A landmark international study aiming to significantly reduce mortality among premature and undersized infants is set to begin enrolling participants in Kenya, with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) confirmed as a key research site.

The Probiotics in Preterm and Small for Gestational Age Infants (PROPS) trial is an international study testing whether probiotics can help save the lives of small and premature babies. These infants are 2–10 times more likely to die or suffer serious illnesses like infections, bowel disease, and poor growth compared to healthy newborns.

The study will enroll 14,000 babies in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Kenya (2,900 in Kenya).2000 preterms ,900 Term small for gestational age babies.Eligible infants, less than 48 hours old, will be randomly assigned to receive either probiotics or a placebo daily for 28 days. They will then be followed until six months of age to check for survival, growth, and illness.

The main goals are to see if probiotics reduce deaths in preterm babies and improve healthy growth in small-for-age babies. Researchers will also track infections, hospitalizations, feeding, and weight gain, while stool samples will help understand how probiotics affect gut bacteria.

Results will provide much-needed evidence to guide health policies on probiotics for newborns, especially in low- and middle-income countries where risks for small and preterm babies remain high.