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Marshall AI, Lasco G, Phaiyarom M, Pangkariya N, Leuangvilay P, Sinam P, Suphanchaimat R, Julchoo S, Kunpeuk W, Zhang Y. Evidence on Child Nutrition Recommendations and Challenges in Crisis Settings: A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18126637. [PMID: 34203109 PMCID: PMC8296440 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Adequate child nutrition is critical to child development, yet child malnutrition is prevalent in crisis settings. However, the intersection of malnutrition and disasters is sparse. This study reviews existing evidence on nutrition responses and outcomes for infants and young children during times of crisis. The scoping review was conducted via two approaches: a systematic search and a purposive search. For the systematic search, two key online databases, PubMed and Science Direct, were utilized. In total, data from 32 studies were extracted and included in the data extraction form. Additionally, seven guidelines and policy documents were included, based on relevance to this study. Overall, the existing evidence demonstrates the negative impacts of crises on nutritional status, diet intake, anthropometric failure, and long-term child development. On the other hand, crisis-related interventions positively affected nutrition-related knowledge and practices. Further studies should be carried out to explore the sustainability of the interventions and the success of existing guidelines. Since this study focuses only on nutrition among children under three, further studies should likewise consider an extended age range from three to five years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniqa Islam Marshall
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 1100, Thailand; (A.I.M.); (N.P.); (P.S.); (R.S.); (S.J.); (W.K.)
| | - Gideon Lasco
- Department of Anthropology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1107, Philippines;
- Development Studies Program, Ateneo de Manila University, Diliman, Quezon City 1106, Philippines
- Equity Initiative, Bangkok 10110, Thailand; (P.L.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Mathudara Phaiyarom
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 1100, Thailand; (A.I.M.); (N.P.); (P.S.); (R.S.); (S.J.); (W.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Nattanicha Pangkariya
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 1100, Thailand; (A.I.M.); (N.P.); (P.S.); (R.S.); (S.J.); (W.K.)
| | | | - Pigunkaew Sinam
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 1100, Thailand; (A.I.M.); (N.P.); (P.S.); (R.S.); (S.J.); (W.K.)
| | - Rapeepong Suphanchaimat
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 1100, Thailand; (A.I.M.); (N.P.); (P.S.); (R.S.); (S.J.); (W.K.)
- Equity Initiative, Bangkok 10110, Thailand; (P.L.); (Y.Z.)
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
| | - Sataporn Julchoo
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 1100, Thailand; (A.I.M.); (N.P.); (P.S.); (R.S.); (S.J.); (W.K.)
| | - Watinee Kunpeuk
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 1100, Thailand; (A.I.M.); (N.P.); (P.S.); (R.S.); (S.J.); (W.K.)
| | - Yunting Zhang
- Equity Initiative, Bangkok 10110, Thailand; (P.L.); (Y.Z.)
- Child Health Advocacy Institute, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
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Balhara KS, Silvestri DM, Tyler Winders W, Selvam A, Kivlehan SM, Becker TK, Levine AC. Impact of nutrition interventions on pediatric mortality and nutrition outcomes in humanitarian emergencies: A systematic review. Trop Med Int Health 2017; 22:1464-1492. [PMID: 28992388 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Malnutrition contributes to paediatric morbidity and mortality in disasters and complex emergencies, but summary data describing specific nutritional interventions in these settings are lacking. This systematic review aimed to characterise such interventions and their effects on paediatric mortality, anthropometric measures and serum markers of nutrition. METHODS A systematic search of OVID MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and relevant grey literature was conducted. We included all randomised controlled trials and observational controlled studies evaluating effectiveness of nutritional intervention(s) on defined health outcomes in children and adolescents (0-18 years) within a disaster or complex emergency. We extracted study characteristics, interventions and outcomes data. Study quality was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. RESULTS A total of 31 studies met inclusion criteria. Most were conducted in Africa (17), during periods of conflict or hunger gaps (14), and evaluated micronutrient supplementation (14) or selective feeding (10). Overall study quality was low, with only two high and four moderate quality studies. High- and medium-quality studies demonstrated positive impact of fortified spreads, ready-to-use therapeutic foods, micronutrient supplementation, and food and cash transfers. CONCLUSION In disasters and complex emergencies, high variability and low quality of controlled studies on paediatric malnutrition limit meaningful data aggregation. If existing research gaps are to be addressed, the inherent unpredictability of humanitarian emergencies and ethical considerations regarding controls may warrant a paradigm shift in what constitutes adequate methods. Periodic hunger gaps may offer a generalisable opportunity for robust trials, but consensus on meaningful nutritional endpoints is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamna S Balhara
