Maternal & Child Nutrition

Deteriorating complementary feeding practices and dietary quality in Jordan: Trends and challenges

Publication Type

Abstract

Quality complementary feeding (CF) of infants and young children is key to their growth and development. But in Jordan, providing appropriate CF remains a challenge. This study assesses trends in infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, and consumption by infants and young children aged 6–23 months of breast milk substitutes (BMSs), sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and micronutrient-rich foods in Jordan from 1990 to 2017.

Maternal depression is associated with less dietary diversity among rural Nepali children

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Abstract

Maternal depression has been associated with adverse child growth and development; less is known about its relation to children's diet. In a cross-sectional study embedded at endline of a longitudinal community development intervention, mothers of 629 children (age 23–66 months) in rural Nepal responded to household and children's diet questionnaires and were screened for depression. Child anthropometry and development (Ages and Stages Questionnaire) were assessed.

Birthweight and feeding practices are associated with child growth outcomes in South Asia

Publication Type

Although there has been a focus on preventing stunting over the past decade, wasting has received less policy and programmatic attention. Recent national surveys from six South Asian countries were pooled to generate a dataset of 62,509 children aged 0 to 59 months to explore associations between low birthweight (LBW) and suboptimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices with child wasting, severe wasting, and the co‐occurrence of wasting and stunting. Logistic regression models accounted for the surveys' clustered designs and adjusted for a potential confounding factors.

Association between maternal aflatoxin exposure during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes in Uganda

Publication Type

Aflatoxins are toxic metabolites of Aspergillus molds and are widespread in the food supply, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). Both in utero and infant exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) have been linked to poor child growth and development. The objective of this prospective cohort study was to investigate the association between maternal aflatoxin exposure during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes, primarily lower birth weight, in a sample of 220 mother‐infant pairs in Mukono district, Uganda.

Determinants of anemia among women and children in Nepal and Pakistan: An analysis of recent national survey data

Publication Type

Anemia remains one of the most intractable public health challenges in South Asia. This paper analyzes individual-level and household-level determinants of anemia among children and women in Nepal and Pakistan.