scholarly journals The impact of food fortification on stunting in Zimbabwe: Does gender of the household head matter?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terrence Kairiza ◽  
George Kembo ◽  
Asankha Pallegedara ◽  
Lesley Macheka
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Food Fortification ◽  
Fortified Foods ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
Female Headed Households ◽  
The Impact

Abstract High prevalence of stunting in under 5 children poses a major threat to child development in developing countries. It is associated with micronutrient deficiency arising from poor diets fed to under 5 children. Food fortification is amongst the interventions focused at reducing the incidence of stunting in under 5 children. Using a large scale household data from Zimbabwe, we investigated the gender based importance of household adoption of food fortification on the proportion of stunted children in the household. We employed propensity score matching to mitigate self-selection bias associated with household adoption of food fortification. We offer three major findings. Firstly we find little evidence for gender differences in the adoption of fortified foods. Secondly, household adoption food fortification reduces the proportion of stunted children in the household. Finally, vis-à-vis non adopters, female headed households that adopt food fortification reduce a larger proportion of stunted children in their households than their male counterparts who adopt food fortification. These results highlight the need for policy makers to actively promote food fortification programmes to involve men in fortification programmes to improve their knowledge and appreciation of fortified foods and the associated benefits.

The impact of food fortification on stunting in Zimbabwe: Does gender of the household head matter? 

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terrence Kairiza ◽  
George Kembo ◽  
Asankha Pallegedara ◽  
Lesley Macheka
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Food Fortification ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Children Under Five ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Weak Evidence ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
Female Headed Households ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: High prevalence of stunting in children under five years poses a major threat to child development in developing countries. It is associated with micronutrient deficiency arising from poor diets fed to children under five years. Food fortification is amongst the interventions focused at reducing the incidence of stunting in children under five years. Methods : Using a large-scale household data from Zimbabwe, we investigated the gender-based importance of household adoption of food fortification on the proportion of stunted children in the household. We employed propensity score matching to mitigate self-selection bias associated with household adoption of food fortification. Results: We offer three major findings. Firstly, we find statistically weak evidence that female headed households are more likely to adopt food fortification than their male counterparts. Secondly, food fortification reduces the proportion of stunted children in the household. Finally, in comparison to non-adopters, female headed households that adopt food fortification are more able to reduce the proportion of stunted children in their households than their male counterparts.Conclusion: The results highlight the need for policy makers to actively promote food fortification, as such interventions are likely to contribute to the reduction of stunting and to involve men in fortification interventions to improve on their knowledge and appreciation of fortified foods and the associated benefits.

scholarly journals Gender dimensions of the impact of HIV/AIDS on stunting in children under five years in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley Macheka ◽  
George Kembo ◽  
Terrence Kairiza
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Test Hypothesis ◽  
Female Headed Households ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Children Under 5 ◽  
Hiv Aids

Abstract Background HIV/AIDS can have a disastrous effect on household food and nutrition security outcomes such as stunting in children under 5. However, stunting and HIV/AIDS are highly gendered phenomena that need to be explored in order to get an in-depth understanding of the interrelationship. This study was therefore aimed at investigating gender dimensions of the impact of HIV/AIDS on stunting in children under 5 years in Zimbabwe. Methods The study uses a large scale nationally representative cross-sectional dataset of 13,854 Zimbabwean households for the year 2019. To test hypothesis 1, the study employs binary choice models (Probit and Logit) since the outcome variable household HIV/AIDS status is dichotomous. To test hypothesis 2 and 3, the study employs the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) approach to circumvent the self-selection problem in the creation of treatment and control groups for households affected by HIV/AIDS and those that are not. Results The results revealed that household HIV/AIDS status is independent of the gender of household head. On the other hand, the results for the PSM estimates show that the probability of the household having a stunted child under 5 years is higher for households with an HIV positive member compared to those without. In addition, female headed households with an HIV positive member are more likely to have a stunted child under 5 years compared to male headed households under similar circumstances. Conclusion Overall, the results provide evidence of a higher risk of stunting among children from households affected by HIV/AIDS. The study offers three major findings. Firstly, the study finds no significant association between gender of the household head and household HIV/AIDS status. Secondly, households that have at least one HIV positive member are more likely to have a stunted child under 5 years. Lastly, female headed households with at least one HIV positive member are more likely to have a stunted child under 5 years compared to male headed household with similar HIV/AIDS status. The findings have important policy implications towards improved integration of HIV/AIDS status, household head gender and child nutrition services in affected households.

