| 1. |
- Sysoev, Oleg, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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PSICA : Decision trees for probabilistic subgroup identification with categorical treatments
- 2019
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In: Statistics in Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0277-6715 .- 1097-0258. ; 38:22, s. 4436-4452
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Personalized medicine aims at identifying best treatments for a patient with given characteristics. It has been shown in the literature that these methods can lead to great improvements in medicine compared to traditional methods prescribing the same treatment to all patients. Subgroup identification is a branch of personalized medicine, which aims at finding subgroups of the patients with similar characteristics for which some of the investigated treatments have a better effect than the other treatments. A number of approaches based on decision trees have been proposed to identify such subgroups, but most of them focus on two-arm trials (control/treatment) while a few methods consider quantitative treatments (defined by the dose). However, no subgroup identification method exists that can predict the best treatments in a scenario with a categorical set of treatments. We propose a novel method for subgroup identification in categorical treatment scenarios. This method outputs a decision tree showing the probabilities of a given treatment being the best for a given group of patients as well as labels showing the possible best treatments. The method is implemented in an R package psica available on CRAN. In addition to a simulation study, we present an analysis of a community-based nutrition intervention trial that justifies the validity of our method.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Berhane, Hanna Y, et al.
(author)
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Mixed blessings: : A qualitative exploration of mothers' experience of child care and feeding in the rapidly urbanizing city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- 2018
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 13:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Many studies have drawn attention to the vital role mothers have in safeguarding the health and nutritional wellbeing of their children. However, little is known about mothers' experiences and the challenges they face in fulfilling this role in rapidly urbanizing cities in Africa. This study aims to explore child care and feeding practices of mothers with children under five years of age in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This qualitative study was conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. A total of thirty-six interviews were conducted with purposively selected participants. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and translated for analysis. We used a thematic analysis approach, which was guided by a resilience framework. The findings are presented as three major themes. 1) 'Mixed blessings-balancing motherhood's expectations'. While mothers identified positively with the social recognition and sense of fulfillment of being a 'good mother', they were ambivalent/torn about earning the necessary income from outside work and fulfilling their duties at home. 2) 'Instabilities due to rampant urban sprawl'. While women expressed a keen desire to balance work and motherhood, the disintegrating social capital, due to large in-migration, market fluctuations and abrupt/forced resettlements to new housing units had left mothers without support for childcare, stressed and exhausted. 3) 'Anchored by faith: a source of resilience to cope with adversities'. In the face of the multiple adversities, mothers cited their strong faith as their most reliable foundation for their resilience. In summary, the societal and environmental changes accompanying the rapid urbanization in low income settings makes combining child care and working outside the home very challenging for mothers. As a result they suffer from fatigue and feelings of isolation. Efforts to improve child feeding and care in urban low-income settings need to consider context appropriate strategies that support mothers with small children.
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| 4. |
- Berhane, Hanna Y, et al.
(author)
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What Influences Urban Mothers' Decisions on What to Feed Their Children Aged Under Five-The Case of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- 2018
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In: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643. ; 10:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mothers carry the prime responsibility for childcare and feeding in low-income countries. Understanding their experiences in providing food for their children is paramount to informing efforts to improve the nutritional status of children. Such information is lacking in Sub-Saharan Africa. To understand what influences urban mothers' food acquisition and their motivations for selecting food for their children, 36 in-depth interviews were carried out with mothers having children under five years of age. Interviews were conducted in the local language, audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis which led to the identification of four major themes: mothers give-in to a child-driven diet; quick-fix versus the privilege of planning; keen awareness on food safety, nutrition, and diet diversity; and social, familial, and cultural influences. The findings indicate that child feeding practices are influenced by interlinked social and environmental factors. Hence, nutrition education campaigns should focus on targeting not only families but also their children. Attention should also be given to food safety regulations, as well as to the much-needed support of mothers who are struggling to ensure their children's survival in low-income countries.
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| 5. |
- Brandström, Josef, et al.
(author)
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Individually dosed omalizumab facilitates peanut oral immunotherapy in peanut allergic adolescents
- 2019
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In: Clinical and Experimental Allergy. - : Wiley. - 0954-7894 .- 1365-2222. ; 49:10, s. 1328-1341
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Peanut oral immunotherapy (pOIT) has showed good short-term outcomes, but allergic reactions may prevent effective up-dosing and is a major cause of stopping OIT. In placebo-controlled trials, omalizumab has been shown to facilitate allergen immunotherapy and increase tolerance to peanut.Objective: We hypothesized that by combining omalizumab with pOIT, and monitor treatment effects with basophil allergen threshold sensitivity tests (CD-sens), peanut allergic patients could safely initiate pOIT and thereafter slowly withdraw omalizumab.Methods: This is the 2nd part of a one-armed open phase-2 study where peanut allergic adolescents (n = 23) started pOIT after an individualized omalizumab treatment. The pOIT dose was increased from 280 to 2800 mg peanut protein in 8 weeks followed by an individualized step-wise withdrawal of omalizumab, based on clinical symptoms and CD-sens levels. pOIT continued for 12 weeks followed by an open peanut challenge. Peanut CD-sens and allergen-binding activity (ABA) and IgE-ab, IgG-ab and IgG4-ab to peanut and its components were measured during the study.Results: All 23 patients successfully reached the 2800 mg maintenance dose. Moderate/systemic allergic reactions were rare while receiving full-dose omalizumab. Eleven of 23 (48%) successfully continued with pOIT after omalizumab was stopped. Compared to treatment failures, median baseline IgE-ab to peanut components Ara h 1-3 and CD-sens to peanut were significantly lower among successfully treated patients and IgG4-ab to peanut, Ara h 2 and 6 increased significantly more during treatment.Conclusions and clinical relevance: This study indicates that omalizumab is an effective adjunctive therapy for initiation and rapid up-dosing of pOIT; however, adverse events from pOIT become more frequent as omalizumab doses are decreased.
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| 6. |
- Chola, Lumbwe, et al.
(author)
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Cost-Effectiveness of Peer Counselling for the Promotion of Exclusive Breastfeeding in Uganda.
- 2015
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 10:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Community based breastfeeding promotion programmes have been shown to be effective in increasing breastfeeding prevalence. However, there is limited data on the cost-effectiveness of these programmes in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper evaluates the cost-effectiveness of a breastfeeding promotion intervention targeting mothers and their 0 to 6 month old children.METHODS: Data were obtained from a community randomized trial conducted in Uganda between 2006-2008, and supplemented with evidence from several studies in sub-Saharan Africa. In the trial, peer counselling was offered to women in intervention clusters. In the control and intervention clusters, women could access standard health facility breastfeeding promotion services (HFP). Thus, two methods of breastfeeding promotion were compared: community based peer counselling (in addition to HFP) and standard HFP alone. A Markov model was used to calculate incremental cost-effectiveness ratios between the two strategies. The model estimated changes in breastfeeding prevalence and disability adjusted life years. Costs were estimated from a provider perspective. Uncertainty around the results was characterized using one-way sensitivity analyses and a probabilistic sensitivity analysis.FINDINGS: Peer counselling more than doubled the breastfeeding prevalence as reported by mothers, but there was no observable impact on diarrhoea prevalence. Estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were US$68 per month of exclusive or predominant breastfeeding and U$11,353 per disability adjusted life year (DALY) averted. The findings were robust to parameter variations in the sensitivity analyses.CONCLUSIONS: Our strategy to promote community based peer counselling is unlikely to be cost-effective in reducing diarrhoea prevalence and mortality in Uganda, because its cost per DALY averted far exceeds the commonly assumed willingness-to-pay threshold of three times Uganda's GDP per capita (US$1653). However, since the intervention significantly increases prevalence of exclusive or predominant breastfeeding, it could be adopted in Uganda if benefits other than reducing the occurrence of diarrhoea are believed to be important.
