International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition

Number 8/4, 2019

109-114
The Effect of Food Supplement MalnuForte on the Quality of Life of Children who Suffered Malnutrition in the First 1000 Days of their lives: A Case Report (MalnuForte Case Study)

Authors: T.A.J. van Oort, J.M. van Oort

Abstract

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Objective: Malnutrition is a common worldwide problem and, for children, has a major impact on cognitive and physical development, productivity and health. The damage due to malnutrition is largest when it occurs in the first 1000 days of life. It is largely irreversible and has far-reaching consequences. There is as yet no known cure for the negative effects of malnutrition, while a cure for a large number of previously malnourished children worldwide would lead to better chances for them in life. This case study, therefore, examines the effect of a six-month treatment of MalnuForte on the quality of life of children between 5 and 11 years who suffered malnutrition in the first 1000 days of their livesMethods: The study subjects are five adopted children who suffered malnutrition in the first 1000 days of their lives and experienced problems or backlog in their quality of life. For six months, the children took one tablet of food supplement MalnuForte a day orally. To estimate the subjects’ quality of life, a standardized and validated quality of life questionnaire for children was used, the PedsQL.Results: A higher quality of life after six months was found for all subjects. The mean total increase of the PedsQL scores between baseline and 6 months was 50%.Conclusion: In this case study, the intake of food supplement MalnuForte shows remarkable increases in the quality of life of five adopted children who had suffered from malnutrition during the first 1000 days of their lives.

115-127
A Photovoice Project: Urban Elementary Girls’ Perspectives on Physical Activity

Authors: Myia L. Graves, Laura A. Nabors, Amy L. Bernard, Rebecca A. Vidourek

Abstract

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Photovoice is a community-based participatory research method where participants can showcase their life experiences through photography. The objective of this study was to have adolescent girls attending an after-school program use photovoice to represent their perceptions of physical activity practices. Photovoice was used to allow adolescent girls to express their perspectives, through photographs and narratives, of their personal and community strengths and concerns related to their involvement in physical activity. The phenomenological methodology was used as a framework for the study. Qualitative analyses were conducted throughout the research process. Constant comparison was used to analyze the focus group, scrapbook data, and notes recorded by the author to determine key themes and ideas. Participants for the study included 14 girls attending a school in an urban area. Benefits of physical activity as provided by the girls in their personal lives and the community included: understanding activity contributed to wellness, increased social opportunities, and the school as a hub of activities. Personal and community barriers to physical activity included: lack of neighbourhood safety, being involved in other sedentary activities, parental rules restricting outside play, outside conditions, personal choices to not exercise, and a lack of opportunity to exercise. Potential ways to increase physical activity among these participants are to create more group games and activities at the after-school program daily. Involving parents in activities with the girls at home may increase physical activity levels while at home.

128-135
Assessing MyPlate Familiarity and Typical Meal Composition using Food Models in Children Aged 7-13

Authors: Jada L. Willis, Carol J. Howe, Gina K. Alexander

Abstract

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The Dietary Guidelines for Americans serve as a basis for developing federal nutrition education materials for the public, such as MyPlate. MyPlate is a visual cue that uses food groups as a guide to building healthy plates at mealtime. The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with child familiarity with MyPlate guidelines and to determine if typical meals met MyPlate guidelines using food models. A convenience sample of 250 children (aged 7-13 years) and their parent/guardian were recruited at a local science and history museum.Children viewed a picture of the MyPlate icon and were asked to identify the picture. Next, participants used a nine-inch plate to build a typical meal (meals that they would regularly consume) from a buffet of food and beverages models (>65 items to choose from). Research team members took photographs of the plates. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist determinedthe percentage of plates that met MyPlate guidelines. Eighty-six percent of children recognized the MyPlate icon upon viewing the image; 7.6% could accurately identify the icon by name. When participants were asked to build a typical meal, however, only 3.43% met MyPlate guidelines. The results of this study suggest that despite being familiar with MyPlate, children built typical meals that did not meet MyPlate guidelines

136-144
A Longitudinal Study on Breastfeeding Practice among Women Living in Western Saudi Arabia

Authors: Anwaar Shahbar, Suhad Bahijri, Janet Weber, Noura M.S. Eid

Abstract

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This paper presents a longitudinal study of breastfeeding at two private hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Soliman Fakeeh (SF) follows the WHO's baby-friendly hospital initiative (BFHI), Saudi Germany Hospital (SGH) does not. Participants were 102 women in both hospitals (52 BFHI, 50 non-BFHI). Two semi-quantitative questionnaires, translated into Arabic, were used at baseline and one month postpartum. Results showed that most women in the study have initiated breastfeeding but turned to mixed feedings after one month. We also found that self-efficacy has the biggest influence on breastfeeding practice at one month, measured by the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES) and regardless of other variables. The BFHI made breast milk the first nutritive substance infants received and had a higher percentage of early initiation of breastfeeding than the non-BFHI. The BFHI hospital supported women to breastfeed practically and educationally. Support was provided by books, internet, and educational sessions. Yet, any effects no longer existed at one month postpartum, at which point most women had shifted to mixed feeding. There was no relationship between the BSES and BFHI status. Thus, we recommend developing breastfeeding promotion programs before delivery and at least a six-months follow-up after delivery, in addition to peer counselling approaches.

