Air Pollutant Emissions from Global Food Systems are Responsible for Environmental Impacts, Crop Losses, and Mortality
Crippa, M., E. Solazzo, D. Guizzardi, et al. Nature Food, November 2022
- Food Systems
Research Articles
Between 10 and 90 percent of country-level air pollutant emissions come from food production, processing, packaging, transport, retailing, consumption, and disposal. Food system emissions are responsible for approximately 22 percent of global mortality due to poor air quality and 1.4 percent of global crop production losses. This article is behind a paywall.
Aligning Best Practices and Addressing Misinformation for Optimal Infant Feeding During the COVID-19 Pandemic
PATH, January 2021
Reports and Tools
This brief discusses hospital best practices to encourage breastfeeding and ensure lactation success for COVID-19 infected mothers and their newborns. It also addresses whether COVID-19 can be passed from mother to infant at delivery, whether rooming-in and breastfeeding with an infected mother are safe, and whether it is safe to use donor milk during the pandemic.
All Children Surviving and Thriving: Re-envisioning UNICEF’s Conceptual Framework of Malnutrition
Black, Maureen M., Chessa K. Lutter, Angela C. B. Trude. The Lancet Global Health, Vol. 8, Issue 6, June 2020
- Early Childhood Development
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
Research Articles
The authors of this commentary propose a revision to UNICEF’s malnutrition conceptual framework, adding responsive care, learning opportunities, and safety and security components to health and nutrition. They suggest that by combining these elements, the revised framework will better promote children’s growth, nutritional status, and neurodevelopment, helping children to thrive, not just survive.
Anemia Briefs
USAID Advancing Nutrition, October 2022
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Reports and Tools
Briefs explore current evidence and practice to understand and address the causes and consequences of anemia. Topics include assessing for anemia in clinical and public health settings, anemia in pregnancy, food-based approaches to address anemia, and coexisting infection and inflammation.
Anemia Toolkit
USAID Advancing Nutrition, July 2023
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Reports and Tools
This newly updated toolkit provides resources to improve the understanding of the facets of anemia, its nature, significance, assessment, prevention and control. It includes resources pertaining to anemia causation and its assessment, tools for strategic intervention, and needs for further investigation.
Antenatal Multiple Micronutrient Supplements Versus Iron-Folic Acid Supplements and Birth Outcomes: Analysis by Gestational Age Assessment Method
Gomes, Filomena, Sufia Askari, Robert E. Black, et al. Maternal & Child Nutrition, March 2023
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Research Articles
Trials performing ultrasounds for gestational age assessment found benefits of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) on low birthweight, preterm birth, and small for gestational age. These analyses strengthen the evidence for the transition from iron-folic acid supplements to MMS in antenatal care programs.
Anthropometric Criteria for Best-Identifying Children at High Risk of Mortality: A Pooled Analysis of Twelve Cohorts
Khara, Tanya, Mark Myatt, Kate Sadler, et al. Public Health Nutrition, February 2023
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Research Articles
Researchers compared several anthropometric diagnostic criteria to assess risk of child mortality. The best indicators were weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) <−2, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) <125 mm, MUAC < 115 mm or WAZ < −3, and WAZ < −3. A combined case definition (MUAC < 115 mm or WAZ < −3) was better at predicting deaths associated with weight-for-height Z-score <−3 and concurrent wasting and stunting than the single WAZ < −3 case definition. While therapeutic feeding programs may achieve greater impact by using a combined case definition, operational concerns remain.
Anthropometric Deficits and the Associated Risk of Death by Age and Sex in Children Aged 6–59 Months: A Meta-Analysis
Thurstans, Susan, Stephanie V. Wrottesley, Bridget Fenn, et al., Maternal & Child Nutrition, September 2022
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Research Articles
Researchers found no age- or gender-specific differences in the risk of mortality associated with child wasting, indicating the need to include all children under five in wasting treatment programs. Because younger children had a significantly higher risk of mortality from underweight and stunting than older children, prevention programs may be justified in targeting these children when resources are limited.
Applying a Systems Thinking Approach to Early Childhood Development
Early Childhood Development Action Network, March 2023
- Early Childhood Development
Events
Speakers discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and other disruptions could prompt innovation and how applying systems thinking could help address longstanding challenges, such as scaling interventions, sustainability, and equity. This is a webinar.
Applying Behavioural Science Across the Food System
UN Innovation Network, June 2023
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Events
Successful transition to a more resilient food system requires a better understanding of local contexts, human behavior, and opportunities for change at individual, community, and societal levels. Experts discuss examples of using behavioral science across the food system to improve outcomes. This is a webinar.
Applying Systematic Review Search Methods to the Grey Literature: A Review of Education and Training Courses on Breastfeeding Support for Health Professionals
Navarro, Ivette, Jose M. Soriano, and Salomé Laredo, International Breastfeeding Journal, April 2021
Research Articles
Lactation training for health professionals is a promising approach to increase and protect breastfeeding but it requires research on its efficacy.
An Approach to Building Equitable Global Health Research Collaborations
Murray, Megan, Joel Mubiligi. Annals of Global Health, October 2020
- Capacity Strengthening
Reports and Tools
The authors present a model for developing productive, equitable research partnerships between researchers and practitioners from high- and low-income countries. Model elements include mission and goal alignment, meaningful training and mentoring, capacity building, and co-authorship principles.
