scholarly journals Impact of Feed the Future initiative on nutrition in children aged less than 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa: difference-in-differences analysis

BMJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. l6540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa Ryckman ◽  
Margaret Robinson ◽  
Courtney Pedersen ◽  
Jay Bhattacharya ◽  
Eran Bendavid
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Large Country ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
National Differences ◽  
Low Weight ◽  
The Future ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Feed The Future ◽  
The Impact

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of the US government’s Feed the Future initiative on nutrition outcomes in children younger than 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa.DesignDifference-in-differences quasi-experimental approach.SettingHouseholds in 33 low and lower middle income countries in sub-Saharan Africa.Population883 309 children aged less than 5 years with weight, height, and age recorded in 118 surveys conducted in 33 countries between 2000 and 2017: 388 052 children were from Feed the Future countries and 495 257 were from non-Feed the Future countries.Main outcome measuresA difference-in-differences approach was used to compare outcomes among children in intervention countries after implementation of the initiative with children before its introduction and children in non-intervention countries, controlling for relevant covariates, time invariant national differences, and time trends. The primary outcome was stunting (height for age >2 standard deviations below a reference median), a key indicator of undernutrition in children. Secondary outcomes were wasting (low weight for height) and underweight (low weight for age).ResultsAcross all years and countries, 38.3% of children in the study sample were stunted, 8.9% showed wasting, and 21.3% were underweight. In the first six years of Feed the Future’s implementation, children in 12 countries with the initiative exhibited a 3.9 percentage point (95% confidence interval 2.4 to 5.5) greater decline in stunting, a 1.1 percentage point (0.1 to 2.1) greater decline in wasting, and a 2.8 percentage point (1.6 to 4.0) greater decline in underweight levels compared with children in 21 countries without the initiative and compared with trends in undernutrition before Feed the Future was launched. These decreases translate to around two million fewer stunted and underweight children aged less than 5 years and around a half million fewer children with wasting. For context, about 22 million children were stunted, 11 million children were underweight, and four million children were wasted in the Feed the Future countries at baseline.ConclusionsFeed the Future’s activities were closely linked to notable improvements in stunting and underweight levels and moderate improvements in wasting in children younger than 5 years. These findings highlight the effectiveness of this large, country tailored initiative focused on agriculture and food security and have important implications for the future of this and other nutrition interventions worldwide.

scholarly journals The impact of antenatal care on under‐five mortality in Ethiopia: a difference‐in‐differences analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Oduse ◽  
Temesgen Zewotir ◽  
Delia North
Keyword(s):  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Child Survival ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
P Value ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Sub-Saharan Africa, as opposed to other regions, has the highest under-five mortality rates yet makes the least improvement in reducing under-five mortality. Despite the decline, Ethiopia is among the top ten countries contributing the most to global under-five mortalities. This article examines the impact of the number of antenatal care and the timing of first antenatal care on child health outcomes. We specifically investigated if the utilization of antenatal care services positively affects the reduction of under-five mortality. Methods We employ a difference-in-differences design with propensity score matching to identify direct causal effects of antenatal care on under-five mortality based on the Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey data of 2011 and 2016. Our sample includes 22 295 women between the ages of 14–49 who had antenatal care visits at different times before delivery. Results The study revealed 1 481 cases of reported under-five mortality. 99.0% of that under-five mortality cases are women who had less than eight antenatal care visits, while only 1% of that is by women who had eight or more antenatal care visits. Antenatal care visit decreases the likelihood of under-five mortality in Ethiopia by 45.2% (CI = 19.2–71.3%, P-value < 0.001) while the timing of first antenatal care within the first trimester decreases the likelihood of under-five mortality by 10% (CI = 5.7–15.6%, P-value < 0.001). Conclusions To achieve a significant reduction in the under-five mortality rate, Intervention programs that encourages more antenatal care visits should be considered. This will improve child survival and help in attaining Sustainable Development Goal targets.

scholarly journals Climate Change and the Future Heat Stress Challenges among Smallholder Farmers in East Africa

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 753
Author(s):  
Genesis Tambang Yengoh ◽  
Jonas Ardö
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Critical Element ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
The Future ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

Agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa remains dependent on high inputs of human labor, a situation associated with direct exposure to daylight heat during critical periods of the agricultural calendar. We ask the question: how is the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) going to be distributed in the future, and how will this affect the ability of smallholder farmers to perform agricultural activities? Data from general circulation models are used to estimate the distribution of WBGT in 2000, 2050 and 2100, and for high activity periods in the agricultural calendar. The distribution of WBGT is divided into recommended maximum WBGT exposure levels (°C) at different work intensities, and rest/work ratios for an average acclimatized worker wearing light clothing (ISO, 18). High WBGTs are observed during the two periods of the East African. In February to March, eastern and coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania witness high WBGT values—some necessitating up to 75% rest/hour work intensities in 2050 and 2100. In August to September, eastern and northern Kenya and north and central Uganda are vulnerable to high WBGT values. Designing policies to address this key challenge is a critical element in adaptation methods to address the impact of climate change.

scholarly journals Government Expenditure and Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. p14
Author(s):  
Dickson Wandeda ◽  
Wafula Masai ◽  
Samuel M. Nyandemo
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Government Expenditure ◽  
Output Growth ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ssa Countries

