Huda 2012.
| Study characteristics | ||
| Methods | Poorly described cluster‐RCT. Partial report of the SHEWA‐B trial focused on changing 11 targeted behaviours in villages to measure the impact on diarrhoea and respiratory illness amongst children. Unit of randomisation is not clear, but was probably a village. A group of 10 to 17 households within a village were the participants, based on the household having at least 1 child under the age of 5. | |
| Participants | A total of 1692 participants (intervention = 848, control = 844) at baseline and 1699 participants at 18 months (intervention = 849, control = 850) Households were eligible if they have a child < 5 years of age and a guardian agreed to participate. |
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| Interventions | SHEWA‐B programme targeting improved latrine coverage and usage, access to and use of arsenic‐free water, and improved hygiene practices using soaps. See Table 4 for details. | |
| Outcomes | Laboratory: none described in methods and none reported Effectiveness: ARI and diarrhoea. ARI defined as cough and fever or difficulty breathing and fever within 48 h prior to interview. Safety: none described in methods and none reported |
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| Notes | The authors conclude that “The prevalence of childhood diarrhea and respiratory illness was similar in the intervention and control communities”. Poorly reported trial |
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| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Mentions random‐number tables, but not clear if this was for random selection or randomisation |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Method not described |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | High risk | Unblinded |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | High risk | Data on illness were collected by a resident of the village, who was likely to know treatment allocation. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | High risk | Not reported. No flow diagram |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Unclear risk | Unlikely that other outcomes were measured and not reported |