BACKGROUND:
In South Africa’s townships, maternal malnutrition is a direct cause of neonatal sepsis and low birth weight. The core problem is not just a lack of food, but a disconnect between medical advice and economic reality. Public health clinics routinely advise pregnant women to eat meat and dairy for iron and protein, which is very correct. However, for undocumented or unemployed mothers, this advice is financially impossible to follow. As a result, they rely on cheap starches, leading to iron-deficiency anemia and weak immune systems in their newborns. This protocol outlines "NeoReach Africa," a student-led initiative testing whether we can fix this by changing the source of the protein, not just the quantity.

METHODS:
We are conducting a pilot cohort study (n=10) in Mamelodi East. The intervention tests a model of "Economic Substitution." Instead of buying expensive meat, we provide "NeoNutri" starter parcels containing indigenous plant proteins (lentils, beans, canola oil etc.). Crucially, we combine this with the "Vitality Blueprint" workshop, which teaches mothers how to combine these plants (e.g., adding Vitamin C) to make the iron just as absorbable as meat. We measure success by tracking maternal hemoglobin levels and gestational weight gain over three months, while also providing "NeoCare" sterile birth kits to reduce infection risks during delivery. Expected Outcomes: We expect to prove that mothers can achieve healthy iron levels without increasing their food budget. By showing them that affordable, indigenous plants are medically superior to the processed foods they crave, we aim to reduce rates of maternal anemia and subsequent neonatal sepsis.

CONCLUSIONS:
Poverty often renders standard medical advice ineffective. This protocol argues that for public health to work, it must align with the patient's pocket. We aim to validate a low-cost, plant-based model that transforms local resources into a clinical solution for neonatal health.