scholarly journals Livestock ownership, animal source foods and child nutritional outcomes in seven rural village clusters in Sub-Saharan Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack B. Hetherington ◽  
Anke K. Wiethoelter ◽  
Joel Negin ◽  
Siobhan M. Mor
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Animal Source Foods ◽  
Rural Village ◽  
Animal Source ◽  
Livestock Ownership ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Nutritional Outcomes

scholarly journals Food composition tables in resource-poor settings: exploring current limitations and opportunities, with a focus on animal-source foods in sub-Saharan Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (10) ◽  
pp. 1709-1719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia de Bruyn ◽  
Elaine Ferguson ◽  
Margaret Allman-Farinelli ◽  
Ian Darnton-Hill ◽  
Wende Maulaga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Compositional Data ◽  
Food Composition ◽  
High Income ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Animal Source Foods ◽  
Animal Source ◽  
Food Composition Tables ◽  
Resource Poor ◽  
Sub Saharan

AbstractAnimal-source foods (ASF) have the potential to enhance the nutritional adequacy of cereal-based diets in low- and middle-income countries, through the provision of high-quality protein and bioavailable micronutrients. The development of guidelines for including ASF in local diets requires an understanding of the nutrient content of available resources. This article reviews food composition tables (FCT) used in sub-Saharan Africa, examining the spectrum of ASF reported and exploring data sources for each reference. Compositional data are shown to be derived from a small number of existing data sets from analyses conducted largely in high-income nations, often many decades previously. There are limitations in using such values, which represent the products of intensively raised animals of commercial breeds, as a reference in resource-poor settings where indigenous breed livestock are commonly reared in low-input production systems, on mineral-deficient soils and not receiving nutritionally balanced feed. The FCT examined also revealed a lack of data on the full spectrum of ASF, including offal and wild foods, which correspond to local food preferences and represent valuable dietary resources in food-deficient settings. Using poultry products as an example, comparisons are made between compositional data from three high-income nations, and potential implications of differences in the published values for micronutrients of public health significance, including Fe, folate and vitamin A, are discussed. It is important that those working on nutritional interventions and on developing dietary recommendations for resource-poor settings understand the limitations of current food composition data and that opportunities to improve existing resources are more actively explored and supported.

Livestock ownership and anaemia in Sub-Saharan African households

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Yubraj Acharya ◽  
Di Yang ◽  
Andrew D Jones
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Animal Source Foods ◽  
Child Bearing ◽  
Entry Points ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
Livestock Ownership ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Hb Concentration

Abstract Objective: To determine the association between livestock ownership and Hb concentration of women of child-bearing age (WCBA) and preschool-aged children in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Design: A prospective analysis of publicly available cross-sectional data, using linear and logistic regressions controlling for potential confounders. Setting: Twenty-eight countries in SSA. Participants: 162 305 WCBA and 118 607 children aged 6–59 months. Results: More than half of WCBA (62·5 %) and children (58 %) belonged to households that owned livestock. The average altitude-adjusted blood Hb concentration for WCBA and children was 12.23 and 10·24 g/dL, respectively. In adjusted models, higher number of livestock owned was associated with lower Hb concentration for children but not for WCBA. The magnitude of the association for children was small, with one additional unit of livestock owned reducing Hb concentration by 0·001 g/dL. Higher numbers of cattle, cows and bulls, sheep, and goats were associated with lower Hb concentration for both groups. The number of certain categories of livestock owned was associated with the consumption of relevant foods by children. There was no association between the consumption of animal-source foods and Hb concentration or between livestock ownership and diarrhoeal diseases or fever among children. Conclusions: Livestock ownership in SSA had a net negative association with the Hb concentration of children and no association with that of WCBA. The results highlight the need for research aimed at clarifying the mechanisms linking livestock ownership and nutritional status, and identifying entry points for leveraging livestock ownership to improve the health of women and children in SSA.

