Uganda Birth Cohort Study

This study aimed to assess the role of livelihoods, agriculture and nutrition in improving maternal and child nutrition and health in rural Uganda in communities that were a part of an ongoing program that was un-related to the study. The overall aim of this study was to understand the effect of participating in an ongoing program that provided support on nutrition, agriculture, water, hygiene and sanitation and the change over time in the nutritional status of mothers and children under two years of age. The specific objectives of this observational study were as follows: 1. To compare health and nutrition status of pregnant women in communities participating in the Community Connector project to those that were not participating in the program 2. To assess the aflatoxin levels in pregnancy and test its association with birth outcomes and early life growth as measured by weight and length 3. To assess environmental enteropathy in pregnancy and test its association with birth outcomes and early life growth 4. To assess access to coverage and adherence to information/messages and engagement in Community Connector project's activities 5. To determine heterogeneity in program exposure and variability in household and agro-ecological characteristics and its relationship with maternal and infant health and nutrition status