Implementation of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project in Kenya

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Maternal and Child Health
• Pediatrics

Background:

• The INTERGROWTH-21st Project established an African site in Parklands, Nairobi, Kenya, a socio-economically diverse area.
• Three hospitals in Parklands manage approximately 4300 births annually, forming the basis for the Newborn Cross-Sectional Study (NCSS).
• The Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study (FGLS) recruited participants from antenatal clinics, adhering to INTERGROWTH-21st protocol eligibility criteria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and describe the methodology of the African (Kenyan) site within the INTERGROWTH-21st Project.
• To detail the sampling strategies for both the Newborn Cross-Sectional Study (NCSS) and the Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study (FGLS).
• To address and overcome recruitment challenges, particularly ensuring early antenatal care attendance for the FGLS.

Main Methods:

• The Newborn Cross-Sectional Study (NCSS) included 100% of births from three local hospitals.
• The Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study (FGLS) recruited women in their first trimester from antenatal clinics.
• A targeted awareness campaign involving media coverage and clinic outreach was implemented to encourage earlier antenatal visits.

Main Results:

• The study successfully recruited participants for both NCSS and FGLS in the Parklands site.
• An awareness campaign effectively increased the frequency of women attending antenatal care in the first trimester.
• This facilitated earlier recruitment for the Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study, overcoming a key logistical challenge.

Conclusions:

• The Parklands site successfully implemented the INTERGROWTH-21st Project protocols.
• Effective community engagement and awareness strategies can overcome challenges in recruiting for longitudinal studies.
• Early antenatal care attendance is crucial for successful fetal growth research and maternal health initiatives.