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Cliffer IR, Naumova EN, Masters WA, Perumal N, Garanet F, Rogers BL. Peak timing of slowest growth velocity among young children coincides with highest ambient temperatures in Burkina Faso: a longitudinal study. Am J Clin Nutr 2024; 119:393-405. [PMID: 38309828 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.09.021] [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: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seasonal cycles in climatic factors affect drivers of child growth and contribute to seasonal fluctuations in undernutrition. Current growth seasonality models are limited by categorical definitions of seasons that rely on assumptions about their timing and fail to consider their magnitude. OBJECTIVE We disentangle the relationship between climatic factors and growth indicators, using harmonic regression to determine how child growth is related to peaks in temperature, precipitation, and vegetation. METHODS Longitudinal anthropometric data collected between August 2014 and December 2016 from 5039 Burkinabè children measured monthly from age 6 to 28 mo (108,580 observations) were linked with remotely sensed daily precipitation, vegetation, and maximum air temperature. Our models parsimoniously extract a cyclic signal with multiple potential peaks, to compare the magnitude and timing of seasonal peaks in climatic factors and morbidity with that of nadirs in growth velocity (cm/mo, kg/mo). RESULTS Length and weight velocity were slowest twice a year, coinciding both times with the highest temperatures, and peak fever incidence. Length velocity is slowest 13 d after the first temperature peak in April, and 5 d after the second. Similarly, weight velocity is slowest 13 d before the first temperature peak, and 11 d before the second. The statistical relationship between temperature and anthropometry shows that when the current temperature is higher, weight velocity is lower (β = -0.0048; 95% CI: -0.0059, -0.0038), and length velocity is higher (β = 0.0088; 95% CI: 0.0070, 0.0105). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that child health and development are more affected by high temperatures than by other aspects of climatic seasonality such as rainfall. Emerging shifts in climatic conditions will pose challenges to optimal growth, highlighting the importance of changes that optimize the timing of nutrition interventions and address environmental growth-limiting conditions. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02071563.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana R Cliffer
- Global Health and Population Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States; Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Elena N Naumova
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - William A Masters
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nandita Perumal
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia SC, United States
| | - Franck Garanet
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Beatrice L Rogers
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
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Guo H, Zong S, Yong L, Jiang Y, Qin L, Zhou L, Ren Q, Gao X, Kang F, Huang W, Chen J, Zhang L. The association between perchlorate in drinking water and height and weight of children and adolescents in Southwest China: a retrospective cross-sectional study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1260612. [PMID: 37860794 PMCID: PMC10582749 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1260612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the association between the concentration of perchlorate in drinking water and the height and weight of children and adolescents in Sichuan Province. Methods Perchlorate in the drinking water of 24 counties in Sichuan Province from 2021 to 2022 was detected and analyzed, 66 drinking water samples were collected, and the content of perchlorate in drinking water during the wet season and dry season was detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography in series. The linear mixed effect model was used to estimate the relationship between perchlorate in drinking water and the height and weight of 144,644 children and adolescents, and 33 pieces of local average wage data were used as confounding factors for quality control. Results After controlling the age, gender, and local economic situation, we found that the concentration of perchlorate in drinking water increased by 10 μg/L is associated with a 1.0 cm decrease in height and a 1.6 kg decrease in weight in children and adolescents (p < 0.05). Conclusion The concentration of perchlorate in drinking water may be negatively correlated with the height and weight of children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Guo
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Shimiao Zong
- School of Public Health, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Yong
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Jiang
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling Qin
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Liang Zhou
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiaoqiao Ren
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Xufang Gao
- Chengdu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Fayang Kang
- Guangyuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangyuan, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, China
| | - Jianyu Chen
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
