Very Early Childhood Development

School Feeding Programs in Middle Childhood and Adolescence

Significant progress has been made in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) in recent decades. Between 1990 and 2015, the global mortality rate for children under age five years dropped by 53 percent, from 90.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 42.5 in 2015 (Liu and others 2016). Maternal mortality is also on the decline globally.Despite progress, maternal, neonatal, and under-five mortality remain high in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In 2015, approximately 303,000 women died as a result of complications from pregnancy and childbirth (WHO 2015). Globally, an estimated 5.9 million children under age five years die each year, including 2.7 million within the first month of life (Liu and others 2016).Health indicators differ across countries, regions, and socioeconomic levels (Lozano and others 2011). Approximately 99 percent of all newborn deaths occur in LMICs (Bayer 2001). Maternal mortality is concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa (Hogan and others 2010), where mortality rates for the poor are double those for the nonpoor, and they are higher among rural populations and women with low levels of education (PLoS Medicine Editors 2010). Children living in low-income countries are three times more likely to die before age five years than children living in high-income countries (HICs) (Black and others 2013).Pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, and inadequate nutrition drive early childhood deaths around the world. In 2015, an estimated 526,000 episodes of diarrhea and 922,000 cases of pneumonia in children under age five years led to death (Liu and others 2016). Undernutrition is a primary underlying cause of 3.5 million maternal and child deaths each year (Black and others 2013); stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies are responsible for approximately 35 percent of the disease burden in children under age five years and 11 percent of the total global disease burden (Lozano and others 2011). Although maternal mortality is caused chiefly by postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia and eclampsia, and sepsis, a large proportion of maternal deaths can be attributed to limited access to skilled care during childbirth and the postnatal period (Lozano and others 2011) as well as to limited access to family planning services and safe abortions (UNFPA and Guttmacher Institute 2010).An appropriate mix of interventions can significantly reduce the burden of maternal and child mortality and morbidity. However, these interventions often do not reach those who need them most (Bayer 2001; Sines, Tinker, and Ruben 2006). An integrated approach that includes community-based care as an essential component has the potential to substantially improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes.This chapter provides a summary of community-based programs for improving MNCH. The chapter discusses strategies to improve the supply of services, including through community-based interventions and home visitations implemented by community health workers (CHWs), and strategies to increase demand for services, including through community mobilization efforts. The chapter summarizes the evidence about the impact of such interventions, describes contextual factors that affect implementation, and considers issues of cost-effectiveness. It concludes by highlighting research gaps, the challenges of scaling up, and the way forward.

Effect of starvation on the tissue composition of the small intestine in the rat.


 
 
 Eating habits develop during the first years of a child's life, children learn what, when, and how much to eat through direct experience with food and by observing the eating habits of others. The aim of this study is to get a clear picture of the Eating program Healthy, starting from the planning, implementation, supervision, and evaluation as a case study of nutrition education; to get information about the advantages, disadvantages and effects of implementing a healthy eating program for children. This research was conducted through a case study with qualitative data analysed using Miles and Huberman techniques. Sample of children in Ananda Islāmic School Kindergarten. The results showed the Healthy Eating program could be implemented well, the diet was quite varied and could be considered a healthy and nutritious food. The visible impact is the emotion of pleasure experienced by children, children become fond of eating vegetables, and make children disciplined and responsible. Inadequate results were found due to the limitations of an adequate kitchen for cooking healthy food, such as cooking activities still carried out by the cook himself at the Foundation's house which is located not far from the school place; use of melamine and plastic cutlery for food; the spoon and fork used already uses aluminium material but still does not match its size; does not involve nutritionists.
 Keywords: Early Childhood, Eating Healthy Program

A Reconceptualization of the Effects of Undernutrition on Children's Biological, Psychosocial, and Behavioral Development and commentaries

Multicomponent interventions are needed to address the various co-occurring risks that compromise early child nutrition and development. We compared the independent and combined effects of engaging fathers and bundling parenting components into a nutrition intervention on early child development (ECD) and parenting outcomes. We conducted a 2×2 factorial cluster-randomized controlled trial across 80 villages in Mara Region, Tanzania, also known as EFFECTS (Engaging Fathers for Effective Child Nutrition and Development in Tanzania; ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03759821). Households with children under 18 months of age residing with their mother and father were enrolled. Villages were randomly assigned to one of five groups: a nutrition intervention for mothers, a nutrition intervention for couples, a bundled nutrition and parenting intervention for mothers, a bundled intervention for couples, and a standard-of-care control. Interventions were delivered by trained community health workers through peer groups and home visits over 12 months. Mothers, fathers, and children were assessed at baseline, midline, and endline or postintervention. We used a difference-in-difference approach with intention-to-treat analysis to estimate intervention effects on ECD (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition) and maternal and paternal parenting and psychosocial well-being. Between October 29, 2018, and May 24, 2019, 960 households were enrolled (n = 192 per arm). Compared to nutrition interventions, bundled interventions improved children's cognitive (β = .18 [95% CI: 0.01, 0.36]) and receptive language development (β = .23 [0.04, 0.41]). There were no differences between interventions for other ECD domains. Compared to nutrition interventions, bundled interventions achieved additional benefits on maternal stimulation (β = .21 [0.04, 0.38]) and availability of home learning materials (β = .25 [0.07-0.43]) and reduced paternal parenting distress (β = -.34 [-0.55, -0.12]). Compared to interventions with mothers only, interventions that engaged fathers improved paternal stimulation (β = .45 [0.27, 0.63]). Jointly bundling parenting components into nutrition interventions while also engaging both mothers and fathers is most effective for improving maternal and paternal parenting and ECD outcomes.

