Widen, Elizabeth

Cross-sectional but not Longitudinal Measures of Food Insecurity are Associated with the Rate of Weight Gain during Pregnancy in Northern Uganda

Publication Type

Food insecurity (FI) during pregnancy may lead to adverse health outcomes for affected women. However, little is known on whether such effects are due to short-term within person changes (longitudinal effects) in FI or long-term between person differences (cross-sectional effects) in this exposure. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess whether differences in cross-sectional measures of FI between women (defined as the mean prenatal IFIAS score) and/or longitudinal changes in FI within women (i.e.

Maternal HIV Infection, but not Food Insecurity, Predicts the Pattern of Weight Gain in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Services in Northern Uganda

Publication Type

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the differential impact of maternal HIV infection and/or food insecurity on the pattern of weight gain among pregnant women is unknown. To fill this gap, data on 402 pregnant women (33% HIV+ & participating in antiretroviral treatment) enrolled in a perinatal cohort study at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in northern Uganda were analyzed.

Food insecurity, but not HIV-infection status, is associated with adverse changes in body composition during lactation in Ugandan women of mixed HIV status

Publication Type

A cohort of 246 women [36.5% of whom were HIV positive (HIV+) and were receiving ART] were followed to 12 mo postpartum. Repeated measures included weight, fat mass, fat-free mass, mid upper arm circumference, triceps skin fold thickness [which allowed for the derivation of arm muscle area (AMA) and arm fat area (AFA)], breastfeeding, and individual food insecurity. Longitudinal regression models were constructed to assess associations between HIV and food insecurity and changes in body composition over time.

Alcohol Use Among Pregnant Ugandan Women of Mixed HIV Status is Associated with Social Environment and Food Insecurity

Publication Type

Antenatal alcohol use (AAU) is associated with poor health outcomes in maternal-infant dyads. However, AAU prevalence and risk factors are poorly understood, particularly in low-income settings. Therefore we studied correlates of any AAU among pregnant women receiving antenatal care in Gulu, Uganda.