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| 7. |
- Contreras, Mariela, 1979-
(author)
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Child nutrition in rural Nicaragua : Population-based studies in a transitional society
- 2015
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Emerging favourable as well as unfavourable nutrition patterns are observed in societies undergoing rapid social and economic change. The aim of this thesis is to analyse the associations between household and maternal resources and infant and young child feeding habits and nutritional status in rural Nicaragua, a low-income transitional society.All households (n=1,500) in Los Cuatro Santos with at least one child (0-3 y) were visited to collect information on feeding of the youngest child. Children´s anthropometry was also measured using standardised World Health Organisation (WHO) techniques. Validated instruments were used to assess household and maternal resources. All instruments had been adapted to the local context and piloted in a nearby community. The education of the mother showed more independent variation in the studied outcomes. The odds for exclusive breastfeeding were highest in infants aged 0 to 5 months of mothers with the lowest education. Further, children aged 6 to 35 months with lowest educated mothers were less likely to consume highly processed snacks (HP snacks) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). They were also less likely to be exposed to a double burden of suboptimal feeding (concurrent unmet WHO recommended feeding practices and consumption of HP snacks or SSBs). However, children aged 6 to 35 months were more prone to infrequently meet dietary diversity and to more shortness. Children in the same age group with lower educated mothers were also shorter in households with the lowest housing quality.Higher level of maternal education contributed both favourably and unfavourably to child feeding and nutrition. This was reflected in more and less frequent practice of the WHO feeding indicators, but also in more frequent children´s consumption of HP snacks and SSBs. Higher maternal education was associated with taller children, even in households with the lowest housing quality.
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| 8. |
- Contreras, Mariela, 1979-, et al.
(author)
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Consumption of highly processed snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages and child feeding practices in a rural area of Nicaragua
- 2016
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In: Maternal and Child Nutrition. - : Wiley. - 1740-8695 .- 1740-8709. ; 12:1, s. 164-176
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Appropriate feeding behaviours are important for child growth and development. In societies undergoing nutrition transition, new food items are introduced that may be unfavourable for child health. Set in rural Nicaragua, the aim of this study was to describe the infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices as well as the consumption of highly processed snack foods (HP snacks) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). All households with at least one child 0- to 35-month-old (n = 1371) were visited to collect information on current IYCF practices in the youngest child as well as consumption of SSBs and HP snacks. Breastfeeding was dominant (98%) among 0- to 1-month-olds and continued to be prevalent (60%) in the second year, while only 34% of the 0- to 5-month-olds were exclusively breastfed. Complementary feeding practices were deemed acceptable for only 59% of the 6- to 11-month-old infants, with low dietary diversity reported for 50% and inadequate meal frequency reported for 30%. Consumption of HP snacks and SSBs was frequent and started early; among 6- to 8-month-olds, 42% and 32% had consumed HP snacks and SSBs, respectively. The difference between the observed IYCF behaviours and World Health Organization recommendations raises concern of increased risk of infections and insufficient intake of micronutrients that may impair linear growth. The concurrent high consumption of SSBs and HP snacks may increase the risk of displacing the recommended feeding behaviours. To promote immediate and long-term health, growth and development, there is a need to both promote recommended IYCF practices as well as discourage unfavourable feeding behaviours.
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| 9. |
- Contreras, Mariela, 1979-, et al.
(author)
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Socio-economic resources, young child feeding practices, consumption of highly processed snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages : a population-based survey in rural northwestern Nicaragua
- 2015
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In: BMC Public Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2458. ; 15
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Socio-economic resources may be associated with infant feeding in complex patterns in societies undergoing a nutrition transition. This study evaluates associations of housing quality, food security and maternal education to the World Health Organization (WHO) feeding recommendations and to consumption of highly processed snacks (HP snacks) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in rural Nicaragua. Methods: Data were collected from May to November 2009, with mothers of 0- to 35-month-olds being asked about young child feeding using a food frequency questionnaire. A validated questionnaire was used to assess household food insecurity and data were collected on maternal education and housing quality. Pearson's chi-squared test was used to compare proportions and determine associations between the resources and young child feeding. The three socio-economic resources and other confounders were introduced to multivariate logistic regression analyses to assess the independent contribution of the resources to the feeding practices and consumption of HP snacks and SSBs. Results: Mothers with the lowest education level were more likely to be exclusively breastfeeding (EBF) their infants (OR not EBF: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.51), whilst mothers of 6- to 35-month-olds in the lowest education category had more inadequate dietary diversity (DD) (OR for not meet DD: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.36, 3.08), were less likely to consume HP snacks (OR for HP snacks: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.32, 0.68) and SSBs (OR for SSBs: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.98), compared to mothers with the highest level of education. Similarly, children residing in households with the highest food insecurity were also more prone to have inadequate dietary diversity (OR for not meet DD: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.05). The odds for double burden of suboptimal feeding (concurrent inadequate diet and consumption of HP snacks/SSBs) were significantly lower in children of least educated mothers (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.92). Conclusions: Higher level of education was associated with both more and less adherence to the WHO recommended feeding practices as well as with more consumption of HP snacks and SSBs. Regardless of educational strata, the children in the community were exposed to suboptimal feeding practices conducive to both under-as well as overnutrition.
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| 10. |
- Ekström, Eva-Charlotte, et al.
(author)
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Effects of prenatal micronutrient and early food supplementation on metabolic status of the offspring at 4.5 years of age. The MINIMat randomized trial in rural Bangladesh.
- 2016
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In: International Journal of Epidemiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0300-5771 .- 1464-3685. ; 45:5, s. 1656-1667
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Fetal nutritional insults may alter the later metabolic phenotype. We hypothesized that early timing of prenatal food supplementation and multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) would favourably influence childhood metabolic phenotype.METHODS: Pregnant women recruited 1 January to 31 December 2002 in Matlab, Bangladesh, were randomized into supplementation with capsules of either 30 mg of iron and 400 μg of folic acid, 60 mg of iron and 400 μg of folic acid, or MMS containing a daily allowance of 15 micronutrients, and randomized to food supplementation (608 kcal) either with early invitation (9 weeks' gestation) or usual invitation (at 20 weeks). Their children (n = 1667) were followed up at 4.5 years with assessment of biomarkers of lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammation and oxidative stress.RESULTS: Children in the group with early timing of food supplementation had lower cholesterol (difference -0.079 mmol/l, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.156; -0.003), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (difference -0.068 mmol/l, 95% CI -0.126; -0.011) and ApoB levels (difference -0.017 g/l, 95% CL -0.033; -0.001). MMS supplementation resulted in lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (difference -0.028 mmol/l, 95% CL -0.053; -0.002), lower glucose (difference -0.099 mmol/l, 95% CL -0.179; -0.019) and lower insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) (difference on log scale -0.141 µg/l, 95% CL -0.254; -0.028) than 60 mg iron and 400 μg folic acid. There were no effects on markers of inflammation or oxidative stress.CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that in a population where malnutrition is prevalent, nutrition interventions during pregnancy may modify the metabolic phenotype in the young child that could have consequences for later chronic disease risks.
