Journal Article

Abstract

Nutritional deficiencies are a major contributor to lost productivity, impaired physical and mental development, susceptibility to various diseases, and premature deaths. Increasing dietary diversity is therefore an important strategy to improve development outcomes. This study investigates the impact of the Uganda Community Connector Project (UCCP) integrated nutrition, water-sanitation-hygiene (WaSH), rural credit and agriculture program on the dietary quality of smallholder farm households in Uganda.

Abstract

Background

Anemia is an etiologically heterogeneous condition affecting over half of preschool-aged children in South Asia. An urgent need exists to elucidate context-specific causes of anemia to effectively address this issue.

Objective

This study investigated national trends and stability in the prevalence of child anemia and associated risk factors from 2013–2016.

Design

Abstract

The value of animal-sourced foods (ASFs) in providing key nutrients, particularly for child growth and where diets are of low quality, is understood mainly from cross-sectional assessment of current consumption. Longitudinal panel data from Nepal, Bangladesh and Uganda were used here to assess associations among previous (lagged) and contemporaneous ASF intake with linear growth of children aged 6–24 months.

Abstract

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is the hydroxylated metabolite of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) formed in the liver of mammals and subsequently excreted in breastmilk (BM) of mammals. Humans are exposed to AFM1 mainly through the consumption of aflatoxin contaminated milk and foods. Determining levels of AFM1 is of significant public health importance due to the risk of exposure to breastfeeding infants. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of AFM1 in BM and assess factors associated with BM AFM1 levels in mothers.

Abstract

Background:

Nutritional status has important implications for labor productivity, lifetime earnings, and country-wide economic development. Dietary diversity is an important contributor to nutrition.

Objective:

To identify how patterns of food consumption are related to dietary diversity and to measure the potential for policy interventions to influence diet complexity.

Abstract

Background

Dietary diversity can play an important role in providing essential nutrients for both mother and fetus during pregnancy. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with dietary diversity during pregnancy in the western hill region of Nepal.

Why did the UN World Food Programme (WFP) receive the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize? And what does that have to do with nutrition? The answer to both questions is embedded in renewed concerns globally about food insecurity.

During 2020, this strangest of years, food has emerged as an important narrative shadowing COVID-19 at every step. During the early months of the pandemic, the focus of much attention was on the effects on food supply chains of lockdown rules brought in to control viral spread... [continued]

Abstract

The relationship between elevation of residence and a child's linear growth was studied using data for 8824 children below the age of 5 years born between 2001 and 2016 at elevations ranging from 50 to 3200 m above sea level in Nepal. Multiple regression was used to measure the role of a variety of household and community factors in explaining the observed elevation effect.

Abstract

Background

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) may influence growth during and recovery from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), however, biomarkers to assess these relations have yet to be identified.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to: 1) develop a score for EED based on host fecal mRNA transcripts, 2) compare biomarkers of EED with each other, and 3) examine associations between the EED biomarkers and recovery from MAM and growth outcomes.

Abstract

Background

Naturally occurring aflatoxins may contribute to poor growth and nutritional statuses in children.

Objectives

We analyzed the relationship between contemporary and lagged aflatoxin exposure and 1) length-for-age z-score (LAZ); and 2) length, knee-heel length, stunting, weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), and weight-for-length z-score (WLZ).

Methods