Randomized Trials in Developing Countries: Different Priorities and Study Design?

Analysis of the impact of child health and nutrition on subsequent school performance is hampered by many difficulties. Research using retrospective data is complicated by the possibility that unobserved factors may determine both nutrition and education outcomes, which will generate correlation between these two outcomes that is not necessarily causal. Randomized trials offer a clearer method for identifying causal relationships, but they are relatively rare and encounter several difficulties in practice. This paper examines theory, estimation strategies, and recent empirical evidence to assess the current state of knowledge on the impact of child health and nutrition on education outcomes in developing countries.

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Initiation and continuation of randomized trials after the publication of a trial stopped early for benefit asking the same study question: STOPIT-3 study design

Trials ◽

10.1186/1745-6215-14-335 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 335 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Gabriela J Prutsky ◽

Juan Domecq ◽

Patricia J Erwin ◽

Matthias Briel ◽

Victor M Montori ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Study Design ◽

Randomized Trials

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The role of theory and randomized trials for education policy in developing countries

World Development ◽

10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104801 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 127 ◽

pp. 104801

Author(s):

Paul Glewwe

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Education Policy ◽

Randomized Trials

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The experiences of mothers and caregivers on feeding practices of children under the age of five years with undernutrition in Oshikoto region, Namibia

International Journal of Healthcare ◽

10.5430/ijh.v4n2p20 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 20

Author(s):

Ester Mulenga ◽

Hans Amukugo ◽

Anna Shilunga

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Study Design ◽

Nutritional Assessment ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Age Group ◽

Community Members ◽

Support Programme ◽

Lack Of Information ◽

Study Population

Background: Undernutrition in children under the age of five years is prevalent in the developing countries which increase the risk of morbidity and mortality among such age group. Lack of information related to nutrition and feeding practices as well as other factors such as employment and pressure from family and community members cause mothers and caregivers of children under the age of five years to use inappropriate methods of feeding which contribute to undernutrition.Purpose: The aim of this article is to relate the experiences of mothers and caregivers on feeding practices of children under the age of five years in Oshikoto region, Namibia.Methods: A qualitative study design was utilized to explore and describe the experiences of mothers and caregivers on feeding practices of children under the age of five years. The study population comprised of mothers and caregivers of children diagnosed with undernutrition either severe or moderate, admitted in pediatric units or registered on Nutritional Assessment Counseling and Support programme. A purposive sampling was used to select participants and a total number of fifteen mothers/caregivers were interviewed. The data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Tesch steps.Results: The study revealed that mothers and caregivers experienced lack of information related to nutrition and feeding practices and other contextual constraints which resulted in the utilization of suboptimal feeding practices of children under the age of five years.Conclusions: Due to challenges experienced by mothers and caregivers, they need to be empowered with knowledge on nutrition and feeding practices of children under the age of five years.

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A method for performance comparison of polycentric knees and its application to the design of a knee for developing countries

Prosthetics and Orthotics International ◽

10.1177/0309364616652017 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 402-411 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

TS Anand ◽

S Sujatha

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Study Design ◽

Clinical Relevance ◽

Performance Comparison ◽

User Testing ◽

Uneven Terrain ◽

Maximum Flexion ◽

Prosthetic Knees

Background:Polycentric knees for transfemoral prostheses have a variety of geometries, but a survey of literature shows that there are few ways of comparing their performance.Objectives:Our objective was to present a method for performance comparison of polycentric knee geometries and design a new geometry.Study design:In this work, we define parameters to compare various commercially available prosthetic knees in terms of their stability, toe clearance, maximum flexion, and so on and optimize the parameters to obtain a new knee design.Methods:We use the defined parameters and optimization to design a new knee geometry that provides the greater stability and toe clearance necessary to navigate uneven terrain which is typically encountered in developing countries.Results:Several commercial knees were compared based on the defined parameters to determine their suitability for uneven terrain. A new knee was designed based on optimization of these parameters. Preliminary user testing indicates that the new knee is very stable and easy to use.Conclusion:The methodology can be used for better knee selection and design of more customized knee geometries.Clinical relevanceThe method provides a tool to aid in the selection and design of polycentric knees for transfemoral prostheses.

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