Food supplements to reduce stunting in Pakistan: a process evaluation of community dynamics shaping uptake.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Zaidi S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7331235 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Food supplements to reduce stunting in Pakistan: a process evaluation of community dynamics shaping uptake.
Zaidi Shehla S Das Jai K JK Khan Gul Nawaz GN Najmi Rabia R Shah Mashal Murad MM Soofi Sajid B SB
BMC public health 20200702 1
<h4>Background</h4>There is an increasing interest in use of food supplements to prevent childhood stunting, however the evidence on the process indicators is scarce. We in this study explore the barriers to the effective implementation of food supplementation programs and the possible mitigation strategies which can guide the design of future programs.<h4>Methods</h4>We undertook a process evaluation of a stunting prevention food supplementation pilot program in rural Pakistan that distributed ...[more]
Similar Datasets
Project description:BackgroundMaternal undernutrition and newborn stunting [birth length-for-age z score (LAZ) <-2] are common in Bangladesh.ObjectiveThe objective was to evaluate the effect of lipid-based nutrient supplements for pregnant and lactating women (LNS-PLs) on birth outcomes.DesignWe conducted a cluster-randomized effectiveness trial (the Rang-Din Nutrition Study) within a community health program in rural Bangladesh. We enrolled 4011 pregnant women at ≤20 gestational weeks; 48 clusters received iron and folic acid (IFA; 60 mg Fe + 400 μg folic acid) and 16 clusters received LNS-PLs (20 g/d, 118 kcal) containing essential fatty acids and 22 vitamins and minerals. Both of the supplements were intended for daily consumption until delivery. Primary outcomes were birth weight and length.ResultsInfants in the LNS-PL group had higher birth weights (2629 ± 408 compared with 2588 ± 413 g; P = 0.007), weight-for-age z scores (-1.48 ± 1.01 compared with -1.59 ± 1.02; P = 0.006), head-circumference-for-age z scores (HCZs; -1.26 ± 1.08 compared with -1.34 ± 1.12; P = 0.028), and body mass index z scores (-1.57 ± 1.05 compared with -1.66 ± 1.03; P = 0.005) than those in the IFA group; in adjusted models, the differences in length (47.6 ± 0.07 compared with 47.4 ± 0.04 cm; P = 0.043) and LAZ (-1.15 ± 0.04 compared with -1.24 ± 0.02; P = 0.035) were also significant. LNS-PLs reduced the risk of newborn stunting (18.7% compared with 22.6%; RR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.71, 0.97) and small head size (HCZ <-2) (20.7% compared with 24.9%; RR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.98). The effects of LNS-PL on newborn stunting were greatest in infants born before a 10-wk interruption in LNS-PL distribution (n = 1301; 15.7% compared with 23.6%; adjusted RR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.89) and in infants born to women ≤24 y of age or with household food insecurity.ConclusionPrenatal lipid-based nutrient supplements can improve birth outcomes in Bangladeshi women, especially those at higher risk of fetal growth restriction. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01715038.
| S-EPMC6443293 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Rural Guatemala has one of the highest rates of chronic child malnutrition (stunting) in the world, with little progress despite considerable efforts to scale up evidence-based nutrition interventions. Recent literature suggests that one factor limiting impact is inadequate supervisory support for frontline workers. Here we describe a community-based quality improvement intervention in a region with a high rate of stunting. The intervention provided audit and feedback support to frontline nutrition workers through electronic worklists, performance dashboards, and one-on-one feedback sessions. We visualized performance indicators and child nutrition outcomes during the improvement intervention using run charts and control charts. In this small community-based sample (125 households at program initiation), over the two-year improvement period, there were marked improvements in the delivery of program components, such as growth monitoring services and micronutrient supplements. The prevalence of child stunting fell from 42.4 to 30.6%, meeting criteria for special cause variation. The mean length/height-for-age Z-score rose from -1.77 to -1.47, also meeting criteria for special cause variation. In conclusion, the addition of structured performance visualization and audit and feedback components to an existing community-based nutrition program improved child health indicators significantly through improving the fidelity of an existing evidence-based nutrition package.
| S-EPMC7831302 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Acquired antimalarial drug resistance produces treatment failures and has led to periods of global disease resurgence. In P. falciparum, resistance is known to arise through genome-level changes such as mutations and gene duplications. We now report an epigenetic resistance mechanism involving genes responsible for the plasmodial surface anion channel, a nutrient channel that also transports ions and antimalarial compounds at the host erythrocyte membrane. Two blasticidin S-resistant lines exhibited markedly reduced expression of clag Mutant FCB-br1 and wild-type FCB samples were hybridized to seven arrays (biological repeats) using forward (n=2) and reverse (n=5) fluoro.