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Veiga GRS, da Silva GAP, Padilha BM, Lima MDC. Determining factors of child linear growth from the viewpoint of Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Theory. J Pediatr (Rio J) 2022; 99:205-218. [PMID: 36572387 DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze the factors associated with children's linear growth, according to the different subsystems of the 6Cs model and Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Theory. DATA SOURCES Narrative review, carried out in the Scielo, Lilacs, Pubmed, and Science Direct databases, based on research using the terms Bioecological Theory, child growth, and risk factors, combined with the use of Boolean operators. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS According to the 6Cs model, proposed based on Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Theory, the determining factors of children's linear growth are in six interrelated subsystems - cell, child, clan, community, country/state and culture. The empirical studies included in this review made it possible to analyze protection and risk factors within the subsystems. Among the protective factors: are adequate birth weight and satisfactory weight gain, breastfeeding for six months or more; proper hygienic habit of hand washing, proper elimination of feces, and access to clean water. As risk factors: low, birth weight and size, prematurity, multiple deliveries, short interval between deliveries, non-exclusive breastfeeding until the 3rd month, frequency and severity of infectious processes and anemia, little parental education, short maternal statur, inadequate maternal nutritional status, domestic violence, family poverty, food, and nutritional insecurity, living in rural areas or at high altitudes. CONCLUSION Children's linear growth is determined by interrelated factors that encompass aspects prior to the child's birth, as well as socioeconomic, political, family and community issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Rossiter Stux Veiga
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Pós-graduação em Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente, Recife, PE, Brazil; Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Marilia de Carvalho Lima
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Pós-graduação em Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente, Recife, PE, Brazil
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Seasonality and nutrition-sensitive farming in rural Northern Ghana. Food Secur 2022; 15:381-394. [PMID: 37016711 PMCID: PMC10066165 DOI: 10.1007/s12571-022-01325-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
In rural sub-Saharan Africa, where malnutrition in all its forms is rife, the greatest gap between the availability of foods and the foods needed for a nutritious diet are faced during the ‘hunger season’. We investigated what rural households in Northern Ghana would need to grow to ensure year-round availability of a nutrient adequate diet or the income required to fulfil their dietary needs. We applied linear programming to model different scenarios and interventions. Our results provide three major insights. First, considering seasonality is crucial in nutrition-sensitive farming. Ensuring a nutritious diet year-round requires enhanced availability of vegetables and fruits throughout the year. Second, although staple crops do not provide the full range of essential nutrients, increasing their yields allows for a reduction of field size, freeing up space for the production of other foods belonging to a nutritious diet, such as vegetables. Third, small farms are unable to produce sufficient food to cover their needs. They depend on income both from agriculture and other sources, and the availability of types of foods on markets to meet their dietary needs. Our study shows the value of modelling the range of dietary effects from agricultural interventions in a specific context, using a local feasible nutritious diet as a starting point and taking seasonality into account.
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Linger Endalifer M, Diress G, Linger Endalifer B, Wagaye B, Almaw H. Does birth season correlate with childhood stunting? An input for astrological nutrition. BMC Pediatr 2022; 22:306. [PMID: 35610626 PMCID: PMC9128290 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-022-03343-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic malnutrition is highly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa and a severe public health problem in Ethiopia.At country level in the past three decades,the prevalence of stunting is above 40%.Different researchs and intervention were implemented in the past;but the progresss is non-remarkable.Despite; the effect of birth season on childhood chronic malnutrition was not studied yet in Ethiopia. METHODS This research was extracted from the 2016 demographic health survey of Ethiopia. The data was collected based on national and international scientific protocols. A total of 645 enumeration areas were selected for the national survey.The surevey uses two stage stratified sampling technique to gather data from the sampling unit. After excluding non eligible children a total of 8855 participants were included for final analysis.Height and weight were measured based on the standards nutritional assessment procedure.SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data.Descriptive statistics were used to present the data. Binary and multivariable logistic regression models were regressed to identify the potential predictors.A p-value of less than 0.05 with 95% CI were used to declare an association. RESULT The prevalence of stunting in Ethiopia was 38.7% (95% CI: 36.8, 40.6). Season of birth had a significant association with stunting. The odds of being stunted among children born in the spring season were decreased by 16% as compared to children born in the winter season. CONCLUSION Children born in the spring season were less likely to be stunted (the so called October effect). The clear scientific relation between the season of birth and child anthropometric indicator is not well understood. Nutritional interventions and policies are better to consider the birth season of the child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melese Linger Endalifer
