Mapping Inequalities in Exclusive Breastfeeding in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, 2000–2018
Bhattacharjee, Natalia V., Lauren E. Schaeffer, Simon I. Hay, et al. Nature Human Behaviour, June 2021
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Research Articles
Generating exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) prevalence estimates and assessing progress are critical to identify necessary policy and intervention efforts. Among 94 lower- and middle-income countries mapped to policy-relevant administrative units, only six are projected to meet the World Health Organization’s ≥70 percent EBF prevalence target at the national scale and only three are on pace to meet the target in all district-level units by 2030.
Mapping Local Patterns of Childhood Overweight and Wasting in Low- and Middle-income Countries between 2000 and 2017
Kinyoki, D.K., J.M. Ross, A. Lazzar-Atwood, et al. Nature Medicine, Vol. 26, 750–759, April 2020
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Research Articles
Using geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 in 105 low- and middle-income countries from 2000 and 2017, the authors aggregated these numbers to policy-relevant administrative units. The researchers found that wasting decreased overall across countries, while overweight estimates increased, leading to the double burden of malnutrition in various countries and regions. Areas with the greatest double burden were in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon, and central Nigeria.
Market Access, Household Dietary Diversity, and Food Security: Evidence from Eastern Africa
Usman, Muhammed A., Mekbib G. Haile. Food Policy, November 2022
- Food Systems
Research Articles
Households located closer to market centers have greater expenditures, consume more diverse diets, and have greater food security than those located farther away. Investing in accessible market development and rural infrastructure to link smallholder farmers to markets is critical to improving household dietary diversity and food security. This article is behind a paywall.
Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes: National Implementation of the International Code, Status Report 2020
World Health Organization, May 2020
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
Reports and Tools
This report highlights progress to promote and protect breastfeeding and curb harmful marketing practices by manufacturers and distributors of breastmilk substitutes, which often are donated or offered in emergency settings. It provides recommendations for legislators and policy-makers to fulfill legal and human rights obligations, analyze and address weaknesses or gaps in their existing legislation, and act accordingly. The full report is available in English while the summary is available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish.
Marketing and Consumption of Commercial Foods Fed to Young Children in Low and Middle-income Countries
Hall et al. (Eds). Maternal & Child Nutrition. June 2019. Vol 15 Issue S4
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Research Articles
Editorial commentary and supplementary articles on the consumption and marketing of foods fed to young children, including breast milk substitutes, complementary foods, snack foods, and beverages, comprise this journal supplement. The supplement touches on rapidly evolving food environments, television advertisements, monitoring and enforcement of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, fortification, and product placement.
Marketing the US$ 55 Billion Formula Milk Industry
World Health Organization, February 2022
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Events
Aggressive marketing practices used by the formula milk industry impact families’ decisions about how to feed their babies and young children. The webinar launching the report is available in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
Maternal and Child Factors Associated with Timely Initiation of Breastfeeding in Sub-Saharan Africa
Appiah, Francis, Bright Opoku Ahinkorah, Eugene Budu, et al. International Breastfeeding Journal, July 2021
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
Research Articles
Timely initiation of breastfeeding was lower among married women, working women, women who watched television, women who delivered through caesarean section, and those with multiple births than among women who do not meet those criteria. Policies, behavioral change communication programs, and supportive care are critical to close gaps.
Maternal Depression is Associated with Less Dietary Diversity among Rural Nepali Children
Miller, Laurie C., Sumanta Neupane, Thalia M. Sparling, et al. Maternal & Child Nutrition, June 2021
Research Articles
There is a correlation between maternal depression and child dietary diversity, but growth and development of children of depressed mothers who are depressed did not differ from that of children of mothers who are not depressed.
Maternal Depression: The Potential Role of Nutrition in Prevention and Treatment
Alive & Thrive, February 2020
- Early Childhood Development
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Reports and Tools
Maternal depression can have a great impact on the health and development of both a mother and her child during pregnancy and for up to a year postpartum. This brief explores the risk factors that can lead to maternal depression, focusing heavily on the potential role specific nutrients play in supporting a mother’s mental health and the fetus’ development. It also discusses nutrition interventions during pregnancy, acknowledging where there is room for improvement, especially regarding preventative measures in low- and middle-income countries.