The paper sought to investigate the effect government expenditure on economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa using a panel data for 35 Sub-Saharan African countries for the period 2006-2018. The paper adopted dynamic panel data and estimates were achieved by using two-step system GMM while taking into account the problem of instrument proliferation. The paper provided evidence that education and health expenditure are key determinants of income growth for SSA. The impact of education spending on cross-country income variation is more effective in low income SSA countries than the middle income SSA countries. However, military expenditure on output growth is more effective in improving income level of middle income SSA countries than low income SSA countries. SSA countries should allocate more funding towards education sector and should also avail compulsory and free primary and secondary education. SSA should carry out health reforms which improve primary health and universal health insurance coverage.

scholarly journals The Nexus between Education and Economic Growth: Analyzing Empirically a Case of Middle-Income Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-60
Author(s):  
Lamia Jamel ◽  
Monia Ben Ltaifa ◽  
Ahmed K Elnagar ◽  
Abdelkader Derbali ◽  
Ali Lamouchi
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Gdp Per Capita ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the nexus between education accumulation and economic growth for a sample of middle-income countries through panel data regressions. The sample consists of 28 middle-income countries from various continents: North Africa and the Middle East (6 countries), sub-Saharan Africa (7 countries), Latin America and the Caribbean (8 countries), East Asia and the Pacific (3 countries), and Europe and Central Asia (4 countries). Education is measured by quantitative (average years of labour force study) and qualitative indicators (student scores on international assessments of educational achievements). To test the impact of education accumulation on GDP per capita growth, a static panel is used during the period of study from 1970 to 2014. A dynamic panel is also being developed to estimate the effect of the education stock on the growth rate of GDP per capita. The results confirm the positive and significant impact of the education quantity and quality on economic growth, both in level and variation. The stock of education and its increase are positively affecting the growth. Moreover, this paper’s original findings suggest that the quality of education is more significant than its quantity.

scholarly journals Dementia Risk and Prevention in Low and Middle-income Country Settings – Focus on Tanzania Mainland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Kakilla
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
General View ◽  
Service Access ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Aged People ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

As a result of an increasing population of aged people in sub-Saharan Africa, dementia is predicted to surge up to 90% by 2030. This review is set to assess the prevalence of dementia, for 65+ aged population in sub-Saharan states and particularly in Tanzania. Subsequently, the review will identify the possible risks factors &ndash; age, gender, level of education, cardiovascular problems, diabetes and mild cognitive impairment &ndash; and will lay out the challenges of reducing the dementia burden in Tanzania. Additionally, the review explores the current approaches in solving dementia disorders, including a general view of the public understanding of dementia. Also, the review recognises the gaps in government funding to mental health, a barrier to service access and the need for further research on Alzheimer&rsquo;s and other dementias. Lastly, the review links the sustainable development goals (SDGs) addressed and appreciate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the fight against dementia.

The Health Impact of Water and Sanitation Utilities Privatization and Regulation in Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Bagnoli ◽  
Salvador Bertomeu-Sanchez ◽  
Antonio Estache
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Water And Sanitation ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Imperfect Data ◽  
High Population Growth ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Rural Access ◽  
The Impact

As of 2017, the urban access rate to safe water sources in 2017 stood at 84% while rural access was still around 45%. The rates for sanitation were 44% and 22%, respectively. Since the 1980s many high-profile reforms supported by international organizations have been implemented in the region in an attempt to close the access gaps in the water and sanitation sector (WSS). Two recommendations with high international exposure were an increased role for large-scale private sector participation in the management and financing of national or regional utilities and the creation of separate sector regulatory agencies to increase the independence of regulation. Both reforms seemed to contribute to improved water access rates, at least for the urban population, but not enough to catch up with the demands of a fast-growing population; and both failed to deliver on sanitation. The progress these initiatives allowed was correlated with improvements in the average health outcomes for some indicators (i.e., under-five mortality associated to diarrhea) but once again, it was not enough and was not fairly distributed. Indeed, improvements seem to have mostly benefited upper- and middle-income groups. Unfortunately, an evaluation of the health effects of these two reforms have not yet been fully established empirically, which is why it seems prudent to talk about correlations rather than causal effects. Most of the statistically robust evidence on the impact of utilities and regulatory reforms on health is incomplete because details of several dimensions of these reforms and their context are not measured consistently across countries or within countries. In addition, the small amount of econometric evidence available is based on pre-2010 data for SSA. The imperfect data is however solid enough to suggest that without further governance changes in the region, the health risks are likely to increase. This is because due to the high population growth rate of the region, closing the access gaps is likely to get tougher considering current investment levels and technological choices. The necessary changes require improving the match between policy and technological choices, including service delivery technologies that are consistent with the ability to pay and the tariff and subsidy levels adopted to ensure cost recovery without excluding any category of users.

Conflicts in Biafra, Katanga and Cabinda as a result of the geopolitical legacy of colonialism

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (10-3) ◽  
pp. 238-246
Author(s):  
Olga Dzhenchakova
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Economic Factor ◽  
Colonial Period ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Impact

The article considers the impact of the colonial past of some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and its effect on their development during the post-colonial period. The negative consequences of the geopolitical legacy of colonialism are shown on the example of three countries: Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Angola, expressed in the emergence of conflicts in these countries based on ethno-cultural, religious and socio-economic contradictions. At the same time, the focus is made on the economic factor and the consequences of the consumer policy of the former metropolises pursuing their mercantile interests were mixed.

scholarly journals The impact and cost‐effectiveness of community‐basedHIVself‐testing in sub‐Saharan Africa: a health economic and modelling analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. e25243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Cambiano ◽  
Cheryl C Johnson ◽  
Karin Hatzold ◽  
Fern Terris‐Prestholt ◽  
Hendy Maheswaran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Economic ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Modelling Analysis ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document