Growth and Nutritional Impact of Small Fish Powder Supplementation in Infants

Assessing the Efficacy of Small Fish Powder Supplementation on the Growth of Infants Aged 6-7 Months in Northern Cameroon

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of supplementing the diets of infants aged 6-7 months with small fish powder on growth outcomes in the Garoua 1st Health District, Northern Cameroon. A total of 240 infants were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either small fish powder or a millet flour control for six months. The primary endpoint was growth effectiveness, defined as achieving a height-for-age Z-score ≥ -1.5 after six months. Secondary outcomes included prevention of acute malnutrition, weight gain, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) gain, morbidity frequency, and intervention failure rate. Study procedures comprised weekly ration distribution, anthropometric measurements, hemoglobin and malaria testing, and parental nutritional education. Data were analyzed using SPSS and XLSTAT, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Infants aged 6-7 months.
• Families residing in the study area with no plans to relocate during the study period.
• Absence of severe illness at enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe anemia.
• Severe acute malnutrition.
• Clinically defined illness such as dehydration, severe diarrhea, or respiratory disease.