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| 11. |
- Forsén, Emmanuel, et al.
(author)
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Predicted implications of using percentage weight gain as single discharge criterion in management of acute malnutrition in rural southern Ethiopia
- 2015
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In: Maternal and Child Nutrition. - : Wiley. - 1740-8695 .- 1740-8709. ; 11:4, s. 962-972
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is increasingly used in identifying and admitting children with acute malnutrition for treatment. It is easy to use because it does not involve height assessment, but its use calls for alternative discharge criteria. This study examined how use of percentage weight gain as discharge criterion would affect the nutritional status of children admitted into a community-based management programme for acute malnutrition in rural southern Ethiopia. Non-oedematous children (n = 631) aged 6-59 months and having a MUAC of <125 mm were studied. By simulation, 10%, 15% and 20% weight was added to admission weight and their nutritional status by weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) was determined at each target. Moderate and severe wasting according to World Health Organization WHZ definitions was used as outcome. Applying the most commonly recommended target of 15% weight gain resulted in 9% of children with admission MUAC <115 mm still being moderately or severely wasted at theoretical discharge. In children with admission MUAC 115-124 mm, 10% of weight gain was sufficient to generate a similar result. Children failing to recover were the ones with the poorest nutritional status at admission. Increasing the percentage weight gain targets in the two groups to 20% and 15%, respectively, would largely resolve wasting but likely lead to increased programme costs by keeping already recovered children in the programme. Further research is needed on appropriate discharge procedures in programmes using MUAC for screening and admission.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Frith, Amy L, et al.
(author)
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Breast-feeding counselling mitigates the negative association of domestic violence on exclusive breast-feeding duration in rural Bangladesh. The MINIMat randomized trial.
- 2017
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In: Public Health Nutrition. - : Cambridge University Press. - 1368-9800 .- 1475-2727. ; 20:15, s. 2810-2818
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To determine if exclusive breast-feeding counselling modifies the association of experience of any lifetime or specific forms of domestic violence (DV) on duration of exclusive breast-feeding (EBF).DESIGN: In the MINIMat trial pregnant women were randomized to receive either usual health messages (UHM) or usual health messages with breast-feeding counselling (BFC) in eight visits. During pregnancy (30 weeks), lifetime experience of any or specific forms of DV was measured. Infant feeding practice information was collected from 0 to 6 months at 15 d intervals.SETTING: Matlab, Bangladesh.SUBJECTS: Pregnant and postpartum women (n 3186) and their infants.RESULTS: Among women in the UHM group, those who had experienced any lifetime DV exclusively breast-fed for a shorter duration than women who did not experience any lifetime DV (P=0·02). There was no difference, however, in duration of EBF among women in the BFC group based on their experience of any lifetime DV exposure (P=0·48). Using Cox regression analysis, there was an interaction of exposure to any lifetime DV, sexual violence and controlling behaviour, and counselling group with duration of breast-feeding at or before 6 months (P-interaction≤0·08). Among the UHM group, experience of any lifetime DV, sexual violence or controlling behaviour was associated with fewer days of EBF (P<0·05). In contrast, among the BFC group, experience of DV was not associated with duration of EBF.CONCLUSIONS: The experience of DV compromises EBF and the support of breast-feeding counselling programmes could assist this vulnerable group towards better infant feeding practices.
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| 14. |
- Islam, Mohammad Redwanul, et al.
(author)
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Sociocultural Influences on Dietary Practices and Physical Activity Behaviors of Rural Adolescents : A Qualitative Exploration
- 2019
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In: Nutrients. - : MDPI. - 2072-6643. ; 11:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the aftermath of nutrition transition and ever-increasing sedentarism, adolescents globally are exposed to negative health consequences. Diverse sociocultural influences play a critical role in their adoption of unhealthy dietary practices and suboptimal physical activity behaviors. Context-specific understandings of how these sociocultural influences shape adolescents' dietary and physical activity patterns in a rural, resource-limited setting remained elusive. Aiming to address the gap, this qualitative study explored adolescents' and mothers' perception of broader sociocultural aspects that sculpt the food choices, eating habits and physical activity behaviors of adolescents in Matlab, Bangladesh. Six digitally-recorded focus group discussions were transcribed verbatim, translated into English and analyzed thematically. Marked taste-driven dietary preference of adolescents and its prioritization within family by the mothers, popularity of street foods, better understanding of the importance of food hygiene and safety contrasting with narrow perception of balance and diversity in diet, peer influence along with deficient school and community food environment, internalization and rigidity of gender norms were found to be exerting major influence. The findings highlighted key targets for community-based nutrition interventions and endorsed thorough consideration of socio-cultural factors in formulating strategies to promote healthful eating and physical activity behaviors among the adolescents.
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| 15. |
- Kallioinen, Maija, et al.
(author)
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Prenatal early food and multiple micronutrient supplementation trial reduced infant mortality in Bangladesh, but did not influence morbidity
- 2017
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In: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 106:12, s. 1979-1986
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIM: A previous maternal and infant nutrition intervention in rural Matlab, Bangladesh, showed that prenatal nutrient supplements improved child survival, but had no effect on size at birth. This secondary analysis examined whether prenatal multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS), on their own or combined with an early invitation to receive prenatal food supplements, affected child morbidity.METHODS: This randomised trial enrolled 4436 pregnant women from November 2001 to October 2003 and allocated them to early or standard invitations to food supplements, in the ninth and 20th weeks of pregnancy, respectively, and supplements of either the standard 60 mg iron with 400 μg folic acid, 30 mg iron with 400 μg folic acid or MMS. Quasi-Poisson regression was used to analyse morbidity.RESULTS: There were 3560 single live births and 3516 had morbidity data. The incidence rates of fever, diarrhoea and acute lower respiratory tract infection were 15.3, 3.6 and 2.3 episodes per person-year, respectively. The separate or combined interventions had no effect on morbidity up to 24 months.CONCLUSION: Early invitations to prenatal food supplements or prenatal MMS had no effect on common infections in rural Bangladesh, suggesting that earlier findings on improved child survival were not mediated by an effect on child morbidity.
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| 16. |
- Khan, Ashraful, 1969-, et al.
(author)
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Early invitation to food and/or multiple micronutrient supplementation in pregnancy does not affect body composition in offspring at 54 months : follow-up of the MINIMat randomized trial, Bangladesh
- 2015
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In: Maternal and Child Nutrition. - : Wiley. - 1740-8695 .- 1740-8709. ; 11:3, s. 385-397
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Growth patterns in early life are associated with later health. The effect of nutrition during in utero development on later body composition is unclear. We evaluated whether prenatal early invitation to food and/or multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) in pregnancy has an effect on offspring body composition at 54 months of age. In Maternal and Infant Nutrition Interventions in Matlab trial (ISRCTN16581394) in Bangladesh, 4436 pregnant women were randomised into six equally sized groups: double-masked supplementation with capsules of either 30mg Fe and 400g folic acid, or 60mg Fe and 400g folic acid, or MMS (15 micronutrients), was combined with a randomised early invitation (around 9 weeks) or a usual invitation (around 20 weeks) to start food supplementation (608kcal 6 days per week). At 54 months, the body composition of the offspring was assessed by leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis. Of the 3267 live singletons with birth anthropometry, 2290 children were measured at 54 months, representing 70% of the live births. There was no interaction between the food and micronutrient supplementation on body composition outcomes. There were no significant differences in a range of anthropometric and body composition measurements, including weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference, head circumference, skinfold thickness, and fat mass and fat-free mass between the different prenatal food and micronutrient groups using an intention-to-treat analysis. This analysis shows that early invitation to food supplementation and MMS provided to rural Bangladeshi women during pregnancy did not affect offspring body composition at 54 months of age.
