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Soofi SB, Khan GN, Sajid M, Hussainyar MA, Shams S, Shaikh M, Ouma C, Azami S, Naeemi M, Hussain A, Umer M, Hussain I, Ahmed I, Ariff S. Specialized nutritious foods and behavior change communication interventions during the first 1000 d of life to prevent stunting: a quasi-experimental study in Afghanistan. Am J Clin Nutr 2024:S0002-9165(24)00603-8. [PMID: 39004283 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Considerable evidence supports the effectiveness of nutritional supplementation with or without nutrition education in preventing stunting in developing countries, but evidence from Afghanistan is scarce. OBJECTIVES This project aimed to assess the effectiveness of specialized nutritious food (SNF), social and behavior change communication (SBCC) intervention to prevent stunting among children under 2 y during the first 1000 d of life in Badakhshan, Afghanistan. METHODS We used a community-based quasi-experimental pre-post study design with a control group. Pregnant and lactating women received a monthly ration of 7.5 kg of super cereal (250 g/d) during pregnancy and the first 6 mo of breastfeeding. Children aged 6-23 mo received 30 sachets of medium-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement (50 g/sachet/d) monthly. We compared pre- and postintervention assessments of the intervention and control groups to isolate the effect of the intervention on key study outcomes at the endline by difference-in-differences (DID) estimates. RESULTS A total of 2928 and 3205 households were surveyed at baseline and endline. DID estimates adjusted for child, maternal, and household characteristics indicated a significant reduction in stunting (DID: -5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -9.9, -0.2) and underweight (DID: -4.6% (95% CI: -8.6, -0.5) among children <2 y of age. However, DID estimates for wasting among children in the intervention and control groups were not significantly different (DID: -1.7 (95% CI: -5.1, 1.6). Furthermore, exposure to the SBCC messages was associated with improvements in the early initiation of breastfeeding (DID: 19.6% (95% CI: 15.6, 23.6), exclusive breastfeeding under 6 mo (DID: 11.0% (95% CI: 2.3, 19.7), minimum meal frequency (DID: 23% (95% CI: 17.7, 28.2), and minimum acceptable diet (DID: 13% (95% CI: 9.8, 16.3). CONCLUSIONS The provision of SNF in combination with SBCC during the first 1000 d of life was associated with reduction in stunting and underweight and improvements in infant and young child feeding practices among children under 2 y of age. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04581993.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajid Bashir Soofi
- Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
| | - Gul Nawaz Khan
- Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Sajid
- Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Amjad Hussain
- Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Umer
- Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Imtiaz Hussain
- Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Imran Ahmed
- Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Shabina Ariff
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
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Ashraf K, Huda TM, Ikram J, Ariff S, Sajid M, Khan GN, Umer M, Ahmed I, Dibley MJ, Soofi SB. The Effectiveness of Nutritional Interventions Implemented through Lady Health Workers on the Reduction of Stunting in Children under 5 in Pakistan: The Difference-in-Difference Analysis. Nutrients 2024; 16:2149. [PMID: 38999897 PMCID: PMC11243699 DOI: 10.3390/nu16132149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
In Pakistan, the 2018 National Nutrition Survey reported that 40% of children under five years old were stunted. This study assessed the effectiveness of nutritional supplementation in reducing stunting among children under five years old in two rural districts in Sindh, Pakistan. This was a mixed-method quasi-experimental study comprising intervention and control populations, with 3397 and 3277 children under five years old participating in the baseline and end-line surveys, respectively. The study areas were similar in terms of demographic and economic circumstances. In the intervention group, pregnant and lactating women (first six months post-partum) received wheat soy blend, children 6-23 months old received Wawamum (lipid-based supplement), and children 24-59 months old received micronutrient powders, all through lady health workers. This was underpinned by nutrition behaviour change communication for appropriate complementary feeding practices and hygiene promotion targeted at primary caregivers. The control group received no intervention. The impact was assessed using the difference-in-difference analysis with kernel propensity score matching to adjust the differences among the control and intervention populations. The overall DID analysis indicated that the intervention did not significantly reduce the prevalence of stunting (under 5 years) [DID = -5.1, p = 0.079]. The adjusted DID indicated a significant decrease of 13% [DID = -13.0, p = 0.001] in the number of stunted children 24-59 months of age at the endline survey. A significant reduction in underweight among children 24-59 months old was also observed (DID = -9.4%, p = 0.014). In conclusion, this evidence further establishes that nutrient uptake through an intervention for a short duration cannot effectively reduce stunting. It requires continuous nutritional supplementation for mothers during the pregnancy and an initial six months of lactation and then nutritional supplementation for children 6-59 months of age underpinned by effective behaviour change communication targeting mothers and other caregivers for improving complementary feeding practices and hygiene promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khizar Ashraf
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (K.A.); (M.J.D.)
