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Breast Feeding, ExclusiveSTEBNCT05665049

Social Transfers for Exclusive Breastfeeding

A study testing Social Transfer in people with Breast Feeding, Exclusive and Breastfeeding, run by Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute at 1 site in Laos.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this study is to assess the effectiveness of social transfers on exclusive breastfeeding rates in Lao PDR. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Are social transfers effective at increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6-months 2. Are social transfers cost-effective 3. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 42 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Social Transfer
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
300 participants
Where
1 siteLaos
Study dates
1 Aug 2022to 30 Jun 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 42 years
  • Women only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Given birth in the last four weeks
  • Exclusively breastfeeding at time of recruitment
  • Lives in Vientiane in one of the following districts: Chanthabury, Sikhottabong, Sangthong, or Parkngum and is included in the VITERBI cohort

Who cannot join

  • Plans to move permanently outside study area
  • Has a medical, intellectual or psychological disability
  • Contraindication for breastfeeding
  • Preterm births
  • Children born with < 2500 grams

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Laos1 site

  • Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute (Lao TPHI)

    Vientiane

Other trials in Laos

About this study

Official title: Social Transfers for Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Pilot Program in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)

The goal of this study is to assess the effectiveness of social transfers on exclusive breastfeeding rates in Lao PDR. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  1. Are social transfers effective at increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6-months
  2. Are social transfers cost-effective
  3. What are the long-term impacts of social transfers for breastfeeding on child development
Read more

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) control, no social transfer 2) non-conditional social transfer at 6-months postpartum, and 3) conditional social transfer at six months postpartum; conditional upon the mothers exclusive breastfeeding status.

All participants receive education about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and current international recommendations.

Researchers will compare the intervention groups to the control group to see if social transfers are effective at increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates at six months postpartum.

Being tested
Social Transfer
Keywords
breastfeeding, early childhood development, social transfer, cash transfer
Medical subject headings
Breast Feeding

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Social TransferBehavioural

    Social transfers are defined as a cash or in-kind transfer. Using results from a qualitative study, we identified the following culturally grounded social transfer options that is responsive to the identified needs of new mothers. Based on the monthly Lao PDR minimum wage and an estimated 15 full working days needed to exclusively breastfeed over a 6-month period, a social transfer of approximately $75 would fairly subsidize women's breastfeeding efforts. Therefore all social transfer options equate to approximately 75 USD. The options include: diapers, child developmental toys, cash, or a combination of these.

Study groups in NCT05665049
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Control GroupNo interventionOnly educational materials focused on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and the current international recommendations are provided.
Intervention Group 1 - Non-Conditional Social TransferExperimentalEducational materials focused on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and the current international recommendations are provided. At the baseline visit, participants are told that at the 6-month visit, they will receive a gift of their choice - which is meant to show our appreciation and support for their efforts in breastfeeding.
Receives: Behavioral: Social Transfer
Intervention Group 2 - Conditional Social TransferExperimentalEducational materials focused on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and the current international recommendations are provided. At the baseline visit, participants are told that at the 6-month visit, they will receive a gift of their choice if they are still exclusively breastfeeding.
Receives: Behavioral: Social Transfer

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Prevalence of Exclusive Breastfeeding at 6-Months Postpartum

    The primary endpoint is the proportion of women exclusively breastfeeding at 6-months postpartum assessed using a questionnaire. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as receipt of only human milk - which is consistent with the World Health Organization guidelines. At six months postpartum, mothers are asked if they are still currently breastfeeding. If they answer yes, a follow-up question on if they provided any other liquids, solids, or supplements to their child to determine the exclusive breastfeeding status.

    Measured: 6 Months Postpartum

Secondary outcomes (5)

  1. Anthropometric Measurements

    Infants will be measured for length, weight, head circumference, skinfold thickness. Height was measured in centimeters by using a Height Measuring Device, stadiometer, 20-205cm. Weight was measured in kilograms by a mobile weighing scale. Skin fold measurements were collected using a skin fold caliper. Head, waist, and hip measurements and MUAC were measured using non-stretchable measuring tape. All measurements will be analyzed as age standardized z-scores.

    Measured: 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years

  2. Mother and Child Anemia Levels

    We will assess the mother and child anemia levels. The HemoCue Hb 301 will be used to give an instant measurement of the Haemoglobin (Hb) level of the patient. Capillary blood will be collected through a finger prick. Blood samples drawn for the haemoglobin assessment will be discarded after the test. Iron levels will be analyzed as a continuous outcome.

    Measured: 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years

  3. Early Childhood Development

    When the child is two years of age, a comprehensive end line assessment will be conducted to evaluate early childhood development indicators (e.g. The Global Scale for Early Development (GSED). This indicator will be normalized to a mean of 0 and SD of 1 to facilitate interpretation of estimated group differences.

    Measured: 2 years

  4. Early Childhood Development

    When the child is three years of age, the IDELA will assess children's cognitive, social and language skills, and lifelong capacity for learning. This indicator will be normalized to a mean of 0 and SD of 1 to facilitate interpretation of estimated group differences.

    Measured: 3 years

  5. Complementary Breastfeeding Duration

    The proportion of women complementary breastfeeding at 6-months, 1-year, and 2-years postpartum assessed using a questionnaire. Complementary breastfeeding is defined as receipt of human milk in combination with complementary foods and liquid. At each time point postpartum, mothers are asked if they are still currently breastfeeding. If they answer yes, a follow-up question on if they provided any other liquids, solids, or supplements to their child to determine the complementary breastfeeding status.

    Measured: 6 months, 1 year, 2 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted27 Dec 2022
  2. Study start1 Aug 2022
  3. Primary completion30 Oct 2023
  4. Study completion30 Jun 2026

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
300 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05665049
Sponsor's protocol ID
steb1
Acronym
STEB
Status last verified
Jan 2025
First submitted
21 Oct 2022
Last updated
19 Aug 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Wallenborn JT, Sonephet S, Sayasone S, Siengsounthone L, Kounnavong S, Fink G. Conditional and Unconditional Social Transfers, Early-Life Nutrition, and Child Growth: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Feb 1;179(2):129-136. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.5079.

    PubMed 39680397

  • Sonephet S, Kounnavong S, Zinsstag L, Vonaesch P, Sayasone S, Siengsounthone L, Odermatt P, Fink G, Wallenborn JT. Social Transfers for Exclusive Breastfeeding (STEB) Intervention in Lao People's Democratic Republic: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 May 3;13:e54768. doi: 10.2196/54768.

    PubMed 38700928

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Social Transfer in people with Breast Feeding, Exclusive and Breastfeeding, run by Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute at 1 site in Laos.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Laos. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Prevalence of Exclusive Breastfeeding at 6-Months Postpartum (time frame: 6 Months Postpartum). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05665049, which also lists 2 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Aug 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.

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