Associations between birth registration and early child growth and development: evidence from 31 low- and middle-income countries

AbstractObjectiveWe characterized post-infancy child growth patterns and determined the incidence of becoming stunted and of recovery from stunting.DesignData came from Young Lives, a longitudinal study of childhood poverty in four low- and middle-income countries.SettingWe analysed length/height measurements for children at ages 1, 5 and 8 years.SubjectsChildren (n 7171) in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam.ResultsMean height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) at age 1 year ranged from −1·51 (Ethiopia) to −1·08 (Vietnam). From age 1 to 5 years, mean HAZ increased by 0·27 in Ethiopia (P < 0·001) and decreased among the other cohorts (range: −0·19 (Peru) to −0·32 (India); all P < 0·001). From 5 to 8 years, mean HAZ increased in all cohorts (range: 0·19 (India) to 0·38 (Peru); all P < 0·001). Prevalence of stunting (HAZ<−2·0) at 1 year ranged from 21 % (Vietnam) to 46 % (Ethiopia). From age 1 to 5 years, stunting prevalence decreased by 15·1 percentage points in Ethiopia (P < 0·001) and increased in the other cohorts (range: 3·0 percentage points (Vietnam) to 5·3 percentage points (India); all P ≤ 0·001). From 5 to 8 years, stunting prevalence decreased in all cohorts (range: 5·0 percentage points (Vietnam) to 12·7 percentage points (Peru); all P < 0·001). The incidence of becoming stunted between ages 1 to 5 years ranged from 11 % (Vietnam) to 22 % (India); between ages 5 to 8 years, it ranged from 3 % (Peru) to 6 % (India and Ethiopia). The incidence of recovery from stunting between ages 1 and 5 years ranged from 27 % (Vietnam) to 53 % (Ethiopia); between ages 5 and 8 years, it ranged from 30 % (India) to 47 % (Ethiopia).ConclusionsWe found substantial recovery from early stunting among children in four low- and middle-income countries.

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Birth Status, Child Growth, and Adult Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

The Journal of Pediatrics ◽

10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.08.012 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 163 (6) ◽

pp. 1740-1746.e4 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Aryeh D. Stein ◽

Fernando C. Barros ◽

Santosh K. Bhargava ◽

Wei Hao ◽

Bernardo L. Horta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Child Growth ◽

Adult Outcomes ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Low And Middle Income

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Measuring early child development in low and middle income countries: Investigating the validity of the early Human Capability Index

SSM - Population Health ◽

10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100613 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 100613 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alanna Sincovich ◽

Tess Gregory ◽

Cristian Zanon ◽

Daniel D. Santos ◽

John Lynch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Child Development ◽

Early Child Development ◽

Middle Income ◽

Early Child ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Capability Index ◽

Human Capability ◽

Early Human ◽

Low And Middle Income

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Secondhand Smoking and Obesity Among Nonsmoking Adolescents Aged 12–15 Years From 38 Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/ntaa053 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (11) ◽

pp. 2014-2021

Author(s):

Ai Koyanagi ◽

Lee Smith ◽

Hans Oh ◽

Lin Yang ◽

Sarah E Jackson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Secondhand Smoke ◽

Child Growth ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Middle Income ◽

Daily Exposure ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Secondhand Smoking ◽

Country Study ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Low And Middle Income

Abstract Introduction Secondhand smoking (SHS) may be a risk factor for obesity in adolescence, but data on the association between SHS and obesity are scarce, especially from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association between SHS and obesity among adolescents aged 12–15 years from 38 LMICs. Methods Cross-sectional data from 38 LMICs that participated in the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) were analyzed. Body mass index was calculated based on measured weight and height. The 2007 WHO Child Growth reference was used to define obesity. SHS was categorized as no exposure, non-daily exposure (ie, 1–6 days), and daily exposure (ie, 7 days) based on the number of days exposed to secondhand smoke in the past 7 days. Multivariable logistic regression and meta-analyses were conducted to assess the associations. Results The analyzed sample consisted of 88 209 adolescents aged 12–15 years who never smoked. The overall prevalence of non-daily and daily SHS was 34.2% and 15.7%, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounders, compared with no SHS, there was no significant association between non-daily SHS and obesity (odds ratio [OR] = 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.86–1.02), but adolescents who reported daily SHS were significantly more likely to have obesity (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.06–1.34). Conclusions The prevalence of SHS was high among adolescents in LMICs, and daily SHS was associated with a significant increase in odds of obesity. Future studies with longitudinal designs are warranted to assess causality and whether prevention of SHS can reduce the risk of obesity in adolescence. Implications In the present large multi-country study on adolescents aged 12–15 years from LMICs, nearly half of the students were exposed to non-daily or daily secondhand smoke. Overall, while non-daily SHS was not significantly associated with obesity, adolescents who reported daily SHS had a significant 1.19 (95% CI = 1.06–1.34) times higher odds of obesity than those who reported no exposure to secondhand smoke. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first multi-country study on SHS and obesity from LMICs, and also the largest study on this topic to date.

