Researchers in Nigeria are testing a new idea to help more children get vaccinated against measles. They want to see if giving out special nutrition supplements at the same time as vaccines will encourage more parents to bring their kids in for shots. The study will follow over 1,500 children aged 6-23 months in northern Nigeria, where many kids don’t get enough food and miss important vaccines. Half the communities will get regular vaccination services, while the other half will also receive nutrition supplements. This could be a simple way to tackle two big health problems at once.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether giving nutrition supplements alongside measles vaccines encourages more parents to vaccinate their children
  • Who participated: 1,560 children aged 6-23 months living in 20 communities in northern Nigeria, where malnutrition and low vaccination rates are common problems
  • Key finding: This study is still ongoing - results aren’t available yet. Researchers are measuring how many more children get vaccinated when nutrition supplements are offered as an incentive
  • What it means for you: If successful, this approach could help health programs worldwide tackle both malnutrition and low vaccination rates together, but we need to wait for the results

The Research Details

This is a cluster-randomized controlled trial, which means researchers randomly divided 20 communities into two groups. Half the communities get the regular vaccination program, while the other half get vaccines plus nutrition supplements. They’re comparing vaccination rates between these two approaches over 12 months. The researchers will survey families at the beginning and end of the study to see how many children received their measles vaccine.

This type of study design helps researchers understand if the nutrition supplement incentive actually works in real-world conditions. By comparing entire communities rather than individual families, they can see if this approach would work when rolled out as a public health program.

This study uses strong scientific methods including random assignment of communities and multiple ways of measuring success. However, since it’s happening in one specific region of Nigeria, the results might not apply everywhere. The researchers are also conducting interviews to understand how well the program works in practice.

What the Results Show

Results are not yet available since this is a study protocol describing a trial that is currently underway. The main goal is to measure whether more children aged 12-23 months receive measles vaccination in communities that offer nutrition supplements compared to those with standard vaccination services only.

The study will also track individual children over time to see vaccination patterns and assess the cost-effectiveness of adding nutrition supplements to vaccination programs. Researchers will interview families and health workers to understand what works and what doesn’t.

This appears to be the first study to test whether nutrition supplements can serve as an incentive for vaccination. Previous research has shown that both malnutrition and low vaccination rates are serious problems in many developing countries, but no one has tested this combined approach before.

Since results aren’t available yet, we can’t assess the study’s limitations. However, the findings will be specific to northern Nigeria and may not apply to other regions with different cultures or health systems.

The Bottom Line

It’s too early to make recommendations since the study is still ongoing. Once results are available, they may help guide whether health programs should combine nutrition supplements with vaccination campaigns.

Parents in areas with high malnutrition and low vaccination rates, public health officials, and organizations working to improve child health in developing countries should watch for these results.

The study results should be available after the 12-month implementation period is complete and data analysis is finished, likely within the next 1-2 years.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your child’s vaccination schedule and nutritional status, noting any missed appointments or feeding concerns
  • Ensure your child receives all recommended vaccines on schedule, and consider discussing nutrition supplements with your healthcare provider if your child is underweight
  • Keep a record of your child’s vaccinations, growth measurements, and any nutrition interventions recommended by healthcare providers

This research is still ongoing and results are not yet available. Always consult with your healthcare provider about vaccination schedules and nutrition needs for your child. Do not make changes to your child’s vaccination or nutrition plan without medical guidance.