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| 17. |
- Khan, Ashraful Islam, 1969-, et al.
(author)
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Effect of a randomised exclusive breastfeeding counselling intervention nested into the MINIMat prenatal nutrition trial in Bangladesh
- 2017
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In: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 106:1, s. 49-54
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIM: It is unknown whether maternal malnutrition reduces the effect of counselling on exclusive breastfeeding. This study evaluated the effect of breastfeeding counselling on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding, and whether the timing of prenatal food and different micronutrient supplements further prolonged this duration.METHODS: Pregnant women in Matlab, Bangladesh, were randomised to receive daily food supplements of 600 kcal at nine weeks of gestation or at the standard 20 weeks. They also were allocated to either 30 mg of iron and 400 μg folic acid, or the standard programme 60 mg of iron and folic acid or multiple micronutrients. At 30 weeks of gestation, 3188 women were randomised to receive either eight breastfeeding counselling sessions or the usual health messages.RESULTS: The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 135 days in the counselling group and 75 days in the usual health message group (p < 0.001). Prenatal supplements did not modify the effects of counselling. Women in the usual health message group who were randomised to multiple micronutrients exclusively breastfed for 12 days longer than mothers receiving the standard iron-folate combination (p = 0.003).CONCLUSION: Breastfeeding counselling increased the duration of exclusive breastfeeding by 60 days. This duration was not influenced by the supplements.
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| 18. |
- Mannan, Tania, et al.
(author)
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Maternal Micronutrient Supplementation and Long Term Health Impact in Children in Rural Bangladesh
- 2016
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Limited data is available on the role of prenatal nutritional status on the health of school-age children. We aimed to determine the impact of maternal micronutrient supplementation on the health status of Bangladeshi children.METHODS: Children (8.6-9.6 years; n = 540) were enrolled from a longitudinal mother-child cohort, where mothers were supplemented daily with either 30mg iron and 400μg folic acid (Fe30F), or 60mg iron and 400μg folic acid (Fe60F), or Fe30F including 15 micronutrients (MM), in rural Matlab. Blood was collected from children to determine the concentration of hemoglobin (Hb) and several micronutrients. Anthropometric and Hb data from these children were also available at 4.5 years of age and mothers at gestational week (GW) 14 and 30.RESULTS: MM supplementation significantly improved (p≤0.05) body mass index-for-age z-score (BAZ), but not Hb levels, in 9 years old children compared to the Fe30F group. MM supplementation also reduced markers of inflammation (p≤0.05). About 28%, 35% and 23% of the women were found to be anemic at GW14, GW30 and both time points, respectively. The prevalence of anemia was 5% and 15% in 4.5 and 9 years old children, respectively. The adjusted odds of having anemia in 9 year old children was 3-fold higher if their mothers were anemic at both GW14 and GW30 [Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.05; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.42, 6.14, P = 0.002] or even higher if they were also anemic at 4.5 years of age [OR = 5.92; 95% CI 2.64, 13.25; P<0.001].CONCLUSION: Maternal micronutrient supplementation imparted beneficial effects on child health. Anemia during pregnancy and early childhood are important risk factors for the occurrence of anemia in school-age children.
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| 19. |
- Mata Forsberg, Manuel, et al.
(author)
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Extracellular Membrane Vesicles from Lactobacilli Dampen IFN-gamma Responses in a Monocyte-Dependent Manner
- 2019
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Secreted factors derived from Lactobacillus are able to dampen pro-inflammatory cytokine responses. Still, the nature of these components and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we aimed to identify the components and the mechanism involved in the Lactobacillus-mediated modulation of immune cell activation. PBMC were stimulated in the presence of the cell free supernatants (CFS) of cultured Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, followed by evaluation of cytokine responses. We show that lactobacilli-CFS effectively dampen induced IFN-gamma and IL-17A responses from T- and NK cells in a monocyte dependent manner by a soluble factor. A proteomic array analysis highlighted Lactobacillus-induced IL-1 receptor antagonist (ra) as a potential candidate responsible for the IFN-gamma dampening activity. Indeed, addition of recombinant IL-1ra to stimulated PBMC resulted in reduced IFN-gamma production. Further characterization of the lactobacilli-CFS revealed the presence of extracellular membrane vesicles with a similar immune regulatory activity to that observed with the lactobacilli-CFS. In conclusion, we have shown that lactobacilli produce extracellular MVs, which are able to dampen pro-inflammatory cytokine responses in a monocyte-dependent manner.
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| 20. |
- Nankabirwa, Victoria, et al.
(author)
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Child survival and BCG vaccination : a community based prospective cohort study in Uganda.
- 2015
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In: BMC Public Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2458. ; 15
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Data on non-specific effects of BCG vaccination in well described, general population African cohorts is scanty. We report the effects of BCG vaccination on post-neonatal infant and post-infancy mortality in a cohort of children in Mbale, Eastern Uganda.METHODS: A community-based prospective cohort study was conducted between January 2006 and February 2014. A total of 819 eligible pregnant women were followed up for pregnancy outcomes and survival of their children up to 5 years of age. Data on the children's BCG vaccination status was collected from child health cards at multiple visits between 3 weeks and 7 years of age. Data was also collected on mothers' residence, age, parity, household income, self-reported HIV status as well as place of birth. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models taking into account potential confounders were used to estimate the association between BCG vaccination and child survival.RESULTS: The neonatal mortality risk was 22 (95% CI: 13, 35), post-neonatal infant mortality 21 (12, 34) per 1,000 live births and the mortality risk among children between 1 and 5 years of age (post-infancy) was 63 (47, 82) per 1,000 live births. The median age at BCG vaccination was 4 days. Out of 819 children, 647 (79%) had received the BCG vaccine by 24 weeks of age. In the adjusted analysis, the rate of post-neonatal death among infants vaccinated with BCG tended to be nearly half of that among those who had not received the vaccine (adjusted HR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.14, 1.53). BCG vaccination was associated with a lower rate of death among children between 1 and 5 years of age (adjusted HR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.48).CONCLUSION: The risk of early childhood death in Mbale, Uganda is unacceptably high. BCG vaccination was associated with an increased likelihood of child survival.
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| 21. |
- Nozawa, Y, et al.