scholarly journals Gender dimensions of the impact of HIV/AIDS on stunting in children under five years in Zimbabwe

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley Macheka ◽  
George Kembo ◽  
Terrence Kairiza
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Children Under Five ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Female Headed Households ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Hiv Aids

Abstract Background: HIV/AIDS can have a disastrous effect on household food and nutrition security outcomes such as stunting in children under 5. However, stunting and HIV/AIDS are highly gendered phenomena that need to be explored in order to get an in-depth understanding of the interrelationship. This study was therefore aimed at investigating gender dimensions of the impact of HIV/AIDS on stunting in children under five years in Zimbabwe. Methods: The study uses a large scale nationally representative cross-sectional dataset of 13 854 Zimbabwean households for the year 2019. Given self-selection bias associated with household HIV/AIDS status, the study employs Propensity Score Matching (PSM) approach to investigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on stunting in children under five years.Results: The results revealed that household HIV/AIDS status is independent of the gender of household head. On the other hand, the results for the PSM estimates show that the probability of the household having a stunted child under five years is higher for households with an HIV positive member compared to those without. In addition, female headed households with an HIV positive member are more likely to have a stunted child under five years compared to male headed households under similar circumstances. Conclusion: Overall, the results provide evidence of a higher risk of stunting among children from households affected by HIV/AIDS. The study offers three major findings. Firstly, the study finds no significant association between gender of the household head and household HIV/AIDS status. Secondly, households that have at least one HIV positive member are more likely to have a stunted child under five years. Lastly, female headed households with at least one HIV positive member are more likely to have a stunted child under five years compared to male headed household with similar HIV/AIDS status. The findings have important policy implications towards improved integration of HIV/AIDS status, household head gender and child nutrition services in affected households.

scholarly journals Gender Asymmetry of Entrepreneurial Intentions of Students in Russia and China

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-147
Author(s):  
Ullah Abid ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Vital Role ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Correlation Technique ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Entrepreneurial Spirit ◽  
Excess Number ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
The Unemployed ◽  
The Impact

Entrepreneurship is now considered to be an urgent solution for handling large pools of young graduates around the world. These crucial situations where universities are creating an excess number of graduates as compared to jobs availability increase the pressure on graduates as well as policy makers and educators. Entrepreneurship in this case does not only handle the burden of the unemployed among the youth but also positively improves the economic development of the country’s economy. In becoming entrepreneurs, graduates do not only create jobs for themselves but for other as well and play a vital role in the development of the economy. This paper explains gender-based entrepreneurship intentions amongst students of Russia and China (3 universities in China, 3 in Russia). A questionnaire was developed to find the impact of different behavior factors on male and female students of Russia and China. In terms of methodology, the quantitative technique was used to collect the data. The entrepreneurial spirit is explained after analyzing the data from three universities in each country. The six universities numbering 468 student respondents were analyzed through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. To find out the association amongst different variables, multiple regression and correlation technique were used. The results also show an association of gender with entrepreneurship in students in both countries. However, in case of Russia male respondents showed higher intention than female respondents. To maintain the same role of male and female members in the society, development suggestions for educators and policy makers are presented.

scholarly journals The impact of voluntary food fortification on micronutrient intakes and status in European countries: a review

2013 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Áine Hennessy ◽  
Janette Walton ◽  
Albert Flynn
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Food Fortification ◽  
Dietary Energy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Fortified Foods ◽  
National Surveys ◽  
The Impact