Physiological actions of taurine

Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Data for action on early childhood development

Do You Believe In Magic?: What We Can Expect From Early Childhood Intervention Programs

ABSTRACTSuaahara was a USAID‐funded multi‐sectoral integrated nutrition program that aimed to improve the nutritional status of children under the age of five and their mothers in Nepal. The program included multiple interventions targeted to mothers and children, as well as other caregivers. Caregiver knowledge of optimal nutrition and health practices among household members is an important driver of healthy child and maternal nutrition behaviors. This study investigates the associations between exposure to Suaahara interventions and knowledge of maternal and child nutrition and health practices among mothers (n = , grandmothers (n = , and male household heads (n = . Linear and logistic regression models were conducted using data from the endline survey of Suaahara's impact evaluation conducted in 2022. Exposure to Suaahara was associated with mothers' and grandmothers' knowledge of ideal child and maternal health and nutrition practices. Compared to those unexposed to Suuahara, mothers and grandmothers who were exposed to Suaahara interventions had 2.09 and 2.23 times higher odds respectively (p = 0.001; p = < 0.001), respectively, of having correct knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding, and 1.48 and 1.47 times higher odds respectively, of having correct knowledge of age of introduction of all types of complementary foods (p = 0.005; p = 0.070). Furthermore, exposed mothers had 1.49 times higher odds (p = 0.021) and exposed grandmothers had 1.42 times higher odds (p = 0.09) of knowing that young children should be fed more during illness. Male household heads who were exposed had 1.71 times higher odds of knowing that colostrum should be given to children immediately after birth (p = 0.027). Exposure to Suaahara was also associated with mothers' and grandmothers' knowledge of ideal maternal health and nutrition practices. Exposed mothers had 1.64 times higher odds (p = 0.011) and grandmothers had 2.92 times higher odds (p < 0.001) of knowing that mothers should take iron and folic acid supplementation for 180 days during pregnancy (p = 0.011; p = < 0.001). Exposed grandmothers had 1.87 times higher odds of having correct knowledge that mothers should have at least 4 antenatal care visits (p = 0.012). Exposed mothers and grandmothers had 1.88 and 1.90 times higher odds of having correct knowledge that mothers need at least 3 postnatal care visits (p = 0.002; p = 0.051). This study highlights multiple positive associations between exposure to Suaahara and knowledge of mothers and grandmothers around maternal and child health and nutrition practices. This effect was less pronounced in male household heads suggesting that tailored interventions are necessary to improve knowledge of appropriate child and maternal nutrition and health practices in this group. Future research should consider collecting data from multiple household members to better understand the paths between their knowledge and impact on maternal and child health and nutrition practices.

Early Child Development and Nutrition: A Review of the Benefits and Challenges of Implementing Integrated Interventions

Some determinants of Stunting in children of Tehran

Good physical and mental health achievements in school and work and the ability to empathize with and help other people have their roots in early childhood. Experiences in the first years of life shape what we become -- physically emotionally and socially. Evidence-based strategies to promote children’s development are available and can be feasibly integrated into health nutrition education social and child protection programs. Three areas are critical foundations for healthy child development: stable responsive and nurturing caregiving with opportunities to learn; safe supportive physical environments; and appropriate nutrition.Evidence suggests that close to a third of all children under five or 200 million children do not attain their full development capacity. The health sector has a unique responsibility because it has the greatest reach to children and their families during critical time periods that affect child development. WHO is committed to early child development through an approach that binds together many areas of the organization: reproductive maternal newborn child and adolescent health; nutrition; mental health and substance abuse management; violence and injury prevention; environmental health; and social determinants of health. The intervention that weaves as a red thread through all these initiatives is Care for Development. Care for Development strengthens caregiver–child interactions and helps families be sensitive to children’s needs and respond appropriately. While we have the means to make a difference this volume of Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences clearly illustrates that much more has to be learned about effective implementation models their cost and impact. The multisectoral factors that influence child development need to be better addressed and documented through synergy of programs and policies. The time is right for action. Global leaders are committing to the goals of A Promise Renewed with the aim to end preventable neonatal and child deaths by 2035. Global action plans have been developed for reaching every mother every newborn and every child with essential interventions and quality health care. These provide a revitalized and strong programmatic foundation for integrated health nutrition and development interventions. As WHO we intend to fully capitalize on these opportunities and work with member states and partners to ensure that every child has the best possible opportunity to realize its full development potential. (Excerpts)

Nutrition: a quintessential sustainable development goal