Research Officer – IBAM 2

JOB PURPOSE:

Globally, acute malnutrition affects 8.5 million infants under 6 months of age (u6m). These malnourished infants u6m are at elevated risk of death during admission, death after discharge from hospital and subsequent neurodevelopmental impairment. The 2020 national guidelines for integrated management of acute malnutrition for infants and children (IMAM) recommend that for hospitalised malnourished infants u6m the treatment should focus on re-establishing exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) with discharge when consistent weight gain of >20g/day is achieved on breastmilk alone. In Kilifi, implementing these guidelines, achieved 81% infants exclusively breastfeeding by discharge (IBAMI-1). Breastfeeding peer supporters were central in enabling mothers to achieve success. However upon follow-up 4 weeks after discharge the weight gain could not be sustained and mothers reported finding it challenging to maintain EBF at home. This follow-on study will investigate the hypothesis that providing support during transition from hospital to home environment will help improve nutritional recovery among this vulnerable group of infants (IBAMI-2). The study will take part in two phases. Phase 1 will use participatory and qualitative approaches to develop and pilot test a post-discharge breast-feeding support intervention (BFSI). Phase 2 will involve a randomized control trial to measure the impact of the intervention on growth, EBF and neurodevelopmental outcomes of malnourished infants discharged from hospital following a serious illness.

The post-holder will join the team to lead the implementation of Phase 1 of the IBAMI-2 study. The post holder will be a social scientist and will work closely with the Principal Investigator and the lead social scientist supporting the development, coordination and implementation of the IBAMI-2 social science protocol. The overall focus of the first phase of IBAMI-2 study is to conduct formative research, intervention development and piloting of the intervention. The phase 1 will employ qualitative and participatory approaches to develop and pilot test a post-discharge breastfeeding support intervention. The key objectives are: i) To engage with national and county level Maternal, Infant and Young Child (MIYCN) stakeholders to develop a structured breastfeeding support intervention (BFSI) for mothers of infants discharged from hospital following admission for an acute serious illness and with a diagnosis of malnutrition. ii) To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the BFSI among intervention implementers and a group of 20 mothers whose infants u6m are discharged from hospital following admission for an acute serious illness and with a diagnosis of malnutrition.

The post holder will contribute to the development of data collection tools, organise and conduct policy and document review; stakeholder mapping and analysis; participatory intervention development; empiric work including primary data collection (indepth interviews and focus groups discussions with community members and stakeholders) during the qualitative and participatory assessment of intervention feasibility and acceptability, data analysis and report writing.

He/she will work together with colleagues, and other staff involved in the IBAMI-2 study and at the Kemri-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) in Kilifi. The post holder will also contribute to wider social science research activities within the KWTRP and related research networks including presenting the work in various internal and external forums as needed.

qualitative and participatory assessment of intervention feasibility and acceptability, data analysis and report writing.

He/she will work together with colleagues, and other staff involved in the IBAMI-2 study and at the Kemri-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) in Kilifi. The post holder will also contribute to wider social science research activities within the KWTRP and related research networks including presenting the work in various internal and external forums as needed.

BUDGET AND RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY:

• Responsible for a laptop computer, study phone, and one or more digital voice recorders used in this work; and for petty cash budgets associated with fieldwork activities and organizing meetings.**

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The research officer will initially work with senior team members to develop the specifc set of work and will likely, therefore be responsible for:

• Liaising with the social science lead and community engagement team to develop a community engagement strategy for IBAMI-2 study

• Contributing to the development of the research implementation plan and refining data collection tools.

• Conduct a policy and document review related to post-discharge care of sick infants and identify key stakeholders and components of post-dishcharge care that may be incooperated to a post-discharge breastfeeding support intervention (BFSI)

• Conduct stakeholders analysis and mapping to identify key stakeholders in infant health and nutrition at national and county level using maximum variation sampling and snow balling techniques.

• Drawing on theory and empirical evidence, apply participatory methods to engage with stakeholders in developing and refining the BFSI intervention.

• To co-ordinate and lead in piloting of the BFSI intervention among 20 mother-infant pairs and assess feasibiity and acceptability of the intervention among recipients and implementers.

• Conducting primary research including the use of ethnographic approaches such as non-participant observation and in-depth interviews, focus group discussions both alone and together with other investigators.

• Supporting the coordination of research and data collection activities including supporting the IBAMI-2 field worker through data collection and providing support in community entry.

Qualifications:

• MSc/MPhil that provides a strong theoretical foundation in social science/health systems / organizational research OR an MSc/MPH with a Nutrition/Public health focus and the use of qualitative research methods

• Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences including Sociology, Anthropology OR health sciences including Nutrition, Nursing, Public health.

• An excellent academic track record as evidenced by grades for undergraduate and post-graduate training

• At least 3 years of health research experience.

• Demonstrable experience of the conduct of prior relevant research such as empirical social science studies that include data analysis and report writing, or equivalent experience

• Computer literacy with proficiency in Microsoft applications.