(author)
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Effects of intrauterine growth restriction and postnatal nutrition on pediatric asthma in Bangladesh
- 2019
-
In: Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. - 2040-1744 .- 2040-1752. ; 10:6, s. 627-635
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Numerous studies have investigated the risk of developing asthma due to early-life experiences and environmental exposures. However, the influence of intrauterine growth restriction and postnatal undernutrition on childhood wheezing/asthma remains unclear. Thus, we examined the effects of both small for gestational age (SGA) and postnatal stunted growth on ever asthma among children in the rural areas in Bangladesh.Multiple follow-up studies were conducted in a cohort of randomized clinical trial of nutrition interventions during pregnancy (the MINIMat trial). Overall, 1208 and 1697 children were followed-up for asthma at 4.5 and 10 years, respectively. Anthropometric measurements were obtained at various intervals from birth to 10 years of age. Ever asthma was identified using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire.Results showed that SGA was significantly associated with increased risk of ever asthma at 4.5 and 10 years after adjusting for sex, body mass index, socioeconomic status, family history of asthma, gestational age at birth, mother's parity, mother's age at birth and intervention trial arm [odds ratio (OR)=1.97 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.34-2.90) and 1.86 (95% CI: 1.18-2.72)]. For the postnatal effect of undernutrition, stunting at 1 and 2 years was significantly associated with ever asthma at 4.5 and 10 years [1 year: OR=1.77 (95% CI: 1.22-2.57) and OR=1.72 (95% CI: 1.16-2.56), 2 years: OR=1.49 (95% CI: 1.06-2.10) and OR=1.41 (95% CI: 1.02-1.96)].In conclusion, SGA and undernutrition during infancy has an influence on childhood asthma among children in Bangladesh, indicating the need for nutritional interventions early in life.
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
- Rashid, Harunor, et al.
(author)
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First-trimester fetal growth restriction and the occurrence of miscarriage in rural Bangladesh : A prospective cohort study
- 2017
-
In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 12:7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fetal growth restriction in early pregnancy increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome, which has a significant social and psychological impact on women. There is limited information related to community-based study to evaluate early indicators related to miscarriage. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between fetal growth restriction, measured by ultrasound crown-rump length (CRL), and subsequent occurrence of miscarriage in pregnant women in rural Bangladesh. The study was conducted within the Maternal and Infant Nutrition Interventions Trial in Matlab (MINIMat study), Bangladesh. A total of 4436 pregnant women were enrolled in the study when they were at less than 14 gestational weeks. The expected CRL was determined based on an established growth curve of gestational age and CRL, and deviation from this curve of CRL was expressed as a z-score. After identifying related covariates, the multiple Poisson regression model was used to determine the independent contribution from the CRL to miscarriage. A total of 3058 singleton pregnant women were included in analyses, with 92 miscarriages and 2966 continued pregnancies. The occurrence of miscarriages was significantly higher in the smaller categories of CRL z-score after adjustments for maternal age, parity, early pregnancy BMI, gestational age at CRL measurement and socioeconomic status (adjusted relative risk [95% confidence interval]: 1.03 [1.02 - 1.05] for less than -2 z-score). In a rural Bangladesh population, smaller than expected CRL for the gestational age was related to subsequent miscarriage. Ultrasound biometry information together with careful clinical assessment should provide much needed attention and care for pregnant women.
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| 24. |
- Svefors, Pernilla, 1985-, et al.
(author)
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Relative importance of prenatal and postnatal determinants of stunting : data mining approaches to the MINIMat cohort, Bangladesh
- 2019
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 9:8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: WHO has set a goal to reduce the prevalence of stunted child growth by 40% by the year 2025. To reach this goal, it is imperative to establish the relative importance of risk factors for stunting to deliver appropriate interventions. Currently, most interventions take place in late infancy and early childhood. This study aimed to identify the most critical prenatal and postnatal determinants of linear growth 0-24 months and the risk factors for stunting at 2 years, and to identify subgroups with different growth trajectories and levels of stunting at 2 years.METHODS: Conditional inference tree-based methods were applied to the extensive Maternal and Infant Nutrition Interventions in Matlab trial database with 309 variables of 2723 children, their parents and living conditions, including socioeconomic, nutritional and other biological characteristics of the parents; maternal exposure to violence; household food security; breast and complementary feeding; and measurements of morbidity of the mothers during pregnancy and repeatedly of their children up to 24 months of age. Child anthropometry was measured monthly from birth to 12 months, thereafter quarterly to 24 months.RESULTS: Birth length and weight were the most critical factors for linear growth 0-24 months and stunting at 2 years, followed by maternal anthropometry and parental education. Conditions after birth, such as feeding practices and morbidity, were less strongly associated with linear growth trajectories and stunting at 2 years.CONCLUSION: The results of this study emphasise the benefit of interventions before conception and during pregnancy to reach a substantial reduction in stunting.
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| 25. |
- Svefors, Pernilla, 1985-, et al.
(author)
-
Stunted at 10 Years. Linear Growth Trajectories and Stunting from Birth to Pre-Adolescence in a Rural Bangladeshi Cohort.
- 2016
-
In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Few studies in low-income settings analyse linear growth trajectories from foetal life to pre-adolescence. The aim of this study is to describe linear growth and stunting from birth to 10 years in rural Bangladesh and to analyse whether maternal and environmental determinants at conception are associated with linear growth throughout childhood and stunting at 10 years.METHODS AND FINDINGS: Pregnant women participating in the MINIMat trial were identified in early pregnancy and a birth cohort (n = 1054) was followed with 19 growth measurements from birth to 10 years. Analyses of baseline predictors and mean height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ) over time were modelled using GLMM. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the associations between baseline predictors and stunting (HAZ<-2) at 10 years. HAZ decreased to 2 years, followed by an increase up to 10 years, while the average height-for-age difference in cm (HAD) to the WHO reference median continued to increase up to 10 years. Prevalence of stunting was highest at 2 years (50%) decreasing to 29% at 10 years. Maternal height, maternal educational level and season of conception were all independent predictors of HAZ from birth to pre-adolescence (p<0.001) and stunting at 10 years. The highest probability to be stunted at 10 years was for children born by short mothers (<147.5 cm) (ORadj 2.93, 95% CI: 2.06-4.20), mothers with no education (ORadj 1.74, 95% CI 1.17-2.81) or those conceived in the pre-monsoon season (ORadj 1.94, 95% CI 1.37-2.77).CONCLUSIONS: Height growth trajectories and prevalence of stunting in pre-adolescence showed strong intergenerational associations, social differentials, and environmental influence from foetal life. Targeting women before and during pregnancy is needed for the prevention of impaired child growth.