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - David M Silvestri
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - W Tyler Winders
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Anand Selvam
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sean M Kivlehan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Division of International Emergency Medicine and Humanitarian Programs, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Torben K Becker
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Adam C Levine
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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Carroll GJ, Lama SD, Martinez-Brockman JL, Pérez-Escamilla R. Evaluation of Nutrition Interventions in Children in Conflict Zones: A Narrative Review. Adv Nutr 2017; 8:770-779. [PMID: 28916577 PMCID: PMC5593106 DOI: 10.3945/an.117.016121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Food and nutrition insecurity becomes increasingly worse in areas affected by armed conflict. Children affected by conflict, or in war-torn settings, face a disproportionate burden of malnutrition and poor health outcomes. As noted by humanitarian response reviews, there is a need for a stronger evidence-based response to humanitarian crises. To achieve this, we systematically searched and evaluated existing nutrition interventions carried out in conflict settings that assessed their impact on children's nutrition status. To evaluate the impact of nutrition interventions on children's nutrition and growth status, we identified published literature through EMBASE, PubMed, and Global Health by using a combination of relevant text words and Medical Subject Heading terms. Studies for this review must have included children (aged ≤18 y), been conducted in conflict or postconflict settings, and assessed a nutrition intervention that measured ≥1 outcome for nutrition status (i.e., stunting, wasting, or underweight). Eleven studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this review. Five different nutrition interventions were identified and showed modest results in decreasing the prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight, reduction in severe or moderate acute malnutrition or both, mortality, anemia, and diarrhea. Overall, nutrition interventions in conflict settings were associated with improved children's nutrition or growth status. Emergency nutrition programs should continue to follow recent recommendations to expand coverage and access (beyond refugee camps to rural areas) and ensure that aid and nutrition interventions are distributed equitably in all conflict-affected populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonam D Lama
- Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale University School of Public Health, and
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Leaf concentrate compared with skimmed milk as nutritional supplementation for HIV-infected children: a randomized controlled trial in Burundi. Public Health Nutr 2015; 19:1904-12. [PMID: 26639151 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980015003456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The effectiveness of leaf concentrate powder (LCP) as a nutritional supplement was established in trials conducted among adolescent girls and pregnant women in India. Here we evaluate LCP, compared with skimmed milk powder (SMP), as a supplement for antiretroviral-naïve children living with HIV in a sub-Saharan African country. DESIGN Randomized controlled, two-arm, 6-month trial comparing effects of isoproteic (5 g) LCP (10 g daily) and SMP (15 g daily) on HIV-1 viral load, CD4+ cell count/percentage, weight/height-for-age, general blood parameters, diarrhoea, respiratory and HIV-related opportunistic infections. SETTING Bujumbura and Kirundo, Burundi. SUBJECTS Eighty-three HIV-positive, antiretroviral-naïve children aged 5-14 years: median (range) CD4+ count, 716 (361-1690) cells/mm3; log10 HIV-1 viral load, 4·39 (1·79-6·00). RESULTS LCP was equivalent to SMP in relation to HIV-specific blood parameters and did not demonstrate superiority over SMP in relation to Hb. Three children in each arm (LCP, 7·1 % (3/42); SMP, 7·3 % (3/41)) proceeded to antiretroviral therapy because their CD4+ counts fell below 350 cells/mm3. Children in the LCP group reported higher levels of appetite and overall health at 6 months. There were no differences in clinical events or any other outcome measures. LCP was less palatable than SMP to the children in this population, but there were few negative perceptions of appearance, texture and taste. CONCLUSIONS LCP appears to be equivalent to SMP as a nutritional supplement in this population, despite slightly lower palatability. In relation to viral load and CD4+ count, equivalence may indicate no effect in either group. Effectiveness relative to no supplementation remains to be determined.
