Seasonal droughts and the risk of childhood undernutrition in Ethiopia

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to describe the association of childhood undernutrition with water supply, sanitation, and hygiene interventions in Kersa and Omo Nada districts of the Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.Design: A case-control study design was undertaken from December 2018 to January 2019.Setting: Kersa and Omo Nada districts of the Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.Subjects: 128 cases and 256 controls were randomly selected from malnourished and well-nourished children, respectively.Outcome measures: Bodyweight, length/height, mid-upper arm circumference and presence of edema of the children were measured according to the WHO references. Then, the nutritional status of children was identified as case or control using cutoff points recommended by the WHO based on the Z-score, edema, and MUAC values recorded.Results: A total of 378 children were included in this study, with a response rate of 98.44%. Undernutrition was significantly increased among children who delayed breastfeeding initiation (AOR=2.60; 95% CI: 1.02-6.65), diarrhea (AOR=9.50; 95% CI: 5.19-17.36), living with households indexed as the poorest (AOR=2.57; 95% CI: 1.09-6.07) and defecated in a pit latrine without slab/open pit (AOR=2.49; 95% CI: 1.17-5.30), and sometimes practiced hand washing at the critical times (AOR=2.52; 95% CI: 1.10-5.75) compared with their counterparts. However, lactating during the survey (AOR=0.35; 95% CI: 0.18-0.71) and collection and disposal of under-five children feces elsewhere (AOR = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01-0.75) significantly reduced the likelihood of undernutrition.Conclusions: Early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding, diarrhea prevention, the use of improved latrine, and always handwashing practices at critical times could be important variables to improve the nutritional status of children.

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Sulfur amino acid metabolism in children with severe childhood undernutrition: methionine kinetics

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1093/ajcn/84.6.1400 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 84 (6) ◽

pp. 1400-1405 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Farook Jahoor ◽

Asha Badaloo ◽

Marvin Reid ◽

Terrence Forrester

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Amino Acid Metabolism ◽

Acid Metabolism ◽

Sulfur Amino Acid ◽

Childhood Undernutrition

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Individual-, Household-, and Community-Level Determinants of Childhood Undernutrition in Bangladesh

Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology ◽

10.1177/2333392819876555 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 233339281987655 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Moriam Khanam ◽

Shafiun N. Shimul ◽

Abdur Razzaque Sarker

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Diarrheal Disease ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Community Level ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Wealth Status ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Individual Household ◽

Childhood Undernutrition

Introduction: Childhood undernutrition is a crucial public health problem globally. The objective of this study is to measure the prevalence of childhood undernutrition and assess the distinct role of various factors on childhood undernutrition in Bangladesh. Methods: This study utilized the latest cross-sectional data from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2014. A total of 7256 data on children younger than 5 years old were analyzed. The undernutrition status of children was assessed by stunting (height-for-age), wasting (weight-for-height), and underweight (weight-for-age), while bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify various individual-, household-, and community-level factors of childhood undernutrition. Results: The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight were 36.5%, 14.6%, and 32.5%, respectively. Along with various individual- and household-level factors (eg, age, recent diarrheal disease, fever, number of under-5 children in the household, mother’s education and nutritional status, and wealth status), community index, particularly regional and geographic variation of community, had significant role for childhood undernutrition in Bangladesh. Conclusion: Childhood undernutrition is an overwhelming public health issue in Bangladesh. In order to improve the nutritional status of under-5 children, interventions should take into account the various predictors discussed in this study. Indeed, a joint effort by the government, nongovernmental organizations, and the community is necessary to improve the childhood nutritional status in Bangladesh.

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Increased Browning of Woody Vegetation due to Continuous Seasonal Droughts in Yunnan Province, China

Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters ◽

10.1080/16742834.2014.11447146 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 120-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chen Hong-Ping ◽

Jia Gen-Suo ◽

Feng Jin-Ming ◽

Dong Yan-Sheng

Keyword(s):

Yunnan Province ◽

Woody Vegetation ◽

Seasonal Droughts

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Divergent responses of ecosystem water-use efficiency to extreme seasonal droughts in Southwest China

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143427 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 143427

Author(s):

Min Wang ◽

Zhi Ding ◽

Chaoyang Wu ◽

Lisheng Song ◽

Mingguo Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Southwest China ◽

Ecosystem Water Use Efficiency ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Seasonal Droughts

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Childhood Undernutrition and Its Predictors in a Rural Health and Demographic Surveillance System Site in South Africa

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16173021 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (17) ◽

pp. 3021 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Perpetua Modjadji ◽

Sphiwe Madiba

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Short Stature ◽

Surveillance System ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Demographic Surveillance System ◽

World Health ◽

Rural Site ◽

Access To Water ◽

Childhood Undernutrition ◽

Maternal Overweight

Background: Overweight and obesity are increasing at an alarming rate in South Africa, while childhood undernutrition remains persistently high. This study determined the magnitude and predictors of stunting and underweight among schoolchildren in the Dikgale and Health Demographic Surveillance System Site, a rural site in South Africa. Methods: A cross sectional study using multistage sampling was conducted among 508 schoolchildren and their mothers. Anthropometric measurements were taken from children and their mothers, while sociodemographic information was obtained from mothers using a questionnaire. The World Health Organization Anthro Plus was used to generate height-for-age and weight-for-age z-scores to indicate stunting and underweight, respectively, among the children. Maternal overweight and obesity were assessed using body mass index. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the predictors of stunting and underweight among schoolchildren. Results: Twenty-two percent (22%) of children were stunted and 27% were underweight, while 27.4% of the mothers were overweight and 42.3% were obese. The odds of being stunted were lower in younger children, whereas having a mother who was overweight/obese and had a short stature increased the odds of stunting. Access to water, having a refrigerator, and having a young mother were protective against being underweight. Having a mother who was overweight/obese increased the odds of being underweight. Conclusions: The study showed a high prevalence of stunting and underweight among children, and overweight and obesity among mothers, indicating a household double burden of malnutrition. The age of the child and maternal overweight/obesity and short stature were predictors of stunting and underweight, while having a younger mother and access to water and a refrigerator were protective against being underweight. The need for an evidence-based and feasible nutrition program for schoolchildren, especially those in rural schools, cannot be over-emphasized.

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