scholarly journals Characteristics of vulnerable women and their association with participation in a Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program site in Toronto, Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 413-422
Author(s):  
Jane Francis ◽  
Samantha Ismail ◽  
Alison Mildon ◽  
Stacia Stewart ◽  
Bronwyn Underhill ◽  
...  

Introduction The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) supports community organizations to provide maternal–infant health services for socially/economically vulnerable women. As part of our research program exploring opportunities to provide postnatal breastfeeding support through the CPNP, we investigated the sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics of clients enrolled in a Toronto CPNP site and explored associations with participation. Methods Data were collected retrospectively from the charts of 339 women registered in one southwest Toronto CPNP site from 2013 to 2016. Multivariable regression analyses were used to assess associations between 10 maternal characteristics and three dimensions of prenatal program participation: initiation (gestational age at enrolment in weeks), intensity (number of times one-on-one supports were received) and duration (number of visits). Results The mean (SD) age of clients was 31 (5.7) years; 80% were born outside of Canada; 29% were single; and 65% had household incomes below the Statistics Canada family size-adjusted low-income cut-offs. Income was the only characteristic associated with all dimensions of participation. Compared to clients living above the low-income cut-off, those living below the low-income cut-off enrolled in the program 2.85 weeks earlier (95% CI: −5.55 to −0.16), had 1.29 times higher number of one-on-one supports (95% CI: 1.03 to 1.61) and had 1.29 times higher number of program visits (95% CI: 1.02 to 1.63). Conclusion Our findings show that this CPNP site serves vulnerable women, with few differences in participation based on maternal characteristics. This evidence can guide service provision and monitoring decisions at this program site. Further research is needed to explore new program delivery models to enhance perinatal services for vulnerable women.

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Simard ◽  
Huguette Turgeon O’Brien ◽  
André Beaudoin ◽  
Daniel Turcotte ◽  
Dominique Damant ◽  
...  

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2009
Author(s):  
Joris H.J. van Sadelhoff ◽  
Linda P. Siziba ◽  
Lisa Buchenauer ◽  
Marko Mank ◽  
Selma P. Wiertsema ◽  
...  

Free amino acids (FAAs) are important regulators of key pathways necessary for growth, development, and immunity. Data on FAAs in human milk (HM) and their roles in infant development are limited. We investigated the levels of FAAs and total amino acids (TAA, i.e., the sum of conjugated amino acids and FAAs) in HM in relation to infant and maternal characteristics and immunological conditions. FAA and TAA levels in HM sampled at 6 weeks (n = 671) and 6 months (n = 441) of lactation were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Child growth was ascertained at 4–5 weeks and at 6–7 months of age. Child allergy and lower respiratory tract infections were assessed in the first years of life. Associations of amino acid (AA) levels in HM with child growth and health outcomes were determined by Spearman correlation and modified Poisson regression, respectively. Free glutamine, glutamate, and serine in 6-week HM positively correlated with infant weight gain in the first 4–5 weeks of age. Maternal pre-pregnancy weight and body mass index (BMI) were negatively correlated with free glutamine and asparagine in 6-week and 6-month HM and positively correlated with the sum of TAAs in 6-month HM, but significance was lost following confounder adjustment. Free glutamine was lower in 6-month HM of mothers with an allergy (either active or non-active). No consistent associations were found between FAAs in HM and child health outcomes. However, potential negative associations were observed between specific FAAs and the risk of food allergy. These results suggest that specific FAAs play a role in infant growth. Moreover, these findings warrant further investigations into the relation of FAAs in HM with infant health outcomes and maternal allergy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Lynn Mary Frykas ◽  
Michael Golding ◽  
Elissa M. Abrams ◽  
Elinor Simons ◽  
Jennifer Lisa Penner Protudjer

AbstractPediatric food allergy is associated with direct, indirect and intangible costs. However, it remains unclear if intangible costs of pediatric food allergy influence parental career choices. Using data from 63 parents whose children had been diagnosed by a pediatric allergist with food allergy, we sought to (a) establish perceived life status of families with a food allergic child, and (b) to describe any career limitations viewed as attributable to food allergy. Compared to responding parents whose children had one to two food allergies, those with three or more food allergies had significantly poorer perceived life status (ß − 0.74; 95%CI − 1.41; − 0.07; p < 0.05). Overall, 14.3% of parents (all mothers) reported career limitations due to food allergy. Two of the 7 mothers (28.6%) who reported career limitations due to their child's food allergy fell below Statistics Canada cut-off for low-income, after tax dollars (LIM-AT). One of the three mothers who had changed jobs because of their child's food allergy was below the LIM-AT. No fathers reported food allergy-related career limitations. In conclusion, mothers of children with multiple food allergies reported worse perceived life status that may be partly explained by food allergy-related career limitations.


Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Kakinami ◽  
Marie Lambert ◽  
Lise Gauvin ◽  
Louise Séguin ◽  
Béatrice Nikiéma ◽  
...  