Maternal Diets in India: Gaps, Barriers, and Opportunities
Nguyen, Phuong Hong, Shivani Kachwaha, Lan Mai Tran, et al. Nutrients, October 2021
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Research Articles
Food unavailability and poor economic situations, limited exposure to nutrition counseling, food restrictions and beliefs, adverse family influence and gender norms, and gaps in knowledge constrain healthy diets. While food-based programs, behavior change communication, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture interventions are promising strategies, impact evaluations show that they face implementation bottlenecks and limited effectiveness when undertaken at-scale in the real world. Investing in systems approaches spanning health, nutrition, and agriculture sectors is critical to promote healthy diets for women.
Maternal Diets Matter for Children's Dietary Quality: Seasonal Dietary Diversity and Animal-Source Foods Consumption in Rural Timor-Leste
Bonis-Profumo, Gianna, Natasha Stacey, Julie Brimblecombe. Maternal & Child Nutrition, August 2020
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Research Articles
Women's dietary quality and education levels are strong predictors of children's dietary diversity and consumption of animal-source foods, while seasonality impacts diversity and consumption. Production, affordability, and consumption of nutrient‐dense foods require widespread market access and sustained nutrition‐sensitive programs.
Maternal Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and Breastfeeding Practices in 51 Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Caleyachetty, Rishi, Olalekan A. Uthman, Hana Nekatebeb Bekele, et al., PLOS Medicine, October 2019
- Nutrition and Health Systems
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Research Articles
The effect of intimate partner violence (IPV) on breastfeeding practices has not been adequately studied. To help fill this knowledge gap, the authors examined population-based cross-sectional demographic and health surveys from 51 low- and middle-income countries around the globe, looking at data on IPV and breastfeeding practices. They found that exposure to IPV decreased the likelihood of early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding globally.
Maternal Hemoglobin Concentrations Across Pregnancy and Child Health and Development From Birth Through 6–7 Years
Young Melissa F., Phuong Nguyen, Lan Mai Tran, et al. Frontiers in Nutrition, February 2023
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Research Articles
In this study, maternal hemoglobin (Hb) trajectories during pregnancy were associated with child Hb concentrations in the first 1,000 days but not with birth outcomes or later cognitive functioning. Authors call for additional research to understand and interpret changes in Hb levels during pregnancy, especially in resource-poor settings.
Maternal Mental Health Modifies the Association of Food Insecurity and Early Child Development
Pedroso, Jéssica, Gabriela Buccini, Sonia Isoyama Venancio, et al. Maternal & Child Nutrition, e12997, April 2020
- Early Childhood Development
- Food Systems
Research Articles
How significantly do maternal depression and anxiety affect early childhood development in food-insecure households? The authors of this study found that infants who have depressed mothers living in mildly and moderately food-insecure households were more likely to experience early childhood development delays compared to their counterparts in food-secure households. Having a mother with both depression and anxiety increased that likelihood further. The authors recommend that health workers and programs wishing to promote early childhood development screen for and address caregiver depression, anxiety, and household food insecurity.
Maternal Micronutrient Supplementation: What Does It Take to Improve Adherence?
Nutrition International, June 2021
Reports and Tools
This e-learning course provides program planners and implementers with guidance and tools to improve the quality of maternal micronutrient supplementation programs delivered in antenatal care and postnatal care settings.
Maternal Nutrition Operational Guidance Program Considerations for Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Maternal and Child Survival Program, September 2019
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Reports and Tools
Developed by USAID’s Maternal and Child Survival Program, this practical guidance document is meant to help ministries of health, nongovernmental organizations, and implementing partners working in low- and middle-income countries design, implement, and strengthen the delivery of maternal nutrition interventions during pregnancy and lactation within the health system. It includes step-by-step guidance on how to add maternal nutrition interventions, precedent case studies on maternal nutrition, an antenatal care schedule, and quality of care standards, among other resources.