- South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
| | - Tanvir M. Huda
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (K.A.); (M.J.D.)
| | - Javeria Ikram
- The Tweed Valley Hospital, Cudgen, NSW 2487, Australia;
| | - Shabina Ariff
- Department of Pediatrics & Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan;
| | - Muhammad Sajid
- Center of Excellence in Women & Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan (I.A.)
| | - Gul Nawaz Khan
- Center of Excellence in Women & Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan (I.A.)
| | - Muhammad Umer
- Center of Excellence in Women & Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan (I.A.)
| | - Imran Ahmed
- Center of Excellence in Women & Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan (I.A.)
| | - Michael J. Dibley
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (K.A.); (M.J.D.)
| | - Sajid Bashir Soofi
- Department of Pediatrics & Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan;
- Center of Excellence in Women & Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan (I.A.)
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McDonald CM, Wessells KR, Stewart CP, Dewey KG, de Pee S, Rana R, Hafeez-Ur-Rehman H, Mwangi MN, Hess SY. Perinatal intervention strategies providing food with micronutrients to pregnant and breastfeeding women in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2024:e13681. [PMID: 38949186 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
In resource-constrained settings, pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls (PBW/G) are particularly vulnerable to undernutrition. Micronutrient-fortified balanced energy protein (BEP) supplementation may be provided to boost maternal nutritional status and improve birth and infant outcomes. We conducted a scoping review of the published literature to determine the impact of BEP and other related nutrition interventions that provided fortified food or cash along with a minimum of 3 micronutrients on maternal, birth, and infant/child outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a PubMed search using pre-defined keywords and controlled vocabulary search terms. All titles and abstracts were reviewed for eligibility by two independent reviewers, and data were extracted according to outcome type. We identified 149 eligible research articles that reported on a total of 21 trials and/or programme evaluations which assessed the health impact of one or more products (fortified lipid-based nutrient supplement [LNS, n = 12], fortified blended flours [n = 5], milk-based beverages [n = 2], and local food/snacks [n = 3]) that provided 118-750 kcal/day and varying levels of protein and micronutrients. Only one of these programme evaluations assessed the impact of the provision of cash and fortified food. Effects on maternal outcomes such as gestational weight gain and duration of gestation were promising but inconsistent. Birth outcomes were reported in 15 studies, and the effects on birthweight and birth length were generally positive. Seven studies demonstrated sustained benefits on infant and child growth out of the 15 studies that reported at least one of these outcomes, although data were sparse. Additional research is needed to investigate issues of dose, cost-effectiveness, and incorporation into multi-component interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M McDonald
- Departments of Pediatrics, and Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - K Ryan Wessells
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Christine P Stewart
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Kathryn G Dewey
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Saskia de Pee
- Nutrition Division, World Food Programme HQ, Rome, Italy
| | - Ritu Rana
- Nutrition Division, World Food Programme HQ, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Sonja Y Hess
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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Zein MM, Arafa N, El-Shabrawi MHF, El-Koofy NM. Effect of nutrition-related infodemics and social media on maternal experience: A nationwide survey in a low/middle income country. World J Clin Pediatr 2024; 13:89139. [PMID: 38596445 PMCID: PMC11000056 DOI: 10.5409/wjcp.v13.i1.89139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Undernutrition is a crucial cause of morbidity and mortality among children in low- or middle-income countries (LMICs). A better understanding of maternal general healthy nutrition knowledge, as well as misbeliefs, is highly essential, especially in such settings. In the current era of infodemics, it is very strenuous for mothers to select not only the right source for maternal nutrition information but the correct information as well. AIM To assess maternal healthy nutritional knowledge and nutrition-related misbeliefs and misinformation