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Diarrhoeal DiseaseSABABUNCT05914363

Evaluating Impact of Improved Floors on Health

A study testing Sealed washable floor plus behaviour change, Behaviour change intervention and Routine deworming in people with Diarrhoeal Disease and Hookworm Infection, run by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at 1 site in Kenya.

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 intervention study is to learn about the impact of household flooring on health in rural Kenya, and test whether providing an improved (cement stabilised, washable) floor improves the health of children and their care providers. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Sealed washable floor plus behaviour change, Behaviour change intervention and Routine deworming
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
2,200 participants
Where
1 siteKenya
Study dates
12 Apr 2023to 30 Sep 2024
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 Any age
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Household with a child under 5 years of age that meets structural criteria (unimproved earthen flooring throughout, structurally sound), with members willing to temporarily relocate.

Who cannot join

  • Households that are intending to move within the next 12 months, or that have improved flooring in any rooms or are not structurally sound.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Kenya1 site
  • Dzombo ward

    Kwale, Kwale County

Other trials in Kenya

About this study

Official title: Evaluating the Impact of an Improved Household Flooring Intervention on Enteric and Parasitic Infections in Rural Settings in the Counties of Bungoma and Kwale, Kenya

The goal of this intervention study is to learn about the impact of household flooring on health in rural Kenya, and test whether providing an improved (cement stabilised, washable) floor improves the health of children and their care providers.

The main questions the study aims to answer are:

Read more
  • What is the effect of providing a sealed, washable floor on the prevalence of infections that cause diarrhoea, intestinal worms and sand flea infections?
  • To what extent does the intervention reduce contamination of floors with pathogens within the home?
  • What is its effect of the intervention on the wellbeing of caregivers and children?
  • Over the course of a year, do the new floors remain undamaged, with no cracks?
  • Do participants living with the new floors, and the masons that helped to install the floors, like them and feel they are practical and affordable?

The study will involve a trial, where half of the recruited households will be randomly chosen to receive the new floor in addition to some support on how to care for the floor and keep it clean. The other half of households will not receive anything at first, but at the end of the research project will also receive a new floor.

Before the new floors are installed, the investigators will make several assessments in all study households. These will include a survey to measure household characteristics; a stool survey, to measure how many people are infected with diarrhoea-causing microorganisms and parasitic worms; a jigger flea examination among children; wellbeing assessments among children and caregivers; and soil sampling to identify microorganisms on the floor of the household.

When households receive the new floor, participants will have to move out of their house for up to 7 days during installation. Participants will also be asked to attend some group meetings to discuss ways of taking care of the floor and keeping it clean.

Assessments will be repeated 12 months after the floor has been delivered, and additional interviews will be held with a small number of randomly selected participants. Throughout the 12 months following delivery of the intervention, investigators will make unannounced visits to households to check the condition of the floor. Participants will also be offered treatment for parasitic worm infections after assessments have been completed at the start and end of the project.

Read the detailed description

Earthen floors are often damp or dusty and difficult to clean, providing an ideal environment for faecal pathogens and parasites. Cross-sectional studies have revealed associations between household flooring and health outcomes, but robust experimental evidence is scant. This study will evaluate the impact of an improved household flooring intervention on enteric infections, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, and tungiasis through implementation of a cluster-randomised trial in two rural settings in Kwale and Bungoma Counties, Kenya.

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an improved flooring intervention in reducing the burden of enteric infections, STH and tungiasis in participating households through implementation of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) in two distinct settings in rural Kenya. The primary objectives are to quantify impact on the prevalence of enteric infections, STH infections, and tungiasis. Secondary objectives include assessing impact on the wellbeing of caregivers and children, self-report gastrointestinal illness in children, and the extent to which entero-pathogen and parasitic contamination of floors is reduced within the home. We will also examine the differential effects across community and household contexts (including water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, animal husbandry, user adherence and study site). Lastly, we deliver a process evaluation to determine the practicality, acceptability, costs, and durability of the improved flooring intervention and how environmental, installation, and use factors affect these.

In total, 440 clusters (households) across both sites are allocated to either control or intervention group, in which a low-cost, sealed, washable cement-based floor is installed in all eligible buildings of the dwelling, alongside a floor care guide provided during an induction meeting. Prevalence of enteric infections in children under 5 years will be assessed via stool surveys and PCR; prevalence of tungiasis infection in children 1-14 years based on clinical exam; and prevalence of STH infection in all household members over 1 year assessed via Kato-Katz. Following the 12-month implementation period and final assessments, control households will be offered improved floors.