This review aims to assess the efficacy and safety of voluntary fortification as an option to address the occurrence of inadequate micronutrient intakes in population subgroups in Europe. Although legislation is harmonised across the European Union, fortification practices and patterns of consumption of fortified foods vary considerably between countries. While the proportion of children consuming fortified foods is greater than adults, the proportion of dietary energy obtained from fortified foods is generally low (<10% in Ireland, where fortified foods are widely consumed). There are a few systematic studies on the overall nutritional impact of voluntary fortification, but there are several studies on the impact of fortified ready-to-eat breakfast cereals. The available evidence indicates that voluntary fortification can reduce the risk of sub-optimal intakes of a range of micronutrients at a population level and can also improve status for selected micronutrients (e.g. folate, vitamin D and riboflavin) in children and adults. Although concerns have been raised regarding the potential of food fortification to lead to unacceptably high micronutrient intakes, particularly for those consuming higher amounts of fortified foods, data from national surveys on total micronutrient intakes (including fortified foods) in Europe show that small proportions of the population, particularly children, may exceed the upper intake level (UL) for some micronutrients. The risk of adverse effects occurring in these individuals exceeding the UL by modest amounts is low. In conclusion, voluntary fortification practices have been shown to improve intake and status of key micronutrients in European Union population groups and do not contribute appreciably to risk of adverse effects.

scholarly journals Gender-Based Violence and Armed Conflict

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 368-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. Mootz ◽  
Sally D. Stabb ◽  
Debra Mollen
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Early Marriage ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Gender Based

The high prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) in armed conflict has been documented in various national contexts, but less is known about the complex pathways that constitute the relation between the two. Employing a community-based collaborative approach, we constructed a community-informed socioecological conceptual model from a feminist perspective, detailing how armed conflict relates to GBV in a conflict-affected rural community in Northeastern Uganda. The research questions were as follows: (1) How does the community conceptualize GBV? and (2) How does armed conflict relate to GBV? Nine focus group discussions divided by gender, age, and profession and six key informant interviews were conducted. Participants’ ages ranged from 9 to 80 years ( n = 34 girls/women, n = 43 boys/men). Grounded theory was used in analysis. Participants conceptualized eight forms of and 22 interactive variables that contributed to GBV. Armed conflict affected physical violence/quarreling, sexual violence, early marriage, and land grabbing via a direct pathway and four indirect pathways initiated through looting of resources, militarization of the community, death of a parent(s) or husband, and sexual violence. The findings suggest that community, organizational, and policy-level interventions, which include attention to intersecting vulnerabilities for exposure to GBV in conflict-affected settings, should be prioritized. While tertiary psychological interventions with women and girls affected by GBV in these areas should not be eliminated, we suggest that policy makers and members of community and organizational efforts make systemic and structural changes. Online slides for instructors who want to use this article for teaching are available on PWQ 's website at http://journals.sagepub.com/page/pwq/suppl/index

scholarly journals Boosting Career and Employability Outcomes Through Multiple Learning Abroad Experiences

2021 ◽  
pp. 102831532110527
Author(s):  
Davina Potts ◽  
Jeongeun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Conventional Wisdom ◽  
Program Participation ◽  
Career Outcomes ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Large Scale Dataset ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Australian Universities

While participation in learning abroad has increased rapidly over the last decade, short-term programs played an important role in boosting participation and widening access to learning abroad. The current study takes advantage of a new pattern of participation in learning abroad to examine self-reported career outcomes and employability development benefits based on program duration and the number of programs undertaken. Using a large-scale dataset of graduates of Australian universities, the study challenges conventional wisdom that a longer experience is better and explores the impact of multiple short-term program participation as a new intervention in graduate career outcomes. Although this study is based on the Australian higher education context, the results may be informative to educators and policy-makers from countries with comparable learning abroad programs in considering how short-term programs can be used more purposefully to foster positive careers and employability outcomes.

scholarly journals Key factors affecting people’s unwillingness to be confined during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain: a large-scale population study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Martinez-Garcia ◽  
Alejandro Rabasa ◽  
Xavier Barber ◽  
Kristina Polotskaya ◽  
Kristof Roomp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Economic Support ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Scale Population ◽  
The Impact