Constraints to using livestock to meet dietary needs in developing countries: role of vaccines.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (058) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia L. Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Selective Breeding ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Animal Source Foods ◽  
Animal Source ◽  
Climate Stress ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Animal agriculture and animal-source foods (ASF) play a critical role in food security, childhood nutrient sufficiency, and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. Here, we consider constraints to production of ASF in Africa with a focus on infectious animal diseases and climate stress and their control, by vaccines and selective breeding, respectively. This is not a meta-analysis but rather is meant to act as an overview or primer for discussing the value of livestock in developing countries, constraints to this, possible solutions, and finally some roadblocks to accomplishing this. The material provided is based on our own knowledge gained through careers in this field as well as discussions with colleagues.

scholarly journals Cash Transfers and Child Nutrition: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oladayo Nathaniel Awojobi
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Cash Transfers ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Nutritional Outcomes

This paper summarises the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on cash transfers and child nutrition. The main purpose of the research is to assess the effectiveness of cash transfers in improving nutritional outcomes in vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa. Systematisation of the literary sources indicates that studies have justified cash transfer as social-income support that addresses a vital social determinant of health (income) for children in low-and-middle-income countries. The methodological basis of this study is a systematic review that searched a wide range of academic and grey literature databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar. This study included cluster-randomised controlled trials (R.C.T.s), randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, mixed-methods studies, and non-randomised cluster trials. Studies included in this systematic review were screened for their eligibility. The systematic review uses the Cochrane data collection form to extract data from the included studies. It was not feasible to statistically combine the results of the studies due to the heterogeneity of most of the studies. Preferably, the review employs a narrative synthesis to present the estimated effects of cash transfers on children’s nutritional outcomes. The systematic review presents the results of data synthesis, of which eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the evidence from the systematic review indicates that cash transfer programmes targeted at children effectively improve anthropometric and nutritional outcomes. Further research is needed to spell out the multiple pathways to how cash transfers improve children’s nutritional outcomes. Moreover, this systematic review shows the importance of cash transfers in improving child nutrition. Policymakers should continue to employ institutional mechanisms to strengthen the nutritional status of children, especially the vulnerable ones since cash transfer intervention is a temporary measure.

scholarly journals A Case Study of the Implementation and Maintenance of a Fee for Service Lighting System for a Rural Village in Sub Saharan Africa

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin M. Sloan ◽  
Douglas S. McCorkle ◽  
Kenneth M. Bryden
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Rural Poor ◽  
Fee For Service ◽  
Lighting System ◽  
Grid Systems ◽  
Rural Villages ◽  
Rural Village ◽  
Micro Grid ◽  
Sub Saharan

Electricity is a critical need for the rural poor in developing countries. Often this need is met with disposable batteries. This results in high cost and problems with disposal. For example it was recently reported that an isolated rural village in West Africa with a population of 770 uses more than 21,000 disposable batteries per year and that purchase of these batteries accounts for 20–40% of household expense. As a result many organizations are seeking way to meet the need for village energy. This paper presents a case study of one such experience. In this study the efforts to meet the lighting needs of a cluster of eight rural villages with a population of approximately 8,000 people are discussed. A key aspect of this discussion is the challenge of creating a continuing and sustainable village lighting solution. In this case the technology chosen to implement a lighting system was a distributed micro-grid managed locally in each village. The success of this lighting grid has been in large part due to the continuing support of the local micro-grid system both financially and through continued engagement to maintain and upgrade the micro-grid systems.

scholarly journals Characteristics and impacts ofSystematic review nutritional programmes to address undernutrition of adults living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of evidence

BMJ Open ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. e047205
Author(s):  
Fisaha Haile Tesfay ◽  
Sara Javanparast ◽  
Hailay Gesesew ◽  
Lillian Mwanri ◽  
Anna Ziersch
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Nutritional Recovery ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Nutritional Outcomes

ObjectivesAlthough some studies have identified various challenges affecting nutritional programmes to effectively tackle undernutrition among people living with HIV, evidence about the characteristics and impacts of these programmes on weight-related nutritional outcomes varies based on country contexts, specific programme goals and the implementation processes. This systematic review sought to synthesise evidence on the characteristics and impact of nutritional programmes on weight-related nutritional outcomes of people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesWe searched for primary studies published in the following databases: Web of Science, Medline, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest and Google Scholar, supplemented by checking reference lists of included papers.Eligibility criteriaStudies published from 2005 to 10 July 2020 and reporting on the weight-related nutritional outcomes of undernourished people enrolled in nutritional programmes in HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa were included.Data extraction and synthesisData were extracted using a data extraction proforma. Weight-related nutritional outcomes of people living with HIV before and after enrolment in a nutritional programme were compared and narratively synthesised.ResultsSixteen studies assessing the impact of nutritional programmes in HIV care on weight-related nutritional outcomes were included. Of these, 13 examined nutritional programmes implemented in health facilities and the remaining three were delivered outside of health facilities. Nutritional recovery (defined differently in the studies) ranged from 13.1% to 67.9%. Overall programme failure rate, which included default after enrolment in a nutritional programme or non-response, ranged from 37.6% to 48.0%. More specifically, non-response to a nutritional programme ranged from 21.0% to 67.4% and default from the programme ranged from 19.0% to 70.6%. Key sociodemographic, clinical and nutritional characteristics that affect nutritional recovery, non-response and default were also identified.Conclusions and recommendationsNutritional programmes in HIV care have led to some improvements in weight-related nutritional outcomes among people living with HIV. However, the programmes were characterised by a high magnitude of default and non-response. To improve desired weight-related nutritional outcomes of people living with HIV, a holistic approach that addresses longer-term determinants of undernutrition is needed.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020196827.