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
| | - Gedefaw Diress
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Bedilu Linger Endalifer
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Birhanu Wagaye
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Hunegnaw Almaw
- Department of Public Health Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Medcine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
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Nonterah EA, Welaga P, Chatio ST, Kehoe SH, Ofosu W, Ward KA, Godfrey KM, Oduro AR, Newell M. Children born during the hunger season are at a higher risk of severe acute malnutrition: Findings from a Guinea Sahelian ecological zone in Northern Ghana. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2022; 18:e13313. [PMID: 35008126 PMCID: PMC8932825 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Heightened food insecurity in the hunger season increases the risk of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in childhood. This study examined the association of season of birth with SAM in a Guinean Sahelian ecological zone. We analyzed routine health and sociodemographic surveillance data from the Navrongo Health and Socio-demographic Surveillance System collected between 2011 and 2018. January-June, the period of highest food insecurity, was defined as the hunger season. We defined moderate acute malnutrition as child mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) between 115 mm and 135 mm and SAM as MAUC ≤ 115 mm. We used adjusted logistic regression to quantify the association between the season of birth and SAM in children aged 6-35 months. From the 29,452 children studied, 24% had moderate acute malnutrition. Overall, 1.4% had SAM, with a higher prevalence (1.8%) in the hunger season of birth. Compared with those born October-December, adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for SAM were increased for children born in the hunger season: January-March (1.77 [1.31-2.39]) and April-June (1.92 [1.44-2.56]). Low birth weight, age at an assessment of nutritional status, and ethno-linguistic group were also significantly associated with SAM in adjusted analyses. Our study established that being born in the hunger season is associated with a higher risk of severe acute malnutrition. The result implies improvement in the food supply to pregnant and lactating mothers through sustainable agriculture or food system change targeting the hunger season may reduce the burden of severe acute malnutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Engelbert A. Nonterah
- Navrongo Health Research CentreGhana Health ServiceNavrongoGhana
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Paul Welaga
- Navrongo Health Research CentreGhana Health ServiceNavrongoGhana
- School of Medicine and DentistryC K Tedam University of Technology and Applied SciencesNavrongoUpper East RegionGhana
| | - Samuel T. Chatio
- Navrongo Health Research CentreGhana Health ServiceNavrongoGhana
| | - Sarah H. Kehoe
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | - Winfred Ofosu
- Upper East Regional Health Directorate, PMBBolgatangaGhana
| | - Kate A. Ward
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
- Global Health Research Institute, School of Health and Human DevelopmentUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of the WitwatersrandJohannesburgSouth Africa
| | - Keith M. Godfrey
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | - Abraham R. Oduro
- Navrongo Health Research CentreGhana Health ServiceNavrongoGhana
| | - Marie‐Louise Newell
- Department of Human DevelopmentUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of the WitwatersrandJohannesburgSouth Africa
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Tan SY, Curtis AR, Leech RM, Ridgers ND, Crawford D, McNaughton SA. A systematic review of temporal body weight and dietary intake patterns in adults: implications on future public health nutrition interventions to promote healthy weight. Eur J Nutr 2022; 61:2255-2278. [DOI: 10.1007/s00394-021-02791-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Narumi S, Ohnuma T, Takehara K, Morisaki N, Urayama KY, Hattori T. Evaluating the seasonality of growth in infants using a mobile phone application. NPJ Digit Med 2020; 3:138. [PMID: 33102789 PMCID: PMC7578091 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-020-00345-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been observed that growth velocity of toddlers and school children shows seasonal variation, while such seasonality is unknown in infants. The aim of this study was to examine whether growth velocity (length and weight) of infants differs by seasons. We assessed longitudinal measurement data obtained for 9,409 Japanese infants whose parents used the mobile phone application, "Papatto Ikuji", during the period from January 2014 to October 2017. On average, each infant had 4.8 entries for