scholarly journals Golden Rice, VAD, Covid and Public Health: Saving Lives and Money

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian C. Dubock ◽  
Justus Wesseler ◽  
Robert M. Russell ◽  
Chen Chen ◽  
David Zilberman
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
Golden Rice ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Community Health Programs

On July 21, 2021, Golden Rice was registered in the Philippines allowing cultivation and consumption. Research, as an intervention to combat vitamin A deficiency (VAD), started in 1991, and proof of concept for what was to become Golden Rice, was achieved in 1999. In the 1990s, 23–34% deaths globally of children less than 5 years old were caused by VAD, and in developing countries, the percentage was even higher. By 2013, progress against the Millennium Development Goals had reduced <5-y child deaths globally from VAD to about 2% of all such deaths. The progress included significant vaccination programs against measles, and better access to clean water, as well as vitamin A supplementation, all delivered through community health programs. Economic development and education about diet reduced food insecurity. In contrast to continuing VAD deaths, the Covid-19 pandemic has attracted huge political attention, including in low- and middle-income countries. Community health programs have been adversely affected by the pandemic. There is a danger that as a result VAD rates, child and maternal mortality climbs again toward 1990’s levels. Adoption of Golden Rice provides a safe, culturally simple amelioration and is costless. Other countries should seize the opportunity. Bangladesh is first in line, possibly followed by Indonesia and India.

scholarly journals Development and characterization of GR2E Golden rice introgression lines

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. P. Mallikarjuna Swamy ◽  
Severino Marundan ◽  
Mercy Samia ◽  
Reynante L. Ordonio ◽  
Democrito B. Rebong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Introgression Lines ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Golden Rice ◽  
Β Carotene ◽  
Marker Assisted Backcross Breeding

AbstractGolden Rice with β-carotene in the grain helps to address the problem of vitamin A deficiency. Prior to commercialize Golden Rice, several performance and regulatory checkpoints must be achieved. We report results of marker assisted backcross breeding of the GR2E trait into three popular rice varieties followed by a series of confined field tests of event GR2E introgression lines to assess their agronomic performance and carotenoid expression. Results from confined tests in the Philippines and Bangladesh have shown that GR2E introgression lines matched the performance of the recurrent parents for agronomic and yield performance, and the key components of grain quality. Moreover, no differences were observed in terms of pest and disease reaction. The best performing lines identified in each genetic background had significant amounts of carotenoids in the milled grains. These lines can supply 30–50% of the estimated average requirements of vitamin A.

scholarly journals Scaling up Primary Health care in the Philippines: Lessons from a Systematic review of Experiences of community-based Health Programs

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edna Estifania A. Co ◽  
Ruben N. Caragay ◽  
Jaifred Christian F. Lopez ◽  
Isidro C. Sia ◽  
Leonardo R. Estacio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Community Empowerment ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Community Health Programs

Background. In view of renewed interest in primary health care (PHC) as a framework for health system development, there is a need to revisit how successful community health programs implemented the PHC approach, and what factors should be considered to scale up its implementation in order to sustainably attain ideal community health outcomes in the Philippines. Objective and methodology. Using the 2008 World Health Report PHC reform categories as analytical framework, this systematic review aimed to glean lessons from experiences in implementing PHC that may help improve the functioning of the current decentralized community-level health system in the country, by analyzing gathered evidence on how primary health care evolved in the country and how community health programs in the Philippines were shaped by the PHC approach. Results. Nineteen (19) articles were gathered, 15 of which documented service delivery reforms, two (2) on universal coverage reforms, three (3) on leadership reform, and one (1) on public policy. The literature described how successful PHC efforts centered on community participation and empowerment, thus pinpointing how community empowerment still needs to be included in national public health thrusts, amid the current emphasis on performance indicators to evaluate the success of health programs. Conclusion and recommendations. The studies included in the review emphasize the need for national level public health interventions to be targeted to community health and social determinants of health as well as individual health. Metrics for community empowerment should be developed and implemented by government towards sustainable health and development, while ensuring scientific validity of community health interventions.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Determinants of the Co-Occurrence of Overweight or Obesity and Micronutrient Deficiencies among Adults in the Philippines: Results from a National Representative Survey

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2339
Author(s):  
Aileen R. de Juras ◽  
Wan-Chen Hsu ◽  
Susan C. Hu
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Wealth Quintile ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Double Burden ◽  
Middle Income

The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) affects many low- and middle-income countries. However, few studies have examined DBM at the individual level, or undernutrition and overnutrition co-occurring within the same person. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and determinants of DBM among adults in the Philippines. Data from the 2013 National Nutrition Survey were used. The sample size in the analysis was 17,010 adults aged ≥20 years old, after excluding pregnant and lactating women. DBM was defined as the co-occurrence of overweight/obesity and anemia (definition #1), overweight/obesity and anemia or vitamin A deficiency (definition #2), and overweight/obesity and anemia or vitamin A deficiency or iodine insufficiency (definition #3). Anthropometric measurements and biochemical markers were used for DBM assessment. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and logistic regression by R software. Results showed that definition #3 is the predominant type of DBM (7.0%) in the general population, whereas the prevalence of DBM has increased to 23.7% in overweight/obese persons. Sex, age, educational attainment, marital status, household size, wealth quintile, and smoking status were the determinants of DBM. This study revealed that Filipino adults experience malnutrition critically and must be addressed through food and nutrition interventions.

