Effect on weight gain of routinely giving albendazole to preschool children during child health days in Uganda: cluster randomised controlled trial.

Author(s): Alderman H, Konde-Lule J, Sebuliba I, Bundy D, Hall A

Affiliation(s): World Bank, Washington, DC 20433, USA. halderman@worldbank.org

Publication date & source: 2006-07-15, BMJ., 333(7559):122. Epub 2006 Jun 21.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effectiveness of delivering an anthelmintic through a community child health programme on the weight gain of preschool children in Uganda. DESIGN: Cluster randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Eastern Uganda. PARTICIPANTS: 48 parishes participating in a new programme for child health: 24 offered children an additional service of anthelmintic treatment. The outcome is based on measurements from 27,995 children. INTERVENTION: Treatment of children aged between 1 and 7 years with 400 mg albendazole added to standard services offered during child health days over a three year period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Weight gain. RESULTS: The provision of periodic anthelmintic treatment as a part of child health services in Uganda resulted in an increase in weight gain of about 10% (166 g per child per year, 95% confidence interval 16 to 316) above expected weight gain when treatments were given twice a year, and an increase of 5% when the treatment was given annually. CONCLUSION: Deworming of preschool children in Uganda as part of regularly scheduled health services seems practical and associated with increased weight gain.