scholarly journals Food insecurity, mental distress and suicidal ideation in rural Africa: Evidence from Nigeria, Uganda and Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Claire Sweetland ◽  
Andrea Norcini Pala ◽  
Jennifer Mootz ◽  
Jennifer Chien-Wen Kao ◽  
Catherine Carlson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sociodemographic Variables ◽  
Rural Village ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Distress Scale

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, mental and substance-related disorders account for 19% of all years lived with disability, yet the intersection between poverty and mental distress is poorly understood since most psychiatric research is conducted in high-income countries. Aims: To examine the prevalence of and associations between food insecurity, mental distress and suicidal ideation in three rural village clusters in sub-Saharan Africa. Method: Cross-sectional multivariate analysis of sociodemographic variables associated with mental distress and suicidal ideation in three countries. The sample included 1,142 individuals from three rural village clusters in Nigeria ( n = 380), Uganda ( n = 380) and Ghana ( n = 382). Food insecurity was measured based on the number of months in the previous year that the respondent’s family reported being ‘unable to eat two square meals per day’. Mental distress was assessed using the Kessler non-specific psychological distress scale (K6) and suicidal ideation was measured using an item from PRIME-MD. Other sociodemographic variables included gender, age, literacy and occupation. Results: The prevalence of individuals with moderate or severe mental distress in Nigeria, Uganda and Ghana were higher than previously reported in the literature: 35.5%, 30.8% and 30.4%, respectively, and suicidal ideation rates were 29.7%, 21.3% and 10.9%. No differences were observed in mental distress between men and women in any of the sites. Being a farmer (vs student or other) was protective for mental distress in two sites (Uganda and Ghana) but no other social indicators, such as age, gender, literacy and food insecurity, were significantly associated with mental distress. Risk for suicidal ideation differed across sites: it was associated with food insecurity in Nigeria, female gender in Uganda, and older age in Uganda. Conclusions: Mental distress and suicidal ideation were highly prevalent in three settings of extreme poverty across all groups, in ways that were not always consistent with the global literature. These findings suggest that more research is needed in to better understand the social etiology of mental distress in sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Correlates of Cryptosporidium Infections in Kenyan Children With Diarrhea and Their Primary Caregivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily L Deichsel ◽  
Heidi K Hillesland ◽  
Carol A Gilchrist ◽  
Jaqueline M Naulikha ◽  
Christine J McGrath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Primary Caregivers ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Cryptosporidium Infection ◽  
Livestock Ownership ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Child Caregiver

Abstract Background Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of diarrhea in Sub-Saharan Africa and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in young children. Methods   We analyzed data from children aged 6–71 months presenting to 2 public hospitals in Western Kenya with acute diarrhea and their primary caregivers, including detection of Cryptosporidium by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunoassay analysis in stool samples from both children and their caregivers. Associations between potential transmission sources and child/caregiver Cryptosporidium infection were evaluated using prevalence ratios (PRs). Secondary analyses evaluated host and clinical risk factors of child/caregiver Cryptosporidium infection. Results Among 243 child–caregiver pairs enrolled, 77 children (32%) and 57 caregivers (23%) had Cryptosporidium identified by either immunoassay or PCR. Twenty-six of the 243 child–caregiver pairs (11%) had concordant detection of Cryptosporidium. Cryptosporidium infection in children was associated with detection of Cryptosporidium in caregivers (adjusted PR [aPR], 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.6; P = .002) and unprotected water source (aPR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.2; P = .003). Risk factors for Cryptosporidium detection in caregivers included child Cryptosporidium infection (aPR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.0; P = .002) as well as cow (aPR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.4 to 7.0; P = .02) and other livestock ownership (aPR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.1 to 6.3; P = .03) vs no livestock ownership. Recent diarrhea in caregivers and children was independently associated with child and caregiver Cryptosporidium infections, respectively. Conclusions Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that Cryptosporidium transmission can occur directly between child–caregiver dyads as well as through other pathways involving water and livestock. Additional research into caregivers as a source of childhood Cryptosporidium infection is warranted.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document