Maternal and Paternal Employment in Agriculture and Early Childhood Development: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey Data
Bliznashka, Lilia, Joshua Jeong, Lindsay M. Jaacks. PLOS Global Public Health, January 2023
- Early Childhood Development
Research Articles
This study found that parental employment in the agricultural sector was associated with poorer quality of child supervision and child development and lower levels of early childhood care, education program attendance, and women’s empowerment compared with nonagricultural employment.
Maternal and Paternal Involvement in Complementary Feeding in Kaduna State, Nigeria: The Continuum of Gender Roles in Urban and Rural Settings
Allotey, Diana, Valerie L. Flax, Abiodun Ipadeola, et al. Maternal and Child Nutrition, January 2022
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Research Articles
Household gender roles influence infant and young child feeding behaviors and may contribute to suboptimal complementary feeding practices through inequitable household decision making, intra-household food allocation, and limited paternal support for resources and caregiving, especially in rural areas. Findings point to the need for more context-specific approaches that address gender normative roles.
Maternal Profiles and Social Determinants of Severe Acute Malnutrition among Children Under- Five Years of Age: A Case-Control Study in Nepal
Hossain, Ahmed, Bhupendra Niroula, Sangita Duwal, et al. Heliyon, Vol. 6, Issue 5, e03849, May 2020
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
Research Articles
More evidence is needed to understand the causes of severe acute malnutrition and develop effective interventions. To address this gap, the authors conducted a case control study in Nepal to identify determinants of severe acute malnutrition in children, including social and material factors. Findings highlight a relationship between mothers’ socioeconomic status and the incidence of SAM in children. Providing services to improve socioeconomic status could help reduce severe acute malnutrition. The results also suggest that promoting handwashing with soap, exclusive breastfeeding, and complementary feeding are ideal low-cost interventions.
Maternal Resources for Care are Associated with Child Growth and Early Childhood Development in Bangladesh and Vietnam
Basnet, Sulochana, Edward A. Frongillo, Phuong Hong Nguyen, et al. Child: Care, Health and Development, September 2021
- Early Childhood Development
Research Articles
Maternal height, good nourishment, mental well-being, decision-making, support in chores, and perceived social support were associated with child health and development outcomes. Interventions that help to improve resources among mothers have the potential to foster child growth and development.
Measurement of Diets That Are Healthy, Environmentally Sustainable, Affordable, and Equitable: A Scoping Review of Metrics, Findings, and Research Gaps
Webb, Patrick, Kara Livingston Staffier, Hyomin Lee, et al. Frontiers in Nutrition, April 2023
- Food Systems
Research Articles
Researchers recommend using indicators and metrics that link social and economic issues to more commonly assessed diet-climate-planetary ecology relationships and integrating processed food products in analyses to better reflect consumer choices. They call for including more data and researchers from low- and middle-income countries, greater transparency and clarity about datasets and analytical methods, and more focus on the policy implications of findings.
Measurement Tools and Indicators for Assessing Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development: A Scoping Review
Jeong, Joshua, Lilia Bliznashka, Eileen Sullivan, et al. PLOS Global Public Health, April 2022
- Early Childhood Development
Research Articles
Nurturing care encompasses good health, adequate nutrition, opportunities for early learning, responsive caregiving, and safety and security, but there is insufficient focus on measuring the last three. Additional research is important to establish optimal measures and indicators for assessing nurturing care, especially for early learning and responsive caregiving.
Measuring Agency: What We Know and Where We Go from Here
World Bank, October 2021
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Reports and Tools
The most appropriate ways to measure women’s agency remain understudied. Several policy briefs review gaps in measuring women’s control over assets, their goal setting and decision-making, and their sense of control and efficacy, and offer an action plan to bridge gaps.
Measuring and Assessing Capacity: A Landscape Review
USAID MOMENTUM, September 2021
- Capacity Strengthening
Reports and Tools
This study presents a methodology to generate indicators that help measure the impact of capacity strengthening efforts on performance and resilience. Indicators identified for further development include the percentage of targeted actors who use constituent feedback to improve program reach, coverage, or effectiveness; and who modify programs to reflect prevailing social norms, values, beliefs, and practices.