2013-06-03 | E-GEOD-47579 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Acquired antimalarial drug resistance produces treatment failures and has led to periods of global disease resurgence. In P. falciparum, resistance is known to arise through genome-level changes such as mutations and gene duplications. We now report an epigenetic resistance mechanism involving genes responsible for the plasmodial surface anion channel, a nutrient channel that also transports ions and antimalarial compounds at the host erythrocyte membrane. Two blasticidin S-resistant lines exhibited markedly reduced expression of clag
2013-06-03 | GSE47579 | GEO
Project description:Abstract Objectives We aimed to assess the effectiveness of nutritional supplementation during the first 1000-days on reduction in the prevalence of stunting in children at 24 months of age. Methods In this cluster randomised controlled trial, we enrolled women during their pregnancy from two rural districts of Sindh, Pakistan. A cluster was one union council with a population of ∼25,000 residents. Out of 29 clusters, we randomly allocated 6 clusters to intervention and 6 to control group. Pregnant women received a monthly ration of 5 kg (i.e., 165 grams/day) of wheat soya blend plus (WSB+) during pregnancy and the first six months of their lactation period, and their children received lipid-based nutrient supplement - medium-quantity (LNS-MQ) between 6–23 months of age. The primary outcome was reduction in the prevalence of stunting in children at 24 months of age. Analysis was by intention to treat. The trial is registered in ClinicalTrial.gov, number NCT02422953. Results 2030 pregnant women (1017 in the intervention group and 1013 in the control group) were enrolled between August 30, 2014 and May 25, 2016. Monthly follow-ups were conducted between October 1, 2014 and October 25, 2018. At 24 months of age, data from 702 (78%) of 902 livebirths in the intervention group and 658 (76%) of 860 livebirths in the control group were available. There was a significant difference in mean length (49.4 cm vs 48.9 cm, p = 0.027), weight (3.1 kg vs 3.0 kg, p = 0.013), length for age z-scores (−1.2 vs −1.5, p = 0.004) and weight for age z-scores (−1.2 vs −1.5, p = 0.015) among infants in the intervention compared to control group. At 24 months of age, a significant difference in the prevalence of stunting (absolute difference, −10.2%, 95% CI −18.2 to −2.3, p = 0.017) and underweight (absolute difference, −13.7%, 95% CI −20.3 to −7.0, p = 0.001) were observed in the intervention as compared to the control group. The difference in the prevalence of wasting was not significant between the intervention and control groups (absolute difference, −6.9%, 95% CI −14.1 to −0.3, p = 0.057). Conclusions Provision of WSB + and LNS-MQ during the first 1000-days of life improved child linear growth and reduced stunting in children at 24 months of age. This study can be scaled-up in the similar settings for reduction in the prevalence of stunting in children under-two years of age. Funding Sources World Food Programme.
| S-EPMC9194392 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesWe aimed to implement participatory research to answer a question posed by four Kichwa indigenous communities in Andean Ecuador about what actionable factors are associated with childhood stunting, overweight and food insecurity among their people.DesignWe used mixed methods including household questionnaires, discussion groups with respondents of the questionnaires and anthropometric measurement of children (6 months to 12 years) from surveyed households.SettingThe study involved four Andean indigenous communities transitioning from traditional to Western lifestyles. They subsist mainly on small-scale agriculture and have a rich cultural heritage including their traditional language.ParticipantsAnthropometric data were collected from 298 children from 139 households in four communities; all households completed the questionnaire. We held five discussion groups (6-10 participants each): three composed of mothers and two of farmers.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrimary outcomes were stunting, overweight, food insecurity and their relationship with demographics, dietary habits and agricultural habits.ResultsOf 298 children, 48.6% were stunted and 43.3% overweight for age. Stunted children were more likely to live in households that sold livestock (ORa 1.77, 95% CIa 1.06 to 2.95) and with illiterate primary caretakers (ORa 1.81, 95% CIa 1.07 to 3.06), but were less likely to live in households with irrigation (ORa 0.47, 95% CIa 0.27 to 0.81). Overweight children were more likely to be male (ORa 1.87, 95% CIa 1.02 to 3.43) and live in a household that sold livestock (ORa 2.14, 95% CIa 1.14 to 4.02). Some 67.8% of children lived in a household with food insecurity, more frequently in those earning below minimum wage (ORa 2.90, 95% CIa 1.56 to 5.41) and less frequently in those that ate quinoa in the past 24 hours (ORa 0.17, 95% CIa 0.06 to 0.48). Discussion groups identified irrigation and loss of agricultural and dietary traditions as important causes of poor childhood nutrition.ConclusionMany indigenous communities face tumultuous cultural, nutritional and epidemiological transitions. Community-based interventions on factors identified here could mitigate negative health outcomes.
| S-EPMC6042540 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Liver fat accumulation is an important pathophysiological feature of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that may be modulated by dietary supplements (DS). A systematic search of the literature was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) pertaining to the effect of a DS on liver fat as assessed using quantitative tomographic imaging in human adults. Where feasible, data were pooled, and meta-analyses conducted using random-effect model. Quality assessment was done according the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias. Twenty RCTs, involving 1171 overweight and obese adults, of which 36% were females, with or without comorbidities, were included. Only RCTs assessing omega-3 fatty acids (n = 4) and resveratrol (n = 4) qualified for meta-analysis. Results did neither favor omega-3 (effect size -1.17; weighted mean difference (WMD) (95% confidence interval (CI)) -3.62, 1.28; p < 0.001) nor resveratrol supplementation (0.18; 95% CI -1.08, 1.43; p = 0.27). The findings of the qualitatively summarized RCTs suggested that catechins (n = 1), Lactobacillus reuteri (n = 1), and carnitine (n = 1) may reduce liver fat. All other DS did not show any influence. The current evidence is scarce, of limited quality and does not support DS use to reduce liver fat. Further well-designed trials are warranted.