Background: Childhood poverty is associated with poorer food consumption patterns but longitudinal data on this association is limited. To assess if the relationship between food consumption and poverty differs depending on the child’s age and pattern of poverty, we analyzed the relationship between consumption of selected foods and poverty trajectories at various ages in a birth cohort. Methods: The 1998-2010 "Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development" (n=2,120) cohort was used for these analyses. Household income was measured annually with poverty defined as income below the low-income thresholds established by Statistics Canada adjusted for household size and geographic region. Frequency of children’s consumption of dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt), fruits, and vegetables were reported by parents using a food frequency questionnaire. Analyses were conducted on the 739 children with food consumption data. Trajectories of poverty at 6, 8, 10, and 12 years were characterized with latent class group analysis using maximum likelihood in a semiparametric mixture model. Multivariable logistic regression predicted the likelihood of having less than 2 servings a day of dairy, fruits and vegetables based on poverty trajectories after adjusting for age and sex. Results: The poverty trajectories were stable and fell into 1 lower exposure category (consistently low exposure (73%, n=537)) and 3 higher exposure categories (increasing: 8%, n=61; decreasing: 10%, n=73; or consistently high exposure: 9%, n=68)). Compared to children experiencing low exposure to poverty, children with increasing or high exposure to poverty were less likely to have at least two servings of fruit a day at all ages, but the results were not significant. Compared to children experiencing low exposure to poverty, children with high exposure were 55% (CI: 0.2-0.8, p=0.001), 31% (CI: 0.4-1.2, p=0.23), 67% (CI: 0.2-0.6, p<.0001), and 49% (CI: 0.3-0.8, p=0.001) less likely to have at least two servings of dairy a day at 6, 8, 10, and 12 years, respectively. Compared to children with low exposure to poverty, children with high exposure were 43% (CI: 0.3-0.9, p=0.02), 46% (CI: 0.3-0.9, p=0.02), 55% (CI: 0.3-0.8, p=0.003), and 47% (CI: 0.3-0.9, p=0.02) less likely to have at least two servings of vegetables a day at 6, 8, 10, and 12 years, respectively. Children at all ages with decreasing or increasing exposure to poverty were less likely to have at least two servings of vegetables a day, but the results were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Experiencing high exposure to poverty has consistent effects on food consumption throughout childhood. In addition, compared to children with low exposure to poverty, children with increasing or decreasing exposure were less likely to have at least 2 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, suggesting any exposure to poverty may have detrimental effects on consumption of selected foods.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Summer J Weber ◽  
Daniela Dawson ◽  
Haley Greene ◽  
Pamela C Hull

BACKGROUND Since 1972, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been proven to improve the health of participating low-income women and children in the United States. Despite positive nutritional outcomes associated with WIC, the program needs updated tools to help future generations. Improving technology in federal nutrition programs is crucial for keeping nutrition resources accessible and easy for low-income families to use. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to analyze the main features of publicly available mobile phone apps for WIC participants. METHODS Keyword searches were performed in the app stores for the 2 most commonly used mobile phone operating systems between December 2017 and June 2018. Apps were included if they were relevant to WIC and excluded if the target users were not WIC participants. App features were reviewed and classified according to type and function. User reviews from the app stores were examined, including ratings and categorization of user review comments. RESULTS A total of 17 apps met selection criteria. Most apps (n=12) contained features that required verified access available only to WIC participants. Apps features were classified into categories: (1) shopping management (eg, finding and redeeming food benefits), (2) clinic appointment management (eg, appointment reminders and scheduling), (3) informational resources (eg, recipes, general food list, tips about how to use WIC, links to other resources), (4) WIC-required nutrition education modules, and (5) other user input. Positive user reviews indicated that apps with shopping management features were very useful. CONCLUSIONS WIC apps are becoming increasingly prevalent, especially in states that have implemented electronic benefits transfer for WIC. This review offers new contributions to the literature and practice, as practitioners, software developers, and health researchers seek to improve and expand technology in the program.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Huaiyu Wang ◽  
Dao The Anh ◽  
Paule Moustier

Origin labeling and quality upgrading through farmer organizations have been considered as solutions to reduce transaction costs and improve market bargaining power. This paper explores whether belonging to a farmer organization that improves and signals quality can help increase yields and household incomes of small-scale farmers for a specific quality product, Hoa Vang sticky rice in Vietnam. The paper is based on primary data on 185 households collected in 2013 and on 149 households collected in 2015. Different econometric methods were applied to investigate the effect based on rice yield, rice income and household income as the outcome variables. The results show that membership of farmer organization does not significantly improve household income compared to non-membership. However, members of farmer organizations have less resources in terms of land and inputs than non-members. These results suggest that the economic results achieved by farmers with fewer opportunities to access markets are similar to those obtained by farmers with more opportunities thanks to the involvement of farmer organizations in marketing. The specificities of the Hoa Vang sticky rice are still not reflected in higher farmer sales prices and incomes. More dialogue between farmer organizations and their customers is thus required, as well as better public control of labeling fraud.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document