Study Title
Evidence on the impact of community health workers in the prevention, identification, and management of undernutrition amongst children under the age of five in conflict-affected or fragile settings: A systematic literature review
Principal Investigator
Rachel Bridge, Tracy Kuo Lin
Affiliation
Various universities and organizations focusing on health and conflict research
Start Date
Not specified
End Date
Not specified
Study Objective
To systematically evaluate the impact of community health worker (CHW) models in preventing, identifying, and managing undernutrition in children under five years old in conflict-affected or fragile settings (CAFS).
Short Abstract
This systematic literature review explores the effectiveness of community health workers (CHWs) in managing child undernutrition in CAFS. It evaluates various interventions, including behavior change communication, supplementary foods, and nutrition counseling. The review highlights challenges such as the disruption of services due to conflict, weak health system capacity, and high costs, as well as facilitators such as community trust, high-quality training, and program proximity to communities. Findings indicate that CHW models are effective, cost-effective, acceptable, and scalable in these settings.
Study Design
Systematic literature review following PRISMA standards
Population
Children under five years old in conflict-affected or fragile settings
Sample Size
25 studies
Inclusion Criteria
Studies that evaluate the impact of CHW models in preventing, identifying, or managing undernutrition in children under five in CAFS. Studies included quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research published from 2006 to October 2022.
Exclusion Criteria
Studies not focusing on CHWs, those not targeting child undernutrition, studies in non-CAFS, or studies published in languages other than English.
Intervention/Exposure
Community health worker models including supplementary feeding, behavior change communication, nutrition counseling, and integrated community health programs
Outcome Measures
Clinical outcomes (cure rate, defaulter rate, death rate), anthropometric outcomes (WAZ, HAZ, MUAC), dietary diversity, IYCF indicators, cost-effectiveness, and program feasibility
Funding Source
Not specified
Collaborating Institutions
Various research institutions and international organizations involved in healthcare delivery and child nutrition
Ethics Approval
No ethical approval required (systematic review)
Publication Status
Published in Conflict and Health, February 2024
Keywords
Community health workers, child undernutrition, conflict-affected settings, fragile settings, malnutrition, healthcare, behavior change
Data Collection Methods
Systematic review using databases like Ovid MEDLINE, COCHRANE, Embase, and SCOPUS
Primary Data Availability
Not applicable
Contact Information
Tracy Kuo Lin (