Dietary practices and associated factors among pregnant women in West Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia
Background: The optimal dietary practice is a critical requisite for maternal nutrition. However, the majority of Ethiopian pregnant women have inadequate nutrient intakes. These may be due to their poor dietary habits. Identifying factors affecting the dietary practices of pregnant women is crucial to design appropriate interventions. In this country, the dietary practices of pregnant […]
Geo-spatial factors associated with infection risk among young children in rural Ghana: A secondary spatial analysis
Background: Determining the spatial patterns of infection among young children living in a malaria-endemic area may provide a means of locating high-risk populations who could benefit from additional resources for treatment and improved access to healthcare. The objective of this secondary analysis of baseline data from a cluster-randomized trial among 1943 young Ghanaian children (6-35 […]
Seasonality and predictors of childhood stunting and wasting in drought-prone areas in Ethiopia: a cohort study
Background and objectives Over centuries, Ethiopia has experienced severe famines and periods of serious drought, and malnutrition remains a major public health problem. The aims of this study were to estimate seasonal variations in child stunting and wasting, and identify factors associated with both forms of child malnutrition in drought-prone areas. Methods This cohort study […]
Healthy cardiovascular biomarkers across the lifespan in wild-born chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Chimpanzee cardiovascular health
Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are a crucial model for understanding the evolution of human health and longevity. Cardiovascular disease is a major source of mortality during ageing in humans and therefore a key issue for comparative research. Current data indicate that compared to humans, chimpanzees have proatherogenic blood lipid profiles, an important risk factor for cardiovascular […]
Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in infants of six months and below in Malawi: A cross sectional study
Background: UNICEF and WHO recommend that all children should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life as breastmilk contains all the nutrients an infant needs during this period. In Malawi, exclusive breastfeeding has been declining from 72% (2009), 70.2% (2014) and 61% in the most recent survey (2015-16). We aimed to determine […]
Evaluating the level of adherence to Ministry of Health guidelines in the management of severe acute malnutrition at Garissa Provincial General Hospital, Garissa, Kenya
INTRODUCTION: Half of Kenya’s high infant and under five mortality rates is due to malnutrition. Proper implementation of World Health Organization’s (WHO) Evidence Based Guidelines (EBG) in management of severe acute malnutrition can reduce mortality rates to less than 5%. The objectives were to establish the level of adherence to WHO guideline and the proportion […]
Trends and correlates of HIV testing amongst women: Lessons learnt from Kenya
Background: A majority of women in Kenya do not know their HIV status and are therefore unable to take preventive measures or medication in order to prolong their lives. Objectives: This study investigates the key determinants of HIV testing in Kenya and documents how these changed over the 1998-2008 period. Method: This study uses data […]
Factors associated with prelacteal feeding in the rural population of northwest Ethiopia: A community cross-sectional study
Background: Prelacteal feeding has continued as a deep-rooted nutritional malpractice in developing countries. Prelacteal feeding is a barrier for implementation of optimal breastfeeding practices, and increases the risk of neonatal illness and mortality. However, its determinants are not well studied, which are essential to design intervention. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants […]
Understanding whose births get registered: a cross sectional study in Bauchi and Cross River states, Nigeria
It is a recognized child right to acquire a name and a nationality, and birth registration may be necessary to allow access to services, but the level of birth registration is low in Nigeria. A household survey about management of childhood illnesses provided an opportunity to examine actionable determinants of birth registration of children in […]
Nutrition education, farm production diversity, and commercialization on household and individual dietary diversity in Zimbabwe
Background: Nutrition education is crucial for improved nutrition outcomes. However, there are no studies to the best of our knowledge that have jointly analysed the roles of nutrition education, farm production diversity and commercialization on household, women and child dietary diversity. Objective: This article jointly analyses the role of nutrition education, farm production diversity and […]