irving F Hoffman,
- Melissa Young,
- Friday Saidi,
- Jnanindra Nath Behera,
- Roopa M Bellad,
- Leena Das,
- Sangappa Dhaded,
- Gowdar Guruprasad,
- Sujata Misra,
- Sanghamitra Panda,
- Latha G Shamanur,
- Sunil S Vernekar,
- Sarah Somji,
- Linda Adair,
- Kiersten Israel-Ballard,
- Stephanie L Martin,
- Kimberly L Mansen,
- Krysten North,
- Emily Benotti,
- Eliza Fishman,
- Katelyn Fleming,
- Natalie Henrich,
- Kate Miller,
- Danielle E Tuller
Affiliations
- Christopher R Sudfeld
- Department of Global Health and Population and Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Karim Manji
- Department of Pediatrics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of
- Rodrick Kisenge
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
- Tisungane Mvalo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Melda Phiri
- University of North Carolina Project Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Christopher Duggan
- Center for Nutrition, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Lauren Spigel
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Brigham and Women`s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Anne CC Lee
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Bethany A Caruso
- 2 Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Laura Subramanian
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Megan Marx Delaney
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Shivaprasad S Goudar
- Women`s and Children`s Health Research Unit, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research`s, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India
- Linda Vesel
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Brigham and Women`s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Katherine EA Semrau
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Irving F Hoffman
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Melissa Young
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Friday Saidi
- University of North Carolina Project Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Jnanindra Nath Behera
- Department of Paediatrics, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Orissa, India
- Roopa M Bellad
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed-to-be-University), Belgaum, Karnataka, India
- Leena Das
- Department of Paediatrics, SCB Medical College & Hospital, Cuttack, Orissa, India
- Sangappa Dhaded
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed-to-be-University), Belgaum, Karnataka, India
- Gowdar Guruprasad
- Department of Paediatrics, JJM Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India
- Sujata Misra
- Department of Paediatrics, SCB Medical College & Hospital, Cuttack, Orissa, India
- Sanghamitra Panda
- Department of Paediatrics, City Hospital, Cuttack, Orissa, India
- Latha G Shamanur
- Department of Paediatrics, SS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Davangere, Karnataka, India
- Sunil S Vernekar
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed-to-be-University), Belgaum, Karnataka, India
- Sarah Somji
- Center for Child, Adolescent, and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Linda Adair
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Kiersten Israel-Ballard
- Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition Program, PATH, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Stephanie L Martin
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Kimberly L Mansen
- Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition Program, PATH, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Krysten North
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women`s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Emily Benotti
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Eliza Fishman
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Brigham and Women`s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Katelyn Fleming
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Brigham and Women`s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Natalie Henrich
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Kate Miller
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Danielle E Tuller
- 2 Ariadne Labs, Brigham and Women`s Hospital and T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048216
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 11,
no. 12
Abstract
Introduction Ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 will not be possible without evidence-based strategies addressing the health and care of low birthweight (LBW, <2.5 kg) infants. The majority of LBW infants are born in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and account for more than 60%–80% of newborn deaths. Feeding promotion tailored to meet the nutritional needs of LBW infants in LMICs may serve a crucial role in curbing newborn mortality rates and promoting growth. The Low Birthweight Infant Feeding Exploration (LIFE) study aims to establish foundational knowledge regarding optimal feeding options for LBW infants in low-resource settings throughout infancy.Methods and analysis LIFE is a formative, multisite, observational cohort study involving 12 study facilities in India, Malawi and Tanzania, and using a convergent parallel, mixed-methods design. We assess feeding patterns, growth indicators, morbidity, mortality, child development and health system inputs that facilitate or hinder care and survival of LBW infants.Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by 11 ethics committees in India, Malawi, Tanzania and the USA. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations targeting the global and local research, clinical, programme implementation and policy communities.Trial registration numbers NCT04002908 and CTRI/2019/02/017475.
