A School-Based Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Nutrition Behavior Change Communication Interventions in Improving Nutritional Status and Academic Performance of Schoolchildren in South Ethiopia: Study Protocol

Background: School aged children in developing countries are vulnerable to malnutrition, which leads to stunting and can have adverse effects on mental development and academic performance at school. Despite several decades of work in improving childhood nutrition in Ethiopia, stunting remains a major public health concern with lack of evidence on its effect on school performance. The primary aim of this study is to addresses this gap by evaluating the effect of behavior change communication intervention on nutritional status and academic performance among school aged children in Meskan District of South Ethiopia.