NCT07383428

The INICIO-Guatemala Study

IGHID 12601 - Improving Neurodevelopment With an Intestinal Health and Caregivers' Intervention in the surOeste, Guatemala: The INICIO-Guatemala Study

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 400 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 0 Days – 50 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to evaluate an intestinal health-targeted nutritional intervention and a caregiver training program, individually and combined, on childhood neurodevelopment (ND) in rural southwest Guatemala. The main questions it aims to answer are: what is the impact of an intestinal-targeted nutritional intervention on child ND and what is the added benefit of a caregiver intervention on child ND. The primary endpoint is the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) Early Learning Composite (ELC) Score at 24 months. Secondary endpoints include MSEL subdomain scores (gross motor, fine motor, expressive language, receptive language, visual reception). Researchers will compare child ND between the four study arms using a factorial design: (1) intestinal health-targeted nutritional intervention, (2) caregiving training program, (3) combined intestinal health-targeted nutritional intervention and caregiving training program, and (4) active control. Participants will be randomized as mother-child dyads at 6 months of age and followed until 24 months of age.

Detailed description

The investigators plan to enroll 400 pregnant women during the second trimester of pregnancy; randomization of mother-child dyads into the four study groups will occur at 6 months of infant age; infants will be followed through 24 months of age. Randomization will occur using a 2×2 factorial design into the four groups. The nutritional intervention, Nutri-INICIO, is a fortified maize-bean-rice bran porridge intended to improve intestinal health and growth. The caregiver intervention, the Mediational Intervention for Sensitizing Caregivers (MISC), consists of twice-monthly, video-feedback-based training sessions from 12-24 months to enhance responsive caregiving.

Conditions

• Development, Child

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Nutri-INICIO	Nutri-INICIO, is a fortified maize-bean-rice bran porridge intended to improve intestinal health and growth. Caregivers will be instructed on Nutri-INICIO preparation methods. Children 6-11 months old will receive a 20 gram daily serving, children 12-17 months old will receive a 30 gram daily serving, children 18-24 months old will receive a 40 gram daily serving. The investigators will ensure receipt of the essential components of the ministry of health childcare package including micronutrient supplementation and anti-parasite prophylaxis. Participants will also receive anemia screening and treatment as appropriate.
BEHAVIORAL	Mediational Intervention for Sensitizing Caregivers (MISC	The Mediational Intervention for Sensitizing Caregivers (MISC) consists of twice-monthly, video-feedback-based training sessions from 12-24 months to enhance responsive caregiving. The investigators will ensure receipt of the essential components of the ministry of health childcare package including micronutrient supplementation and anti-parasite prophylaxis. Participants will also receive anemia screening and treatment as appropriate.
OTHER	Active Control	The control group will receive the same number of visits as the experimental groups and the investigators will ensure receipt of the essential components of the ministry of health childcare package including micronutrient supplementation and anti-parasite prophylaxis. Participants will also receive anemia screening and treatment as appropriate.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-06-15
• Primary completion: 2030-06-15
• Completion: 2030-06-15
• First posted: 2026-02-03
• Last updated: 2026-02-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Guatemala