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| 26. |
- Svefors, Pernilla, 1985-
(author)
-
Stunted growth in children from fetal life to adolescence : Risk factors, consequences and entry points for prevention - Cohort studies in rural Bangladesh
- 2018
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Stunted growth affects one in four children under the age of five years and comes with great costs for the child and society. With an increased understanding of the long-term consequences of chronic undernutrition the reduction of stunted growth has become an important priority on the global health agenda. WHO has adopted a resolution to reduce stunting by 40% by the year 2025 and to reduce stunting is one of the targets under the Sustainable Development Goals.The aim of this thesis was to study linear growth trajectories, risk factors and consequences of stunting and recovery of stunting from fetal life to adolescence in a rural Bangladeshi setting and to assess the cost-effectiveness of a prenatal nutrition intervention for under-five survival and stunting.A birth cohort of children of women participating in the Maternal and Infant Nutrition Interventions trial (MINIMat), a randomized prenatal food and multiple micronutrient (MMS) trial, was followed from birth to adolescence. Information about socioeconomic and nutritional characteristics of the mother and father was collected, and frequent anthropometry assessments of the child were done at birth, in infancy, and during childhood and adolescence. At puberty, pubertal stages according to Tanner, age at menarche and start of the pubertal growth spurt in boys were assessed. Calculations were made regarding the cost-effectiveness of prenatal food and micronutrient intervention related to the disability adjusted life years (DALYs) lost by death and stunting.At birth, the children were on average short compared the WHO growth reference and more than half of the children were Small-for-Gestational-Age. Linear growth faltered dramatically up to 2 years, after which height-for-age Z-score increased up to adolescence. The prevalence of stunting was highest at 2 years (50%) and thereafter decreasing to 25% in adolescence. Birth size, maternal anthropometry and parental education were the most influential factors for linear growth up to and stunting at 2 years. Conditions after birth, such as feeding practices and morbidity, were less important. At 10 years, children born to short mothers (<147.5 cm), mothers with no education, or those conceived in the pre-monsoon season had an increased probability to be stunted. The median age at menarche was 13.0 years. Children that were stunted in infancy and childhood had later pubertal development as compared to non-stunted children. Children that recovered from stunting had a similar timing of puberty as their peers who had never been stunted. Supplementation with combined early prenatal food and multiple micronutrients was highly cost-effective in averting DALYs from under-five deaths and stunting.The results from this thesis support the conclusion that a lifecycle approach is needed for the prevention of stunting. The gaps between current knowledge, policy and practice needs to be closed, with more emphasis given to prenatal interventions.
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| 27. |
- Tadesse, Amare Worku, et al.
(author)
-
Comparison of Mid-Upper Arm Circumference and Weight-for-Height to Diagnose Severe Acute Malnutrition : A Study in Southern Ethiopia
- 2017
-
In: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643. ; 9:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) are two independent anthropometric indicators for diagnosing and admitting children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) for treatment. While severely wasted children are at high risk of mortality, MUAC and WHZ do not always identify the same population of children as having SAM. Understanding how this discrepancy relates to age and sex may provide valuable information for care programmes for children with SAM. Age and sex distribution for differences between children identified as SAM by MUAC and WHZ were examined and the degree of agreement calculated. Children (n = 4297) aged 6-59 months with validated anthropometric measures were recruited from a population-based survey conducted in rural southern Ethiopia. MUAC < 115 mm and WHZ < 3 were used to define severe wasting as per the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. The kappa coefficient (kappa) was calculated. There was fair agreement between the MUAC and WHZ definitions of severe wasting in boys (kappa = 0.37) and children younger than 24 months (kappa = 0.32) but poor agreement in girls (kappa = 0.15) and children aged 24 months and above (kappa = 0.13). More research is needed on response to treatment and prediction of mortality using different anthropometric measurements in relation to ages and sex of children.
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| 28. |
- Tadesse, Amare Worku
(author)
-
Identification and Community Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition : Empirical evidence in rural Southern Ethiopia
- 2018
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The current recommended standard management for all children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM). CMAM has a community-based outpatient therapeutic program (OTP) to treat uncomplicated SAM and has been scaled-up and integrated with government health services in low-resource settings. How-ever, the context in which such large-scale programs are implemented modifies their effective-ness. This study aims at assessing factors of importance for the effectiveness of management of SAM in the community.A population-based survey of households with children aged under five years and a longitu-dinal study among children admitted to the integrated OTPs of rural Southern Ethiopia was undertaken. For Study I, children aged 6-59 months (n=4,297) from randomly selected house-holds were examined for differences between children identified as SAM by MUAC and WHZ. For Study II, subsets of 1,048 children admitted to OTPs were analyzed for program outcome and nutritional status at discharge (n=759) and 14 weeks after admission (n=991). For Study III, non-oedematous children (n=661) admitted to OTPs were analyzed for gains in anthropo-metric measures after 4 weeks of treatment. For Study IV, children with SAM (n=788) were studied in terms of factors of importance for their recovery. Home-visits were used to collect data and anthropometry was measured following standardized World Health Organization (WHO) techniques.The degree of agreement between the two anthropometric indicators of severe wasting dif-fered depending on the sex and age of the children. The indicators’ response to treatment varied according to the indicator used to define SAM at admission. While 32.7% achieved the program’s recovery criteria at discharge, 29.6% had SAM at discharge and 72.1% of children were acutely malnourished at the end of 14 weeks of follow-up. Despite low recovery rate, children of caregivers with the highest decision-making autonomy recovered faster from SAM than children of caregivers with lower autonomy.The poor agreement between MUAC and WHZ in diagnosing SAM within different groups of children indicates each anthropometric indicator may select different set of children for treatment. Our study provided empirical evidence that supports the current recommendation to use MUAC and WHZ independently for the management of SAM. Linking CMAM to other com-plementary programmes may improve the effectiveness of integrated large-scale nutrition programmes.
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| 29. |
- Tadesse, Elazar, 1976-, et al.
(author)
-
An integrated community-based outpatient therapeutic feeding programme for severe acute malnutrition in rural Southern Ethiopia : Recovery, fatality, and nutritional status after discharge.
- 2018
-
In: Maternal and Child Nutrition. - : Wiley. - 1740-8695 .- 1740-8709. ; 14:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A scaled up and integrated outpatient therapeutic feeding programme (OTP) brings the treatment of severely malnourished children closer to the community. This study assessed recovery from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), fatality, and acute malnutrition up to 14 weeks after admission to a programme integrated in the primary health care system. In this cohort study, 1,048 children admitted to 94 OTPs in Southern Ethiopia were followed for 14 weeks. Independent anthropometric measurements and information on treatment outcome were collected at four home visits. Only 32.7% (248/759) of children with SAM on admission fulfilled the programme recovery criteria at the time of discharge (i.e., gained 15% in weight, or oedema, if present at admission, was resolved at discharge). Of all children admitted to the programme for whom nutritional assessment was done 14 weeks later, 34.6% (321/928) were severely malnourished, and 37.5% (348/928) were moderately malnourished; thus, 72.1% were acutely malnourished. Of the children, 27/982 (2.7%) had died by 14 weeks, of whom all but one had SAM on admission. Children with severe oedema on admission had the highest fatality rate (12.0%, 9/75). The median length of admission to the programme was 6.6 weeks (interquartile range: 5.3, 8.4 weeks). Despite children participating for the recommended duration of the programme, many children with SAM were discharged still acutely malnourished and without reaching programme criteria for recovery. For better outcome of OTP, constraints in service provision by the health system as well as challenges of service utilization by the beneficiaries should be identified and addressed.
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| 30. |
- Tadesse, Elazar, et al.
(author)
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Challenges in Implementing the Integrated Community-Based Outpatient Therapeutic Program for Severely Malnourished Children in Rural Southern Ethiopia
- 2016
-
In: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643. ; 8:5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Currently, treatment of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition is managed inthe integrated Community based Outpatient Therapeutic Program (C-OTP) using ready-to-usetherapeutic foods (RUTFs). The aim of this study was to determine challenges in implementingthe critical steps in C-OTP and caregivers’ perceptions of service provision in southern Ethiopia.A total of 1048 caregivers of children admitted to the OTP and 175 Health Extension Workers (HEWs)from 94 selected health posts were included in the study. Program admission, follow-up and exitinformation was collected from caregivers during home visits. HEWs were interviewed at theirrespective health posts. Only 46.6% (481/1032) were given the recommended amount of RUTF and19.3% (196/1015) were given antibiotics on admission. During C-OTP participation 34.9% (316/905)had uninterrupted provision of the recommended amount of RUTF. Of the children who left theprogram, 220/554 (39.7%) exited the program in line with the national recommendation. Caregivers(42.9% (394/918) and HEWs (37.1%, 62/167) perceive that RUTFs were being sold as a commodity.Inadequate provision and unintended usage of RUTFs, lack of antibiotics and inappropriate exitfrom the program were major constraints. For successful saving of lives, adequate resources must beallocated, and providers must be trained regularly, and supervised properly.
