reshikar/malawi-lns-birthweight-rct

Randomized controlled trial evaluating lipid-based nutrient supplementation (LNS) on neonatal birth weight in Malawi using log-binomial and linear regression (SAS). # Malawi LNS vs IFA Randomized Controlled Trial Randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of maternal lipid-based nutrient supplementation (LNS) on neonatal birth weight in Malawi, analyzed using log-binomial and linear regression models in SAS. ## Study Background Low birth weight (<2500g) remains a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality in low-resource settings. While iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation is standard prenatal care, lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) provide additional macronutrients and micronutrients that may improve fetal growth.This study compares LNS versus IFA in improving birth weight outcomes ## Study Design - Individually randomized, parallel-group RCT - Allocation ratio: 1:1 (LNS vs IFA) - Participants: Pregnant women ≤20 weeks gestation - Setting: Rural health centers in Malawi - Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis ## Outcomes Primary Outcomes: - Low birth weight (<2500g), binary - Mean birth weight (grams), continuous ## Statistical Methods - Log-binomial regression to estimate Risk Ratios (RR) - Identity-link binomial model for Risk Differences (RD) - Linear regression for mean birth weight differences - Interaction models to assess effect modification by maternal BMI - Analyses conducted in SAS ## Key Findings - LNS reduced the risk of low birth weight (RR ≈ 0.50) - LNS increased mean birth weight by approximately 100 grams - No statistically significant effect modification by maternal BMI ## Public Health Implications Findings support the potential role of maternal LNS supplementation in reducing low birth weight in undernourished populations and strengthening antenatal nutrition programs in resource-limited settings. ## Data Availability ## Data Availability The dataset used in this analysis is publicly available via Zenodo. Zenodo Repository:zenodo.org d in this repository and was used for academic purposes within a clinical trials course. ---