Development of Appetite Measuring Tool and Appetite Status of Stunted Children

This study will provide a tool for researchers to measure important outcomes in relation to trial of intervention to reduce or prevent stunting. Hypothesis: We assume that appetite score will be associated with improvement in growth and development parameters of children given the nutrition and psychosocial stimulation intervention Objectives: To explore maternal perception regarding childhood stunting To develop and validate an appetite measuring tool To assess the appetite status of young children To examine the relationship between appetite score, growth and development, potential biomarkers of appetite, child food intake and intestinal inflammation of the children. Methods: In the first phase, a qualitative study will be conducted to explore maternal perception regarding childhood stunting and to develop a tool- the "Early Childhood Appetite and Satiety Tool"(ECAST) using mixed method approach (qualitative and quantitative). In the second phase, a community-based trial will be conducted with 50 stunted children of aged 12-18 months, living in urban slums of Dhaka, and 50 age-sex matched control children (non-stunted).