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| 31. |
- Tadesse, Elazar
(author)
-
Integrated community-based management of severe acute child malnutrition : Studies from rural Southern Ethiopia
- 2016
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the community-based Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP) as a standard treatment protocol for the management of uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) at the community level. OTP has been scaled up and integrated into the existing grassroots level government health systems in several developing countries. The aim of this thesis was to assess the implementation and outcome of a scaled-up and integrated OTP service provided at community level.Methods: One qualitative study and three quantitative studies were conducted in southern Ethiopia. Children admitted to 94 integrated OTPs, their caregivers and health extension workers providing primary health care services in the nearby health posts were included in this study. The quantitative studies were based on data generated from observation of a cohort of 1,048 children admitted to the integrated OTPs. Result: On admission 78.8% of the children had SAM. The majority of these children 60.2% exited the program neither achieving program recovery criteria nor being transferred to inpatient care. Fourteen weeks after admission to OTP, 34.6% were severely malnourished and 34.4% were moderately malnourished, thus 69.0% were still acutely malnourished. Ready-to-use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) provided for SAM children were commonly shared with other children in the household and sold as a commodity for the collective benefit of the family thus admitted children received only a portion of the provided amount. Further, the program suffered a severe shortage of RUTFs, where only 46.6% of admitted children were given the recommended amount of RUTFs by providers on admission and only 34.9% of these had uninterrupted provision during the follow-up.Conclusion: The integrated OTPs we studied provide a constrained service and the use of RUTFs by families is not as intended by the program. The majority of admitted children remained acutely malnourished after participating in the program for the recommended duration. For integrated OTPs to be effective in chronically food-insecure contexts, interventions that also address the economic and food needs of the entire household are essential. This may require a shift to view SAM as a symptom of broader problems affecting a family rather than as a disease of an individual child. In addition, further research is needed to understand the health system context regarding RUTFs and medication supply and service utilization of integrated OTPs.
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| 32. |
- Tadesse, Elazar, 1976-, et al.
(author)
-
Perceptions of usage and unintended consequences of provision of ready-to-use therapeutic food for management of severe acute child malnutrition. A qualitative study in Southern Ethiopia
- 2015
-
In: Health Policy and Planning. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0268-1080 .- 1460-2237. ; 30:10, s. 1334-1341
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Severe acute child malnutrition (SAM) is associated with high risk of mortality. To increase programme effectiveness in management of SAM, community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) programme that treats SAM using ready-to-use-therapeutic foods (RUTF) has been scaled-up and integrated into existing government health systems. The study aimed to examine caregivers’ and health workers perceptions of usages of RUTF in a chronically food insecure area in South Ethiopia.Methods: This qualitative study recorded, transcribed and translated focus group discussions and individual interviews with caregivers of SAM children and community health workers (CHWs). Data were complemented with field notes before qualitative content analysis was applied.Results: RUTF was perceived and used as an effective treatment of SAM; however, caregivers also see it as food to be shared and when necessary a commodity to be sold for collective benefits for the household. Caregivers expected prolonged provision of RUTF to contribute to household resources, while the programme guidelines prescribed RUTF as a short-term treatment to an acute condition in a child. To get prolonged access to RUTF caregivers altered the identities of SAM children and sought multiple admissions to CMAM programme at different health posts that lead to various control measures by the CHWs.Conclusion: Even though health workers provide RUTF as a treatment for SAM children, their caregivers use it also for meeting broader food and economic needs of the household endangering the effectiveness of CMAM programme. In chronically food insecure contexts, interventions that also address economic and food needs of entire household are essential to ensure successful treatment of SAM children. This may need a shift to view SAM as a symptom of broader problems affecting a family rather than a disease in an individual child.
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| 33. |
- Worku Tadesse, Amare, et al.
(author)
-
Choosing Anthropometric Indicators to Monitor the Response to Treatment for Severe Acute Malnutrition in Rural Southern Ethiopia : Empirical Evidence
- 2017
-
In: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643. ; 9:12
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the assessment of nutritional recovery using the same anthropometric indicator that was used to diagnose severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children. However, related empirical evidence from low-income countries is lacking. Non-oedematous children (n = 661) aged 6–59 months admitted to a community-based outpatient therapeutic program for SAM in rural southern Ethiopia were studied. The response to treatment in children admitted to the program based on the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) measurement was defined by calculating the gains in average MUAC and weight during the first four weeks of treatment. The children showed significant anthropometric changes only when assessed with the same anthropometric indicator used to define SAM at admission. Children with the lowest MUAC at admission showed a significant gain in MUAC but not weight, and children with the lowest weight-for-height/length (WHZ) showed a significant gain in weight but not MUAC. The response to treatment was largest for children with the lowest anthropometric status at admission in either measurement. MUAC and weight gain are two independent anthropometric measures that can be used to monitor sufficient recovery in children treated for SAM. This study provides empirical evidence from a low-income country to support the recent World Health Organization recommendation.
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| 34. |
- Ziaei, Shirin, et al.
(author)
-
A Prenatal Multiple Micronutrient Supplement Produces Higher Maternal Vitamin B-12 Concentrations and Similar Folate, Ferritin, and Zinc Concentrations as the Standard 60-mg Iron Plus 400-μg Folic Acid Supplement in Rural Bangladeshi Women.
- 2016
-
In: Journal of Nutrition. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-3166 .- 1541-6100. ; 146:12, s. 2520-2529
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The effects of prenatal food and micronutrient supplementation on maternal micronutrient status are not well known.OBJECTIVE: We compared the efficacy and effectiveness of 3 different micronutrient supplements on maternal micronutrient status when combined with food supplementation.METHODS: In the MINIMat (Maternal and Infant Nutrition Intervention, Matlab) trial in Bangladesh, 4436 pregnant women were randomly assigned to daily intake of 3 types of micronutrient capsules: 30 mg Fe and 400 μg folic acid (Fe30F), 60 mg Fe and 400 μg folic acid (Fe60F), or multiple micronutrient supplements (MMNs) combined with early (week 9 of pregnancy) or usual (week 20 of pregnancy) food supplementation in a 2 by 3 factorial design. Plasma concentrations of vitamin B-12, folate, ferritin, and zinc were analyzed before the start of micronutrient supplementation (week 14) and at week 30 of pregnancy in 641 randomly selected women. An electronic monitoring device was used to measure the number of capsules taken. The effectiveness of food and micronutrient regimens as well as efficacy per capsule in maternal micronutrient status were analyzed by ANOVA and general linear models.RESULTS: At week 30 of pregnancy, women in the MMN group had higher geometric mean concentrations of vitamin B-12 than women in the Fe60F group (119 compared with 101 pmol/L, respectively); no other differences in effectiveness of micronutrient and food regimens were observed. A dose-response relation between the number of capsules taken and concentrations of folate and ferritin was observed for all micronutrient supplements. Fe30F had lower efficacy per capsule in increasing ferritin concentrations within the first tertile of capsule intake than did Fe60F and MMNs. Because ferritin reached a plateau for all types of micronutrient supplements, there was no difference between the regimens in their effectiveness.CONCLUSION: Compared with Fe60F, MMNs produced higher maternal vitamin B-12 and similar ferritin and folate concentrations in Bangladeshi women. The MINIMat trial was registered at isrctn.org as ISRCTN16581394.