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Socioeconomic consequences of the 2004 tsunami: policy implications for natural disaster management. Prev Med 2013; 57 Suppl:S74-6. [PMID: 23313790 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2012] [Revised: 11/23/2012] [Accepted: 12/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of the study is to assess the socioeconomic status of the households affected by the tsunami of 2004 & to determine the factors associated with the recovery of household economic status. METHODS The study was conducted in tsunami-affected areas in Malaysia in 2010-2011. A total of 193 households were included in the survey. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the factors related to the recovery of households' economic status. FINDINGS Among 193 households, 37% were in a better condition, 40% were unchanged and 22% had not recovered. It took 2.2 years to get back to pre-disaster economic status. Factors leading to successful household economic recovery were "household resided in Sungai Petani", "belong to highest income quartile" and "age of household head". In contrast, "extended family type" and "unemployed household head" reduced the odds of recovery. Households which lost their fishing boats during the tsunami had less chance to recover their previous status. CONCLUSION The findings of our study would be useful for policy consideration and planning of post disaster management in order to enhance the recovery of household economic status in the short period.
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Hall A, Oirere M, Thurstans S, Ndumi A, Sibson V. The practical challenges of evaluating a blanket emergency feeding programme in northern Kenya. PLoS One 2011; 6:e26854. [PMID: 22073119 PMCID: PMC3205799 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2011] [Accepted: 10/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A blanket supplementary feeding programme for young children was implemented for four months in five northern districts of Kenya from January 2010 because of fears of food insecurity exacerbated by drought. An attempt to evaluate the impact of the food on children's anthropometric status was put in place in three districts. The main aim of the analysis was to assess the quality of the data on the cohort of children studied in the evaluation and to propose methods by which it could be improved to evaluate future blanket feeding programmes. Data on the name, age, sex, weight and height of a systematic sample of children recruited at 61 food distribution sites were collected at the first, second and third rounds and again at an extra, fifth food distribution, offered only to the evaluation subjects. Of the 3,544 children enrolled, 483 (13.63%) did not collect a fifth ration. Of the 2,640 children who were considered by their name to be the same at the first and fifth food distribution (13% were different), data on only 902 children (34.17%) were considered acceptable based on their age (an arbitrary ±3 months different) and their length or height (between >−1 or ≤4 cm different) at the two instances they were seen. Data on nearly two thirds of children were of questionable quality. The main reasons for the poor quality data were inconsistencies in estimating age or because caretakers may have brought different children. Recommendations are made about how to improve data quality including ensuring that entry to a blanket feeding programme is clearly based on height, not age, to avoid misreporting age; careful identification of subjects at all contacts; and using well-trained, specialist evaluation staff.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Hall
- Centre for Public Health Nutrition, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom.
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Bloem MW, Semba RD, Kraemer K. Castel Gandolfo workshop: an introduction to the impact of climate change, the economic crisis, and the increase in the food prices on malnutrition. J Nutr 2010; 140:132S-5S. [PMID: 19923395 DOI: 10.3945/jn.109.112094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The global food supply system is facing serious new challenges from economic and related crises and climate change, which directly affect the nutritional well-being of the poor by reducing their access to nutritious food. To cope, vulnerable populations prioritize consumption of calorie-rich but nutrient-poor food. Consequently, dietary quality and eventually quantity decline, increasing micronutrient malnutrition (or hidden hunger) and exacerbating preexisting vulnerabilities that lead to poorer health, lower incomes, and reduced physical and intellectual capabilities. This article introduces the series of papers in this supplement, which explore the relationships between crises and their cumulative impacts among vulnerable populations, particularly through hidden hunger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin W Bloem
- Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Policy, Policy, Strategy and Programme Support Division, World Food Programme, Rome 00148, Italy
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In this issue. Public Health Nutr 2008; 11:657. [DOI: 10.1017/s1368980008002863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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