Approaches to Address the Anemia Challenge
Loechl, Cornelia U., Ananya Datta-Mitra, Lindy Fenlason, et al. The Journal of Nutrition, September 2023
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Research Articles
Authors discuss interventions ranging from increasing dietary diversity, biofortification, food fortification, and supplementation to delayed cord clamping, and the prevention and treatment of malaria and helminths and other parasitic diseases and infections. Practitioners should tailor these interventions to the local context, cause, and affected population groups.
Approaches to Partnership Measurement: A Landscape Review
USAID MOMENTUM, September 2021
- Capacity Strengthening
Reports and Tools
While calls for partnership measurement are increasing, no standard approaches or indicators exist. This review recommends developing context-specific measurement approaches. To overcome identified challenges, use multiple indicators and mixed-methods approaches to capture complexity, outcome diversity, and the contributions of partnerships to outcomes. Prioritize participatory approaches and engage all partners in the process.
Are Healthy Diets Affordable? Using New Data on Retail Prices and Diet Costs to Guide Agricultural and Food Policy
International Food Policy Research Institute, Tufts University, the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization, July 2022
- Food Systems
Events
With a focus on diet costs and affordability, speakers discuss data sources and methods for policy-relevant analyses, implications of global variations, and food policy research and monitoring priorities. They advocate for policy analyses to inform agrifood systems transformation. This is a webinar.
Arm Circumference for Age, Arm Circumference and Weight-for-Height Z-Score for the Evaluation of Severe Acute Malnutrition: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
BMC Public Health, August 2023
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
Reports and Tools
Adjusting mid-upper arm circumference for age (MUACZ) improves identification of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. However, using MUACZ can be more complicated than using weight-for-height Z-scores in the field, so it is important to identify easier ways to use this method. This is a pre-print of a manuscript.
The Asia Food Challenge: Harvesting the Future
PWC, Rabobank, and Temasek, November 2019
- Food Systems
- Knowledge Management
Reports and Tools
The authoring organizations of this report foresee significant changes to Asia’s food and agricultural landscapes, with food spending expected to increase by around 7 percent per year over the next decade. As a collective call to action, the report outlines various opportunities for investment and innovation in key cities around Asia deemed “Agri-Food Tech Investment and Innovation Hubs.”
Assessing Capacity: Lessons from a Social and Behavior Change Competency Assessment in Uganda
USAID Advancing Nutrition, February 2022
Events
These presentations review the importance of competencies—knowledge, skills, and attitudes—in capacity strengthening for multi-sectoral nutrition, and how to translate them from concepts into tangible, relevant tools for designing high-quality capacity strengthening interventions. The webinars are available in English and French and are accompanied by presentation decks and transcripts.
Assessing Dietary Diversity in Pregnant Women: Relative Validity of the List-Based and Open Recall Methods
Nguyen, Phuong Hong, Yves Martin-Prevel, Mourad Moursi, et al. Current Developments in Nutrition Vol. 4, January 2020
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Research Articles
Few studies have compared list-based and open recall methods for collecting data on micronutrient adequacy from pregnant women. This study aims to fill that information gap and provides evidence for the recommended use of list-based questionnaires when assessing food group diversity or minimum dietary diversity for pregnant women. Conducted in both Bangladesh and India, the study also found that, in resource-poor settings, it may be more feasible to use the list-based tool than other methods for data collection.
Assessing the Nurturing Care Content of UNICEF's Community-Infant and Young Child Feeding Counselling Package: Gaps, Best Practices, and Lessons Learned
Hromi-Fiedler, Amber J., Rafael Pérez-Escamilla, Sofia Segura-Pérez, et al. Current Developments in Nutrition, February 2022
- Early Childhood Development
Research Articles
Country-level best practices can address nurturing care elements missing from the generic UNICEF Community-Infant and Young Child Feeding Counseling Package. Sharing these practices will help countries prioritize context-driven, evidence-informed decisions.
Assessing Nutrient Gaps and Affordability of Complementary Foods: New Methods and Their Application in Different Settings
Nutrition Reviews, April 2021
Research Articles
This series of articles focuses on nutrient gaps and the affordability of nutritious foods during the complementary feeding period in South Asia and Eastern and Southern Africa, as well as the Comprehensive Nutrient Gap Assessment method for identifying the public health significance of nutrient gaps.
Assessment: Centers of Excellence Model is Strengthening Health Systems in Southeast Asia
Alive & Thrive, February 2022
- Capacity Strengthening
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Reports and Tools
The Centers of Excellence (CoE) for Breastfeeding model adds value to government-led efforts to scale up essential newborn care and breastfeeding-friendly health services. Engaging champions, providing high-quality technical assistance, and focusing on integrating CoE principles into national health monitoring systems enable implementation and sustainability.
Association of BCC Module Roll-Out in SHG Meetings with Changes in Complementary Feeding and Dietary Diversity Among Children (6–23 months)? Evidence from JEEViKA in Rural Bihar, India
Mondal, Sudipta, William Joe, Santosh Akhauri, et al. PLOS ONE, January 2023
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Research Articles
This research article explores how behavior change communication intervention in India increased adequate dietary diversity and knowledge and awareness of complementary feeding.
Association Between Intimate Partner Violence and Nutritional Status of Married Nepalese Women
Chaudhary, Arun, Janet Nakarmi, Annekathryn Goodman. Global Health Research and Policy, May 2022
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Research Articles
Emotional and physical intimate partner violence (IPV) was significantly associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity, sexual IPV was significantly associated with increased risk of underweight (measured by body mass index), and controlling behavior was significantly associated with increased risk of anemia. IPV screening should be part of regular health care assessments, and clinicians should ensure services are available and offered.