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| 35. |
- Ziaei, Shirin, et al.
(author)
-
Experiencing Lifetime Domestic Violence : Associations with Mental Health and Stress among Pregnant Women in Rural Bangladesh: The MINIMat Randomized Trial
- 2016
-
In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:12
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Experience of domestic violence has negative mental health consequences for women. The association of cumulative and specific forms of domestic violence, particularly emotional violence and controlling behavior, with common mental disorders and stress has rarely been studied in pregnant women. The aim of this study is to evaluate associations of specific and multiple forms of lifetime domestic violence and controlling behavior with distress and cortisol level during pregnancy in rural Bangladeshi women.METHODS AND FINDINGS: In this observational sub-study of larger MINIMat trial, 3504 pregnant women were interviewed using a shortened Conflict Tactic Scale about their lifetime experience of domestic violence including physical, sexual, emotional domestic violence and controlling behavior. Women's levels of emotional distress were assessed using the self-reported questionnaire (SRQ-20) developed by WHO, and levels of morning salivary cortisol were measured in a subsample (n = 1300) of women during week 28-32 of pregnancy. Regression analyses were used to estimate the associations of lifetime physical, sexual, emotional domestic violence and controlling behavior with levels of distress and cortisol during pregnancy. The prevalence of lifetime domestic violence was 57% and emotional distress was 35% in these pregnant women. All forms of domestic violence were associated with higher levels of emotional distress. Women who experienced either emotional violence or controlling behavior had the highest levels of emotional distress. There was a dose-response relationship between cumulative number of the different forms of domestic violence and women's levels of emotional distress. There was no association between women's experience of domestic violence and level of morning salivary cortisol.CONCLUSION: Including emotional violence and controlling behavior as major types of violence in future research and health interventions is warranted. Furthermore, the extent of the negative impacts of domestic violence on pregnant women, multiple forms of violence and their cumulative effects need to be investigated.
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| 36. |
- Ziaei, Shirin, 1980-, et al.
(author)
-
Maternal Experience of Domestic Violence, Associations with Children's Lipid Biomarkers at 10 Years : Findings from MINIMat Study in Rural Bangladesh
- 2019
-
In: Nutrients. - : MDPI. - 2072-6643. ; 11:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The consequences of maternal experience of Domestic Violence (DV) on their children's cardio-metabolic risk factors are unclear. We aimed to assess if maternal exposure to any or a specific form of DV (i.e., physical, sexual, emotional and controlling behaviors) before and after childbirth was associated with their children's lipid biomarkers at the age of 10 years. A current observational sub-study of a larger MINIMat trial included a cohort of 1167 mothers and their children. The conflict tactic scale was used to record women's experience of lifetime DV before and after childbirth at week 30 of pregnancy and at a 10-year follow up, respectively. Five ml of fasting blood sample was collected from the children to evaluate their lipid profile. Children of women who experienced any DV before childbirth had lower Apo A ((adj) -0.04; 95% CI: -0.08, -0.01). Women who experienced physical DV both before and after childbirth had children with higher triglycerides ((adj) 0.07; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.14). Children whose mother experienced sexual DV before birth had lower Apo A ((adj) -0.05; 95% CI: -0.08, -0.01) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) ((adj) -0.05; 95% CI: -0.10, -0.01) as well as higher Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) ((adj) 0.17; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.29) and LDL/HDL ( 0.24; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.38). However, levels of LDL ((adj) -0.17; 95% CI: -0.28, -0.06), LDL/HDL ((adj) -0.12; 95% CI: -0.25, -0.00) and cholesterol ((adj) -0.13; 95% CI: -0.25, -0.02) were lower among the children of mothers who experienced controlling behavior after childbirth. Results from the current study suggest that maternal experience of physical or sexual DV might negatively affect their children's lipid profile at the age of 10 years.
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| 37. |
- Ziaei, Shirin, et al.
(author)
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Women´s autonomy and social support and their associations with infant and young child feeding and nutritional status : community-based survey in rural Nicaragua
- 2015
-
In: Public Health Nutrition. - 1368-9800 .- 1475-2727. ; 18:11, s. 1979-1990
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ObjectiveTo evaluate the associations of women’s autonomy and social support with infant and young child feeding practices (including consumption of highly processed snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages) and nutritional status in rural Nicaragua.DesignCross-sectional study. Feeding practices and children’s nutritional status were evaluated according to the WHO guidelines complemented with information on highly processed snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages. Women’s autonomy was assessed by a seventeen-item questionnaire covering dimensions of financial independence, household-, child-, reproductive and health-related decision making and freedom of movement. Women’s social support was determined using the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire. The scores attained were categorized into tertiles.SettingLos Cuatro Santos area, rural Nicaragua.Subjects A total of 1371 children 0–35 months of age.ResultsChildren of women with the lowest autonomy were more likely to be exclusively breast-fed and continue to be breast-fed, while children of women with middle level of autonomy had better complementary feeding practices. Children of women with the lowest social support were more likely to consume highly processed snacks and/or sugar-sweetened beverages but also be taller.ConclusionsWhile lower levels of autonomy and social support were independently associated with some favourable feeding and nutrition outcomes, this may not indicate a causal relationship but rather that these factors reflect other matters of importance for child care.
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- Ziaei, Shirin
(author)
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Women’s status and child nutrition : Findings from community studies in Bangladesh and Nicaragua
- 2016
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The importance of women’s status for child nutrition has recently been recognized. However, pathways through which women’s status can affect their caretaking practices and child nutrition have not been fully determined. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate associations between aspects of women’s status – including exposure to domestic violence and level of autonomy and social support – with their level of stress, feeding practices and child nutritional status in two different cultural settings: Bangladesh and Nicaragua.Data were acquired from population-based studies. For Study I we used data from the Bangladesh 2007 Demographic and Health Survey, and Study II was embedded in the 2009 Health and Demographic Surveillance System conducted in Los Cuatro Santos, rural Nicaragua. Studies III and IV were part of the MINIMat study, conducted in rural Bangladesh. In-person interviews were conducted and validated questionnaires were used in each of the studies. Anthropometric characteristics of the children were recorded based on standardized World Health Organization techniques.In Bangladesh, we found women with lifetime experience of domestic violence to be more likely to report emotional distress during pregnancy, cease exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months and have a stunted child. Further, we found a negative association between experience of domestic violence and duration of excusive breastfeeding to be mitigated with breastfeeding counseling. In Nicaragua, a lower level of maternal autonomy was associated with more appropriate breastfeeding practices such as higher odds of exclusive breastfeeding and longer continuation of breastfeeding. Further, a maternal lower level of social support was associated with better child nutritional status.In conclusion, this investigation showed that different dimensions of women’s status were associated with their feeding practices and child nutritional status and also revealed that the strength and direction of these associations may vary by the child’s age, setting and other contextual factors. These findings suggest that women’s status might have an important public health impact on child health and its role should be considered in programs and policies aiming to improve child health and nutrition.
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