| S-EPMC7469018 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Childhood stunting, being short for one's age, has life-long consequences for health, human capital and economic growth. Being stunted in early childhood is associated with slower cognitive development, reduced schooling attainment and adult incomes decreased by 5-53%. The World Health Assembly has endorsed global nutrition targets including one to reduce the number of stunted children under five by 40% by 2025. The target has been included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG target 2.2). This paper estimates the cost of achieving this target and develops scenarios for generating the necessary financing. We focus on a key intervention package for stunting (KIPS) with strong evidence of effectiveness. Annual scale-up costs for the period of 2016-25 were estimated for a sample of 37 high burden countries and extrapolated to all low and middle income countries. The Lives Saved Tool was used to model the impact of the scale-up on stunting prevalence. We analysed data on KIPS budget allocations and expenditure by governments, donors and households to derive a global baseline financing estimate. We modelled two financing scenarios, a 'business as usual', which extends the current trends in domestic and international financing for nutrition through 2025, and another that proposes increases in financing from all sources under a set of burden-sharing rules. The 10-year financial need to scale up KIPS is US$49.5 billion. Under 'business as usual', this financial need is not met and the global stunting target is not reached. To reach the target, current financing will have to increase from US$2.6 billion to US$7.4 billion a year on average. Reaching the stunting target is feasible but will require large coordinated investments in KIPS and a supportive enabling environment. The example of HIV scale-up over 2001-11 is instructive in identifying the factors that could drive such a global response to childhood stunting.
| S-EPMC5406759 | biostudies-literature
Project description:UnlabelledSmall-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) are promising home fortification products, but the optimal zinc level needed to improve growth and reduce morbidity is uncertain. We aimed to assess the impact of providing SQ-LNS with varied amounts of zinc, along with illness treatment, on zinc-related outcomes compared with standard care. In a placebo-controlled, cluster-randomized trial, 34 communities were stratified to intervention (IC) or non-intervention cohorts (NIC). 2435 eligible IC children were randomly assigned to one of four groups:1) SQ-LNS without zinc, placebo tablet; 2) SQ-LNS containing 5mg zinc, placebo tablet; 3) SQ-LNS containing 10mg zinc, placebo tablet; or 4) SQ-LNS without zinc and 5mg zinc tablet from 9–18 months of age. During weekly morbidity surveillance, oral rehydration salts were provided for reported diarrhea and antimalarial therapy for confirmed malaria. Children in NIC (n = 785) did not receive SQ-LNS, tablets, illness surveillance or treatment. At 9 and 18 months, length, weight and hemoglobin were measured in all children. Reported adherence was 97 ± 6% for SQ-LNS and tablets. Mean baseline hemoglobin was 89 ± 15g/L. At 18 months, change in hemoglobin was greater in IC than NIC (+8 vs -1g/L, p<0.0001), but 79.1% of IC were still anemic (vs. 91.1% in NIC). Final plasma zinc concentration did not differ by group. During the 9-month observation period, the incidence of diarrhea was 1.10 ± 1.03 and of malaria 0.54 ± 0.50 episodes per 100 child-days, and did not differ by group. Length at 18 months was significantly greater in IC compared to NIC (77.7 ± 3.0 vs. 76.9 ± 3.4 cm; p<0.001) and stunting prevalence was significantly lower in IC (29.3%) than NIC (39.3%; p<0.0001), but did not differ by intervention group within IC. Wasting prevalence was also significantly lower in IC (8.7%) than in NIC (13.5%; p = 0.0003). Providing SQ-LNS daily with or without zinc, along with malaria and diarrhea treatment, significantly increased growth and reduced stunting, wasting and anemia prevalence in young children.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT00944281.
| S-EPMC4376671 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Understanding the emergence and maintenance of biodiversity ranks among the most fundamental challenges in evolutionary ecology. While processes of community assembly have frequently been analyzed from an ecological perspective, their evolutionary dimensions have so far received less attention. To elucidate the eco-evolutionary processes underlying the long-term build-up and potential collapse of community diversity, here we develop and examine an individual-based model describing coevolutionary dynamics driven by trophic interactions and interference competition, of a pair of quantitative traits determining predator and prey niches. Our results demonstrate the (1) emergence of communities with multiple trophic levels, shown here for the first time for stochastic models with linear functional responses, and (2) intermittent and cyclic evolutionary transitions between two alternative community states. In particular, our results indicate that the interplay of ecological and evolutionary dynamics often results in extinction cascades that remove the entire trophic level of consumers from a community. Finally, we show the (3) robustness of our results under variations of model assumptions, underscoring that processes of consumer collapse and subsequent rebound could be important elements of understanding biodiversity dynamics in natural communities.
| S-EPMC3808158 | biostudies-literature