Assessing equity in effects of nutritional supplementation for child growth, development, and anemia

Undernutrition in early childhood causes stunted growth, cognitive delays, and anemia, with effects often magnified among children from the poorest households. Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) are effective in addressing undernutrition and improving child development. As momentum builds to scale up SQ-LNS for children aged 6-24 months in the Global South, a key concern is achieving equity in its distribution and outcomes. We performed equity analysis of individual participant data from 14 randomized controlled trials in nine countries (N=37,707 children) to assess SQ-LNS effects on child growth, development, and anemia across levels of an international wealth index. Benefits of SQ-LNS were consistent across the wealth spectrum, leading to similar improvements in child growth, development, and anemia regardless of wealth. However, such equal benefits of SQ-LNS did not erase large inequities in child growth and development between the poorest and wealthier households.