in an LMIC, and to determine the sources of such information and their assessment methods. METHODS This cross-sectional analytical observational study enrolled 5148 randomly selected Egyptian mothers who had one or more children less than 15 years old. The data were collected through online questionnaire forms: One was for the general nutrition knowledge assessment, and the other was for the nutritional myth score. Sources of information and ways of evaluating internet sources using the Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose test were additionally analyzed. RESULTS The mean general nutrition knowledge score was 29 ± 9, with a percent score of 70.8% ± 12.1% (total score: 41). The median myth score was 9 (interquartile range: 6, 12; total score: 18). The primary sources of nutrition knowledge for the enrolled mothers were social media platforms (55%). Half of the mothers managed information for currency and authority, except for considering the author's contact information. More than 60% regularly checked information for accuracy and purpose. The mothers with significant nutrition knowledge checked periodically for the author's contact information (P = 0.012). The nutrition myth score was significantly lower among mothers who periodically checked the evidence of the information (P = 0.016). Mothers dependent on their healthcare providers as the primary source of their general nutritional knowledge were less likely to hold myths by 13% (P = 0.044). However, using social media increased the likelihood of having myths among mothers by approximately 1.2 (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION Social media platforms were found to be the primary source of maternal nutrition information in the current era of infodemics. However, healthcare providers were the only source for decreasing the incidence of maternal myths among the surveyed mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa M Zein
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 515211, Egypt
| | - Noha Arafa
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Children's Hospital, Kasralainy Medical School, Cairo University, Cairo 515211, Egypt
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Dewey KG, Arnold CD, Wessells KR, Stewart CP. Lipid-based nutrient supplements for prevention of child undernutrition: when less may be more. Am J Clin Nutr 2023; 118:1133-1144. [PMID: 37742931 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both small-quantity and medium-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) have been used for the prevention of child undernutrition. A meta-analysis of 14 trials of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) - no LNS showed effects on length-for-age z-score {LAZ, +0.14 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.11, 0.16]} and weight-for-length z-score [WLZ, +0.08 (0.06, 0.10)] z-scores, as well as prevalence ratios (95% CI) for stunting [LAZ < -2, 0.88 (0.85, 0.91)] and wasting [WLZ < -2, 0.86 (0.80, 0.93)]. However, little is known about the effects of medium-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (MQ-LNS) on growth. OBJECTIVES We aimed to examine the effects of preventive MQ-LNS (∼250-499 kcal/d) provided at ∼6-23 mo of age on growth outcomes - no LNS or provision of SQ-LNS. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of studies of MQ-LNS for prevention, and categorized them as providing <6 mo - ≥6 mo of supplementation; for the latter category, we conducted a meta-analysis, with the main outcomes being change in WLZ and LAZ, and prevalence of wasting and stunting. RESULTS Three studies provided MQ-LNS for 3-5 mo (seasonal) for children 6-36 mo of age, and did not show consistent effects on growth outcomes. Eight studies provided MQ-LNS for 6-18 mo, generally starting at 6 mo of age; in the meta-analysis (max total n = 13,954), MQ-LNS increased WLZ [+0.09 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.13)] and reduced wasting [0.89 (0.81, 0.97)], but had no effect on LAZ [+0.04 (-0.02, 0.11)] or stunting [0.97 (0.92, 1.02)] - no LNS. Two studies directly compared SQ-LNS and MQ-LNS and showed no significant differences in growth outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The current evidence suggests that MQ-LNS offer no added benefits over SQ-LNS, although further studies directly comparing MQ-LNS with SQ-LNS would be useful. One possible explanation is incomplete consumption of the MQ-LNS ration and thus lower than desirable intake of certain nutrients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Registry and registry number for systematic reviews or meta-analyses: Registered with PROSPERO as CRD42022382448 on December 18, 2022: =https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022382448.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn G Dewey
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.