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Research priority setting for integrated early child development and violence prevention (ECD+) in low and middle income countries: An expert opinion exercise

Child Abuse & Neglect ◽

10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.07.021 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 72 ◽

pp. 131-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mark Tomlinson ◽

Mark Jordans ◽

Harriet MacMillan ◽

Theresa Betancourt ◽

Xanthe Hunt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Child Development ◽

Violence Prevention ◽

Expert Opinion ◽

Priority Setting ◽

Early Child Development ◽

Middle Income ◽

Early Child ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Research Priority ◽

Low And Middle Income

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Measuring early child development across low and middle-income countries: A systematic review

Journal of Early Childhood Research ◽

10.1177/1476718x211020031 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1476718X2110200

Author(s):

Bernardita Munoz-Chereau ◽

Lynn Ang ◽

Julie Dockrell ◽

Laura Outhwaite ◽

Claire Heffernan

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Child Development ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Early Child Development ◽

Middle Income ◽

Early Child ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Cultural Adaptability ◽

Education Psychology ◽

Low And Middle Income

The Sustainable Development Goals mandate that by 2030, all children should have access to quality early child development opportunities, healthcare and pre-primary education. Yet validated measures of ECD in low and middle income countries (LMICs) are rare. To address this gap, a Systematic Review (SR) of measures available to profile the development of children between the ages of 0–5 years in LMICs was undertaken. Drawing on education, psychology and health databases, we identified reliable, valid or measures adapted for use in LMICs for either assessments of children’s development or their learning environments. The inclusion criteria were (1) peer reviewed papers published between January 2009 and May 2019; (2) assessment tools used to measure cognitive/language development or the early years or home environment in at least one LMIC; (3) report of the psychometric properties (validity and reliability) of the tool, and/or description of the cultural adaptability/translation process undertaken before applying it to a LMIC. Two hundred and forty-nine available records published in the last decade in peer-review journals and nine relevant systematic literature reviews were identified. Fifty-seven records were qualitatively synthesised based on their psychometric properties and cultural adaptation. Forty-three tools were reviewed utilising 12 criteria. Five elements of analysis present in Tables 2 and 3 (study, population tested, validity, reliability and cultural adaptability/translation) focused on the tools’ psychometric properties and previous application in LMICs. A further seven dimensions outlined in Tables 4 and 5 identified specific characteristics of the tools from target age, administration method, domains, battery, accessibility, language and country/institution. We suggest these 12 key considerations for the selection of measurement tools that are applicable to effectively assess ECD in LMICs.

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Enablers and Barriers of Zinc Fortification; Experience from 10 Low- and Middle-Income Countries with Mandatory Large-Scale Food Fortification

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13062051 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 2051

Author(s):

Ann Tarini ◽

Mari S. Manger ◽

Kenneth H. Brown ◽

Mduduzi N. N. Mbuya ◽

Laura A. Rowe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Zinc Deficiency ◽

Large Scale ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Child Growth ◽

World Health ◽

Food Fortification ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Zinc Fortification ◽

Low And Middle Income

Adequate zinc nutrition is important for child growth, neurodevelopment, immune function, and normal pregnancy outcomes. Seventeen percent of the global population is estimated to be at risk for inadequate zinc intake. However, zinc is not included in the fortification standards of several low- and middle-income countries with mandatory fortification programs, despite data suggesting a zinc deficiency public health problem. To guide policy decisions, we investigated the factors enabling and impeding the inclusion of zinc as a fortificant by conducting in-depth interviews with 17 key informants from 10 countries. Findings revealed the decision to include zinc was influenced by guidance from international development partners and enabled by the assessment of zinc deficiency, mandatory regional food fortification standards which included zinc, the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for zinc fortification, and the low cost of zinc compound commonly used. Barriers included the absence of zinc from regional fortification standards, limited available data on the efficacy and effectiveness of zinc fortification, and the absence of national objectives related to the prevention of zinc deficiency. To promote zinc fortification there is a need to put the prevention of zinc deficiency higher on the international nutrition agenda and to promote large-scale food fortification as a key deficiency mitigation strategy.

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