length and 5.4 entries for weight. The mean daily change in sex- and age-adjusted z-scores between two time points was estimated as the growth velocity during that period: ΔLAZ/day and ΔWAZ/day for length and weight, respectively. We analyzed 20,007 ΔLAZ/day (mean, -0.0022) and 33,236 ΔWAZ/day (mean, 0.0005) measurements, and found that ΔLAZ/day showed seasonal differences with increases during summer. We conducted a multilevel linear regression analysis, in which effects of age, sex, nutrition and season of birth were adjusted, showing significant difference in ΔLAZ/day between winter and summer with a mean ΔLAZ/day difference of 0.0026 (95%CI 0.0015 to 0.0036; P < 0.001). This seasonal difference corresponded to 13% of the average linear growth velocity in 6-month-old infants. A modest effect of nutrition on linear growth was observed with a mean ΔLAZ/day difference of 0.0015 (95%CI 0.0006 to 0.0025; P < 0.001) between predominantly formula-fed infants and breastfed infants. In conclusion, we observed that linear growth, but not weight gain, of Japanese infants showed significant seasonality effects represented by increases in summer and decreases in winter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Narumi
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535 Japan
| | - Tetsu Ohnuma
- CAPER Unit, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Kenji Takehara
- Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535 Japan
| | - Naho Morisaki
- Department of Social Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535 Japan
| | - Kevin Y. Urayama
- Department of Social Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535 Japan
- Graduate School of Public Health, St. Luke’s International University, Tokyo, 104-0045 Japan
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Bilal JA, Eltahir HG, Al-Nafeesah A, Al-Wutayd O, Adam I. Acute severe malnutrition treatment outcomes in children ages 6-59 months admitted to Singa Hospital, Sudan. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2020; 114:612-617. [PMID: 32484862 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute malnutrition threatens the lives of 50.5 million children <5 y of age. Consequences of malnutrition include death, among other short-term sequelae. This study was conducted from April to October 2018 to determine the outcomes of children 6-59 months of age with acute severe malnutrition admitted to Singa Hospital in central Sudan. METHODS Clinical information for children with a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) <115 mm were collected. We measured children's weight and height and calculated weight-for-height z-scores. Treatment was offered according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Outcomes were recorded as recovered, discharged against medical advice or died. RESULTS This study included 376 malnourished children. The median age was 18 months (interquartile range [IQR] 12-24). The male:female ratio was 1:1. Among children with weight-for-height Z-scores of -4 and -3, 103 (27.3%) had oedematous malnutrition. There were 131 (34.8%) children with malaria parasites, 33 (8.7%) with pyuria and 24 (6.3%) with intestinal parasites. The recovery rate was 89.1%. The case fatality rate was 3.7%. Mortality was significantly increased with diarrhoea and dermatoses. There were no significant differences in the median of age (17.5 months [IQR 6-24] vs 18 [6-24], p = 0.595), MUAC (110 mm [IQR 104-111] vs 110 [100-111], p = 0.741) or sex (p = 0.991) between children who died and those who recovered. CONCLUSIONS The case fatality rate was 3.7% and it was associated with diarrhoea and dermatoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jalal Ali Bilal
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Abdullah Al-Nafeesah
- Department of Paediatrics, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Unaizah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Osama Al-Wutayd
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Unaizah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ishag Adam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Unaizah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Hemalatha R, Radhakrishna K, Kumar BN. Undernutrition in children & critical windows of opportunity in Indian context. Indian J Med Res 2018; 148:612-620. [PMID: 30666986 PMCID: PMC6366257 DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_1963_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
It is intriguing to note that majority of the wasting among the under 5 yr in India is present at birth. The National Family Health Survey 4 (NFHS-4) data analysis shows 31.9 per cent wasting at birth, which is decreasing to 17.7 per cent in the under five children; clearly suggesting that any reduction in wasting should come from improvement in foetal growth. In addition, children with both severe wasting and severe stunting, in whom the risk of mortality increases many folds, are <1 per cent in almost all the States; and these are the children in whom special care is required under the community-based management of severe acute malnutrition. This article presents an overview of nutrition status in children, their antecedents, and the critical phases; especially, nutrition status before pregnancy that plays a crucial role in all the nutrition status indicators of children. More attention on the critical phases is crucial to maximize the benefits from national programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Hemalatha
- ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
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