145-153
Factors Associated with Breastfeeding Patterns in Western Saudi Arabia: A Literature Review

Authors: Anwaar Shahbar, Noura M.S. Eid

Abstract

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According to literature initiation of breastfeeding is common but exclusive breastfeeding is last one month post delivery in most Saudi women, where continuation to exclusively breastfeed is still challenging. This review discussed breastfeeding patterns, factors associated, and possible approaches to prolong breastfeeding duration in Saudi Arabia. Our review has shown that the early introduction of formula makes the mixed-feeding the most popular feeding method used among the Saudi population. The most frequent reason reported was insufficient milk followed by medical and lifestyle factors. Younger, employed, and higher-educated women were found to be less likely to breastfeed therefore a greater effort probably is required with those women. According to literature, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was found to be an effective tool in increasing breastfeeding duration worldwide, in Saudi Arabia only one study has published and found that BFHI is effective in initiating breastfeeding but formula was introduced after hospital discharge. We recommend increasing Saudi women’s confidence about breastfeeding, educating them and introducing other strategies such as peer counselling

154-161
Clostridium Difficile Associated Diarrhea in Children with Hematological Malignancy-Experience from a Pediatric Oncologic Centre, Bangladesh

Authors: Ferdousi Begum, Afiqul Islam, Rashidul Haque, Mohammad Abdal Miah, Kazi Khairul Alam, Mohammad Anwarul Karim, Momena Begum, Farida Yasmin

Abstract

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Background:Clostridium difficile Associated Diarrhea (CDAD) is considered to be one of the commonest causes of nosocomial diarrhoea worldwide. Gastrointestinal infections in the form of diarrhoea are common in pediatric oncology patients in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Bangladesh. The study was conducted to find out the frequency of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) among diarrheal children with haematological malignancy.Materials and Methods:This prospective observational study was conducted from April 2012 to March 2013 at the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit, BSMMU, Bangladesh. Total 58 diarrheal episodes occurred in 51 children with various types of haematological malignancies were included consecutively. Faecal samples of the children were sent to International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B) laboratory for detection of Clostridium difficile antigen (GDH) and toxins (A and/ or B) by Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA). Results:Among 58 diarrheal episodes 22.4% faecal samples were positive for GDH, but none of the faecal samples was positive for toxin A and or B. There were a significant association with leucopenia, severe neutropenia; usage of meropenem plus vancomycin, cefepime plus amikacin, imipenem, cytarabine and omeprazole with GDH positive diarrheal episodes. Conclusion:Positive GDH antigen with a negative result for toxin indicates C. difficile colonization. Among GDH positive episodes, a significantly higher proportion of children had leucopenia, severe neutropenia and usage of some drugs known as risk factors for C. difficile infection. To confirm the CDI advanced tests are needed.

162-169
Prevalence of Stunting and Associated Factors in Children of 6-59 Months' Old in Ethiopia

Authors: Berhane Fseha Teklehaimanot, Gebrehiwot Gebremariam Welearegawi

Abstract

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Introduction:Malnutrition among under-5 year children is a common public health problem and it is one of the main reasons for the death of children in developing countries. About 35% of under-five children’s death is associated with malnutrition globally. There are 165 million stunted, 99 million under-weighted, and 51 million wasted children globally.In Ethiopia, more than half of child deaths are associated with malnutrition. The objective was to assess the prevalence of stunting and associated factors in children of 6-59 months old in central Tigray, Ethiopia.Methods:A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in children of 6-59 months of age with a total sample size of 420. Systematic random sampling method was used. Data were coded and entered in the computer using SPSS version 20 Software and world health organization anthropometric version 3.3 was used to convert these nutritional data into Z-scores of the induces. Descriptive summary using frequencies, proportions, graphs and cross tabs is used to present study result. Binary Logistic regression analysis was carried out at two levels to identify factors associated with stuntingResult: The prevalence of stunting is 47% and variables like age of the mother, duration of breastfeeding and the way how to feed the child was the variable that had statistical significantly associated with stunting. Conclusion: The prevalence of stunting is high and consistent as compared to other studies done in Ethiopia. This indicates that malnutrition among under-five in central Tigray is comparable with other regional states of Ethiopia