Being tested
Sealed washable floor plus behaviour change, Behaviour change intervention, Routine deworming, treatment for tungiasis
Medical subject headings
Hookworm Infections, Trichuriasis, Tungiasis

What participants receive

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

  • Sealed washable floor plus behaviour changeOther

    Replacement of rudimentary floors with a cement stabilised floor in all rooms in the dwelling

  • Behaviour change interventionBehavioural

    Support for behaviour change through 'floor clubs' and the provision of printed guides

  • Routine dewormingDrug

    Also called albendazole

    Treatment of all household members for STH infections (400 mg albendazole in those aged 24 months and above; 200 mg albendazole in those aged 12-23 months)

  • treatment for tungiasisProcedure or surgery

    Treatment of tungiasis in those affected by heavy infections (at 0 and 12 months) according to county Department of Health recommendations

Study groups in NCT05914363
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Intervention (improved floor)Experimental* Replacement of rudimentary floors with an improved floor, * Support for behaviour change through 'floor clubs'. * Annual mass treatment for STH infections (400 mg albendazole) * Treatment of tungiasis in those affected by heavy infections (at 0 and 12 months) according to county DoH recommendations
Receives: Other: Sealed washable floor plus behaviour change; Behavioral: Behaviour change intervention; Drug: Routine deworming; Procedure: treatment for tungiasis
Control (rudimental floor)Active comparator* Annual mass treatment for STH infections (400 mg albendazole) * Treatment of tungiasis in those affected by heavy infections (at 0 and 12 months) according to county DoH recommendations
Receives: Drug: Routine deworming; Procedure: treatment for tungiasis

What is being measured

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

  1. Enteric infections

    Prevalence of enteric infections (detected through PCR) in children under 5 years old will be assessed using cross-sectional stool surveys including all enrolled children under 5 years before installation of floors and 12 months after receiving the floors. Pathogens to be identified from those observed at baseline using a multipathogen panel on a subset of 100 samples.

    Measured: 12 months

  2. Tungiasis infections

    Prevalence of tungiasis (detected through clinical examination of hands and feet) in children under 15 years old will be assessed using cross-sectional clinical assessment surveys including all enrolled children under 15 years before installation of floors and 12 months after receiving the floors.

    Measured: 12 months

  3. STH infections

    Prevalence of at least one STH infection (hookworm, ascaris and trichuris infections; detected through kato katz) in all household members 12 months and older will be assessed using cross-sectional stool surveys including all enrolled people over 12 months of age before installation of floors and 12 months after receiving the floors.

    Measured: 12 months

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Gastrointestinal illness

    Prevalence of gastrointestinal illness in children under 5 years - assessed in both study arms based on caregiver reported symptoms

    Measured: 12 months

  2. Intensity and severity of tungiasis

    Intensity of tungiasis and severity of acute and chronic tungiasis-associated pathology in children <15 years - assessed using clinical severity scores (range: 0-110, high scores indicating increased severity/worse outcome)

    Measured: 12 months

  3. Quality of Life for children aged 8 to 14 years

    Quality of Life assessed in children ages 8 to 14 years in both arms using the standardised EQ5D-Y (EuroQol 5-dimension health-related quality of life tool for children; values are anchored at 1 (full health) and 0 (a state as bad as being dead))

    Measured: 12 months

  4. Quality of Life and subjective wellbeing in primary caregivers

    Quality of Life assessed in primary caregivers in both arms using the standardised EQ5D tool (EuroQol 5-dimension health-related quality of life tool for adults; values are anchored at 1 (full health) and 0 (a state as bad as being dead))

    Measured: 12 months

  5. Prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides infection

    Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm) infection prevalence in all household members >1 year assessed using Kato Katz

    Measured: 12 months

  6. Prevalence of hookworm infection

    Hookworm infection prevalence in all household members >1 year assessed using Kato Katz

    Measured: 12 months

  7. Prevalence of Trichuris trichiura infection

    1. trichiura (whipworm) infection prevalence in all household members >1 year assessed using Kato Katz

    Measured: 12 months

  8. Environmental contamination - enteric pathogens

    Environmental contamination for human-specific and animal faecal markers - assessed from dust/soil samples from household cooking areas and living rooms using PCR.

    Measured: 12 months

  9. Environmental contamination - tungiasis

    Contamination of floors with eggs, larvae, pupae and adults of T. penetrans - assessed through entomology soil surveys

    Measured: 6 months

Timeline

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

  1. First posted22 Jun 2023
  2. Study start12 Apr 2023
  3. Primary completion31 Aug 2024
  4. Study completion30 Sep 2024

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
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Single Group Assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
2,200 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05914363
Sponsor's protocol ID
28307
Other IDs
424/4
Acronym
SABABU
Status last verified
Jun 2024
First submitted
5 Apr 2023
Last updated
30 Jan 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Data collected from this study and underlying each article (text, tables, figures, and appendices), including quantitative, de-identified, individual participant data and a data dictionary, will be made available following publication of the article(s).

Publications

  • Halliday KE, Kepha S, Legge H, Allen E, Dreibelbis R, Elson L, Kakoi BK, Mcharo C, Muli S, Mwongeli J, Njomo D, Njoroge MM, Ochwal V, Oswald WE, Rono M, Safari TK, Filinger U, Kaluli JW, Mwandawiro CS, Pullan RL. Evaluating impacts of improved flooring on enteric and parasitic infections in rural households in Kenya: study protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2025 Jun 6;15(6):e090464. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-090464.

    PubMed 40480665

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Sealed washable floor plus behaviour change, Behaviour change intervention and Routine deworming in people with Diarrhoeal Disease and Hookworm Infection, run by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at 1 site in Kenya.

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 1 inclusion and 1 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 30 Jan 2025. 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 Kenya. 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?

Enteric infections (time frame: 12 months). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT05914363, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 30 Jan 2025.

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