Short-term weight gain among preschool children in rural Burkina Faso: A secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives: Nutrition has profound effects on children's health outcomes and is linked to weight gain and cognitive development. We used data from a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the prospective associations between dietary, socioeconomic and demographic factors and short-term weight gain during the lean season in a rural area of Burkina Faso. Design: Prospective cohort data arising from a randomised controlled trial of the effect of antibiotic distribution on child growth and intestinal microbial diversity. Setting: Two rural communities in Nouna District, Burkina Faso. Participants: 246 children aged 6-59 months living in the study communities were enrolled in the study. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Anthropometric measurements, including weight and height, were obtained at baseline and 1 month. Results: Of 246 children, the median weight for wasted children at baseline (weight-for-height z-score