AbstractPopulation confinements have been one of the most widely adopted non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented by governments across the globe to help contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. While confinement measures have been proven to be effective to reduce the number of infections, they entail significant economic and social costs. Thus, different policy makers and social groups have exhibited varying levels of acceptance of this type of measures. In this context, understanding the factors that determine the willingness of individuals to be confined during a pandemic is of paramount importance, particularly, to policy and decision-makers. In this paper, we study the factors that influence the unwillingness to be confined during the COVID-19 pandemic by the means of a large-scale, online population survey deployed in Spain. We perform two types of analyses (logistic regression and automatic pattern discovery) and consider socio-demographic, economic and psychological factors, together with the 14-day cumulative incidence per 100,000 inhabitants. Our analysis of 109,515 answers to the survey covers data spanning over a 5-month time period to shed light on the impact of the passage of time. We find evidence of pandemic fatigue as the percentage of those who report an unwillingness to be in confinement increases over time; we identify significant gender differences, with women being generally less likely than men to be able to sustain long-term confinement of at least 6 months; we uncover that the psychological impact was the most important factor to determine the willingness to be in confinement at the beginning of the pandemic, to be replaced by the economic impact as the most important variable towards the end of our period of study. Our results highlight the need to design gender and age specific public policies, to implement psychological and economic support programs and to address the evident pandemic fatigue as the success of potential future confinements will depend on the population’s willingness to comply with them.

scholarly journals Yet another lockdown? A large-scale study on people's unwillingness to be confined during the first 5 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Martinez-Garcia ◽  
Alejandro Rabasa ◽  
Xavier Barber ◽  
Kristina Polotskaya ◽  
Kristof Roomp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Economic Support ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
The Impact

Population confinements have been one of the most widely adopted non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented by governments across the globe to help contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. While confinement measures have been proven to be effective to reduce the number of infections, they entail significant economic and social costs. Thus, different policy makers and social groups have exhibited varying levels of acceptance of this type of measures. In this context, understanding the factors that determine the willingness of individuals to be confined during a pandemic is of paramount importance, particularly, to policy and decision-makers. In this paper, we study the factors that influence the unwillingness to be confined during the COVID-19 pandemic by means of a large-scale, online population survey deployed in Spain. We apply both quantitative (logistic regression) and qualitative (automatic pattern discovery) methods and consider socio-demographic, economic and psychological factors, together with the 14-day cumulative incidence per 100,000 inhabitants. Our analysis of 109,515 answers to the survey covers data spanning over a 5-month time period to shed light on the impact of the passage of time. We find evidence of pandemic fatigue as the percentage of those who report an unwillingness to be in confinement increases over time; we identify significant gender differences, with women being generally less likely than men to be able to sustain long-term confinement of at least 6 months; we uncover that the psychological impact was the most important factor to determine the willingness to be in confinement at the beginning of the pandemic, to be replaced by the economic impact as the most important variable towards the end of our period of study. Our results highlight the need to design gender and age specific public policies, to implement psychological and economic support programs and to address the evident pandemic fatigue as the success of potential future confinements will depend on the population's willingness to comply with them.

scholarly journals The Unfinished Agenda for Food Fortification in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Quantifying Progress, Gaps and Potential Opportunities

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penjani Mkambula ◽  
Mduduzi N. N. Mbuya ◽  
Laura A. Rowe ◽  
Mawuli Sablah ◽  
Valerie M. Friesen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Exchange ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Food Fortification ◽  
Maize Flour ◽  
Fortified Foods ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low Coverage

Large-scale food fortification (LSFF) is a cost-effective intervention that is widely implemented, but there is scope to further increase its potential. To identify gaps and opportunities, we first accessed the Global Fortification Data Exchange (GFDx) to identify countries that could benefit from new fortification programs. Second, we aggregated Fortification Assessment Coverage Toolkit (FACT) survey data from 16 countries to ascertain LSFF coverage and gaps therein. Third, we extended our narrative review to assess current innovations. We identified 84 countries as good candidates for new LSFF programs. FACT data revealed that the potential of oil/ghee and salt fortification is not being met due mainly to low coverage of adequately fortified foods (quality). Wheat, rice and maize flour fortification have similar quality issues combined with lower coverage of the fortifiable food at population-level (<50%). A four-pronged strategy is needed to meet the unfinished agenda: first, establish new LSFF programs where warranted; second, systems innovations informed by implementation research to address coverage and quality gaps; third, advocacy to form new partnerships and resources, particularly with the private sector; and finally, exploration of new fortificants and vehicles (e.g. bouillon cubes; salt fortified with multiple nutrients) and other innovations that can address existing challenges.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document