| | - Charles D Arnold
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - K Ryan Wessells
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Christine P Stewart
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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Sosanya ME, Beamon I, Muhammad R, Freeland-Graves JH. Development and validation of the Teen Moms Child Feeding Questionnaire for Sub-Saharan Africa. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1487. [PMID: 37542311 PMCID: PMC10401754 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16365-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Sub-Saharan Africa, the nutritional status of children born to teenage mothers deserves critical attention. Maternal knowledge and attitudes concerning infant and young child feeding (IYCF) may predict actual practices and child nutritional status. This study created and validated the Teen Moms Child Feeding Questionnaire for Sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS A literature search on IYCF knowledge and attitude gaps in teenage mothers generated scale items. Ten nutrition experts and six teenage mothers assessed content validity and comprehensibility, respectively. Construct validation was conducted by item response theory (IRT) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), in 150 teenage mothers in rural communities of Abuja, Nigeria. Model fit parameters were estimated by standardized chi-square tests. Internal consistency reliability was determined by marginal reliability and Cronbach's alpha. In a sub-sample of 40 women who completed the questionnaire two weeks later, test-retest reliability was assessed via intraclass correlations. RESULTS The IRT analysis retained 23 knowledge items on infant food type, breastfeeding and complementary feeding, with acceptable discrimination and difficulty. CFA produced a six-factor solution (exclusive breastfeeding, breast milk expression, meal frequency, responsive feeding, dietary diversity, and barriers) with 17 attitude items. Confirmatory fit and Tucker Lewis indices > 0.9; Root Mean Square Errors of Approximation and Standardized Root Mean Square Residuals < 0.08, showed good model fit. Overall Cronbach's alpha of the attitude scale (0.843), subscales (≥ 0.6) and high intraclass correlation coefficients (> 0.75) indicated reliability. CONCLUSION The Teen Moms Child Feeding Questionnaire for Sub-Saharan Africa is a valid assessment tool for IYCF knowledge and attitudes of teenage mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercy E Sosanya
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA.
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, The Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi, Nigeria.
| | - Isaiah Beamon
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA
| | - Raza Muhammad
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA
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Rehman A, Qing P, Cui X. Drivers of Nutritional Change in Pakistan: A Decomposition Analysis. Nutrients 2023; 15:3124. [PMID: 37513542 PMCID: PMC10384884 DOI: 10.3390/nu15143124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The global reduction in child undernutrition highlights the international and national commitment to prioritizing future generations' health. This study aims to find out the previous trends in nutrition and the key drivers of these changes in different regions of Pakistan. For empirical investigation, we employed a regression-based decomposition model by using two distinct rounds of demographic and health surveys: 2012-13 and 2017-18. Results showed children with stunted growth reduced substantially in Balochistan, while Punjab exhibited the highest progress for underweight children. Regression estimates showed that maternal nutritional status and household wealth were more pronounced in reducing all measures of child malnutrition. Some determinants, including mother age at marriage and prenatal visits to the hospital, are significant only for long-term nutritional status-stunting, while mother education contributed to reducing wasted and underweight children. The rest of the factors, like father education and household environment, appear to play a humble role in explaining nutritional improvements. From disaggregated analysis based on different regions, we found that modeled factors used in this study explained changes disproportionately. Thus, it is recommended to use multidimensional nutrition policies incorporating a broader range of sectors, and region-specific programs should be designed for more effective outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azka Rehman
- School of Economics and Statistics, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ping Qing
- College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xia Cui
- School of Economics and Statistics, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Likhar A, Patil MS. Importance of Maternal Nutrition in the First 1,000 Days of Life and Its Effects on Child Development: A Narrative Review. Cureus 2022; 14:e30083. [DOI: 10.7759/cureus.30083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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