scholarly journals Evidence for Better Lives Study: a comparative birth-cohort study on child exposure to violence and other adversities in eight low- and middle-income countries - foundational research (study protocol)

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. e034986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Valdebenito ◽  
Aja Murray ◽  
Claire Hughes ◽  
Adriana Băban ◽  
Asvini D Fernando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Exposure To Violence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Violence Against Children ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Stress Markers ◽  
Foundational Research

IntroductionViolence against children is a health, human rights and social problem affecting approximately half of the world’s children. Its effects begin at prenatal stages with long-lasting impacts on later health and well-being. The Evidence for Better Lives Study (EBLS) aims to produce high-quality longitudinal data from cities in eight low- and middle-income countries—Ghana, Jamaica, Pakistan, the Philippines, Romania, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Vietnam—to support effective intervention to reduce violence against children. EBLS-Foundational Research (EBLS-FR) tests critical aspects of the planned EBLS, including participant recruitment and retention, data collection and analysis. Alongside epidemiological estimates of levels and predictors of exposure to violence and adversity during pregnancy, we plan to explore mechanisms that may link exposure to violence to mothers’ biological stress markers and subjective well-being.Methods and analysesEBLS-FR is a short longitudinal study with a sample of 1200 pregnant women. Data are collected during the last trimester of pregnancy and 2 to 6 months after birth. The questionnaire for participating women has been translated into nine languages. Measures obtained from mothers will include, among others, mental and physical health, attitudes to corporal punishment, adverse childhood experiences, prenatal intimate partner violence, substance use and social/community support. Hair and dry blood spot samples are collected from the pregnant women to measure stress markers. To explore research participation among fathers, EBLS-FR is recruiting 300 fathers in the Philippines and Sri Lanka.Ethics and disseminationThe study received ethical approvals at all recruiting sites and universities in the project. Results will be disseminated through journal publications, conferences and seminar presentations involving local communities, health services and other stakeholders. Findings from this work will help to adjust the subsequent stages of the EBLS project.

Genotype Effects on β-Carotene Conversion to Vitamin A: Implications on Reducing Vitamin A Deficiency in the Philippines

2021 ◽  
pp. 037957212110602
Author(s):  
Mark Pretzel P. Zumaraga ◽  
Jose Maria Reynaldo Apollo Arquiza ◽  
Mae Anne Concepcion ◽  
Leah Perlas ◽  
Ma. Neda Alcudia-Catalma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
National Capital Region ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Vitamin A Status ◽  
Genotype Frequencies

Background: The study aimed to identify two beta-carotene 15,15′-monooxygenase (BCMO1) mutations, namely R267S and A379V, and determine their association with vitamin A status among Filipinos 6 to 19 years old respondents of the 2013 Philippine National Nutrition Survey living in the National Capital Region. Materials and Methods: This study followed cross-sectional design. Whole blood specimen was collected in the morning and was used as source of genomic DNA and serum for retinol concentration determination. Fisher exact test was performed to determine whether genotype frequencies were associated to retinol concentrations/vitamin A deficiency status. A level of P < .05 was identified as significant. Results: A total of 693 Filipino children and adolescents were included. Of the 693, there were at least 7.6% who bears the combined mutations for R267S + A379V. Association analysis showed that an inverse relationship exists between the A379V TT variant and vitamin A status. Although the exact role of these identified polymorphisms on retinol/carotenoid metabolism need to be confirmed in dedicated functional studies. Conclusion: This study has identified for the first time the presence of 2 nonsynonymous genetic variants/mutations in the coding region of BCMO1 gene. Interestingly, one of these two variants, the A379V T, was found to be associated with vitamin A status. It is, therefore, warranted to investigate the role of BCMO1 variants for the success of supplementation programs and fortification efforts among vulnerable populations in this region. Genetic variability should be considered for future provitamin A supplementation recommendations among children and adolescents in the Philippines.

How Much does Improved Medical Service Affect Infant Mortality?

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 638-638
Author(s):  
Arnold Gilbert
Keyword(s):  
Infant Mortality ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Medical Service ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Community Health Programs ◽  
Delivery Of Medical Care

The meaning of the article by Dr. Chabot in Pediatrics, June 1971 concerning improved infant mortality between 1964 and 1968 in Denver puzzled me. I wonder whether there is any relation between the improved community health programs described and the happy results presented. Surely, many factors other than medical care affect infant mortality. For example, I wonder whether the author would suggest that the startling (to me) rise in infant mortality noted in Table II for Boston, Buffalo, Phoenix, Pittsburgh and Seattle, resulted from poorer delivery of medical care.

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