Data from: Effectiveness of complementary food supplement and dietary counseling on anemia and stunting in children aged 6-23 months in poor areas in Qinghai Province, China: a controlled interventional study

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of dietary counseling and complementary food supplements on anemia and stunting prevalence in children aged 6-23 months. Design: A controlled intervention study with measurements of height and hemoglobin levels, and cross-sectional surveys in August 2012 (baseline) and 2013 and 2014 (end-line). Setting: One intervention and control county in rural Qinghai Province, China. Intervention: Complementary food supplements (containing protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamin A, B1, B2, B12, D3, folic acid, iron, zinc, and calcium) and complementary feeding counseling were given in the intervention county. Participants: Caregivers and their children aged 6-23 months. Primary and secondary outcomes measures: The effect of the interventions on anemia (hemoglobin< 110g/L) and stunting (z-score of height-for-age< -2.0) prevalence(controlled for differences between the counties), and infant feeding practices. Results: The surveys were conducted among 1804, 2187, and 2186 child aged 6-23 months in the intervention county in August 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively, and 804, 680 and 790 children in the control county respectively. Between baseline and end-line, anemia prevalence decreased more in the intervention county compared to the control county (71.1% to 47.8% vs 86.3% to 75.3%, respectively; P<0.0001). There was no difference in the decrease in stunting prevalence between the counties (9.7% to 7.1% vs 17.0% to 15.0%; P=0.7954). The proportions of children given iron-rich or -fortified food, introduced (semi-) solid food at 6-8 months, and given food with minimum dietary diversity increased from 43.2% to 88.8% (P<0.0001), 81.4% to 96% (P=0.0470), and 53.0% to 59.8% (P<0.0001), respectively. Conclusions: We found much higher anemia prevalence in poor rural areas of Qinghai Province compared to national data. Community-based complementary food supplements combined with dietary counseling can improve feeding practices and reduce anemia prevalence. Future studies should use longer follow-up to assess the effects on stunting.研究目的：评估膳食咨询与辅食补充剂对6~23月龄儿童贫血与生长迟缓患病率的干预效果。 研究设计：采用对照干预研究方案，同步开展身高与血红蛋白水平检测，分别于2012年8月（基线）、2013年及2014年（终末调查）开展横断面调查。 研究现场：中国青海省农村地区的1个干预县与1个对照县。 干预措施：为干预县儿童提供含蛋白质、脂肪、碳水化合物、维生素A、B1、B2、B12、D3、叶酸、铁、锌及钙的辅食补充剂，并辅以膳食喂养咨询。 研究对象：6~23月龄儿童及其看护人。 主要与次要结局指标：干预措施对贫血（血红蛋白<110g/L）与生长迟缓（年龄别身高z评分<-2.0）患病率的影响（校正两县间的基线差异），以及婴幼儿喂养行为。 研究结果：2012年、2013年及2014年8月，干预县分别纳入1804、2187及2186名6~23月龄儿童，对照县分别纳入804、680及790名同年龄段儿童。基线至终末调查阶段，干预县贫血患病率的降幅显著高于对照县（干预县从71.1%降至47.8%，对照县从86.3%降至75.3%；P<0.0001）。两县儿童生长迟缓患病率的降幅无显著统计学差异（干预县从9.7%降至7.1%，对照县从17.0%降至15.0%；P=0.7954）。此外，食用富铁/强化铁食品、于6~8月龄引入半固体/固体辅食、达到最低膳食多样性喂养的儿童占比分别从43.2%升至88.8%（P<0.0001）、81.4%升至96%（P=0.0470）及53.0%升至59.8%（P<0.0001）。 研究结论：本研究发现，青海省贫困农村地区儿童贫血患病率显著高于全国平均水平。以社区为基础的辅食补充剂联合膳食咨询可改善婴幼儿喂养行为，降低贫血患病率。未来研究可延长随访周期，以评估干预措施对儿童生长迟缓的改善效果。