Contribution of Maternal Adherence to the Effect of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis.

Multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) in pregnancy reduces risk of infant low birthweight (LBW) and improves other maternal and infant outcomes compared with iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements alone. However, the impact of timing of initiation and adherence on the MMS effectiveness in real-world programs remains unclear. To address this, we conducted a 2-stage individual participant data meta-analysis that included 15 randomized trials (61,204 pregnant women) and assessed whether the relative effect of MMS differed by the following: adherence alone; adherence in combination with gestational age at initiation; and the total number of tablets taken.

Nutrition in Nepal: Three decades of commitment to children and women.

South Asia has made significant progress in reducing child undernutrition. The prevalence of stunting declined by one third between 2000 and 2019; as a result, in 2019, there were 34 million fewer stunted children than in 2000, indicating that progress for child nutrition is possible and is happening at scale. However, no country in South Asia is on track for all nutrition targets of Sustainable Development Goal 2, and the region has the highest prevalence of stunting (33.

Antenatal Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation Is Associated with Improved Linear Growth and Reduced Risk of Stunting or Severe Stunting in South Asian Children Less than Two Years of Age: A Pooled Analysis from Seven Countries.

In South Asia, an estimated 38% of preschool-age children have stunted growth. We aimed to assess the effect of WHO-recommended antenatal iron, and folic acid (IFA) supplements on smaller than average birth size and stunting in South Asian children <2 years old. The sample was 96,512 mothers with their most recent birth within two years, from nationally representative surveys between 2005 and 2016 in seven South Asian countries.

Triple trouble: Understanding the burden of child undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight in East Asia and the Pacific.

Young children in the East Asia and the Pacific region are failing to thrive, in large numbers, as indicated by stagnation in the decline of stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies and the fastest growing rates of overweight in the world. Eliminating the triple burden of malnutrition is essential to ensure that, as a matter of right, all children reach their full physical growth and development potential and actively contribute to equitable prosperity and the sustainable development of their communities and nations. Ending all forms of malnutrition will only be achieved through the implementation of effective policies and programmes soundly based on an understanding of the leading contextual drivers of child malnutrition.

Trends and Correlates of Overweight among Pre-School Age Children, Adolescent Girls, and Adult Women in South Asia: An Analysis of Data from Twelve National Surveys in Six Countries over Twenty Years.

Overweight has become a global pandemic and is associated with a rise in diet-related non-communicable diseases and associated co-morbidities. Most of the world's undernourished people live in South Asia, yet the number of overweight and obese individuals in this region is growing. This study explores trends and correlates of overweight among pre-school age children, adolescent girls, and adult women in South Asia.

Association between stunting and early childhood development among children aged 36-59 months in South Asia.

Stunting (length-for-age z score < -2) before 2 years of age has shown associations with poor child developmental indicators, but information at the population level is scarce in South Asia, the region with the highest burden of stunting. We examined associations between z scores (i.e.

Predictors of complementary feeding practices in Afghanistan: Analysis of the 2015 Demographic and Health Survey.

Despite improvements over the past 20 years, high burdens of child mortality and undernutrition still coexist in Afghanistan. Global evidence indicates that complementary feeding (CF) practices predict child survival and nutritional status. Our study aims to describe CF practices in Afghanistan and to discern underlying predictors of CF by analysing data from Afghanistan's 2015 Demographic and Healthy Survey.

Community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) programme in Pakistan effectively treats children with uncomplicated severe wasting.

Severe wasting is the most widespread form of severe acute malnutrition, affecting an estimated 17 million children globally. This analysis assesses the effectiveness of Pakistan's community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) programme. We conducted a retrospective case series analysis of 32,458 children aged 6-59 months who were admitted to the programme with a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) < 115 mm (January 1-December 31, 2014).

Infant and young child feeding practices and nutritional status in Bhutan.

In South Asia, childhood undernutrition persists while overweight is increasing. Internationally recommended infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices promote healthy nutritional status; however, little is known about IYCF in Bhutan, investigated here using 2015 National Nutrition Survey data. WHO/UNICEF IYCF indicators, anthropometry and household socio-economic status were available for 441 children <24 months.

Epidemiology of anaemia in children, adolescent girls, and women in Bhutan.

Anaemia inhibits health and development in Bhutan. We estimated anaemia prevalence and explored risk factors in children and women using data from Bhutan's National Nutrition Survey 2015. Prevalence was calculated using life-stage-specific cut-offs adjusted for altitude and survey design.

Aiming higher for maternal and child nutrition in South Asia.

The sustainable development of nations relies on children developing to their full potential and leading healthy, productive, and prosperous lives. Poor nutrition in early life threatens the growth and development of children, especially so in South Asia, which has the highest burdens of stunting, wasting, and anaemia in the world. Targeted actions to reduce stunting and other forms of child malnutrition in South Asia should be informed by an understanding of what drives poor nutrition in children, who is most affected, and effective programme approaches.

Birthweight and feeding practices are associated with child growth outcomes in South Asia.

Although there has been a focus on preventing stunting over the past decade, wasting has received less policy and programmatic attention. Recent national surveys from six South Asian countries were pooled to generate a dataset of 62,509 children aged 0 to 59 months to explore associations between low birthweight (LBW) and suboptimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices with child wasting, severe wasting, and the co-occurrence of wasting and stunting. Logistic regression models accounted for the surveys' clustered designs and adjusted for a potential confounding factors.

Nutritional status and risk factors for stunting in preschool children in Bhutan.

Childhood malnutrition remains endemic in South Asia, although the burden varies by country. We examined the anthropometric status and risk factors for malnutrition among children aged 0-59 months through the 2015 National Nutrition Survey in Bhutan. We assessed in 1,506 children nutritional status (by z-scores of height-for-age [HAZ], weight-for-height [WHZ], and weight-for-age [WAZ]), estimating prevalence, adjusted for survey design, of stunting, wasting, underweight, and overweight (<-2 for HAZ, WHZ, and WAZ and >2 for WHZ).

Stagnating trends in complementary feeding practices in Bangladesh: An analysis of national surveys from 2004-2014.

Bangladesh has experienced steady socio-economic development. However, improvements in child growth have not kept pace. It is important to document complementary feeding (CF) practices-a key determinant of children's growth-and their trends over time.

Factors associated with wasting among children under five years old in South Asia: Implications for action.

South Asia continues to carry the greatest share and number of wasted children worldwide. Understanding the determinants of wasting is important as policymakers renew efforts to tackle this persistent public health and development problem. Using data from national surveys in Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan, this analysis explores factors associated with wasting among children aged 0 to 59 months (n = 252,797).

Education and micronutrient deficiencies: an ecological study exploring interactions between women's schooling and children's micronutrient status.

Background: Formal education can be a nutrition-sensitive intervention that supports the scale-up and impact of nutrition-specific actions. Maternal education has long been linked to child survival, growth, and development while adult earnings and nutrition are tied to years in school as a child. However, less is known about the relationship between maternal education and the micronutrient status of children, women and the general population.

Infant and young child feeding practices and nutritional status in Bhutan.

In South Asia, childhood undernutrition persists while overweight is increasing. Internationally recommended infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices promote healthy nutritional status; however, little is known about IYCF in Bhutan, investigated here using 2015 National Nutrition Survey data. WHO/UNICEF IYCF indicators, anthropometry and household socio-economic status were available for 441 children <24 months.

Hidden hunger in South Asia: a review of recent trends and persistent challenges.

'Hidden hunger' is a term used to describe human deficiencies of key vitamins and minerals, also known as micronutrients. While global in scale, the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies is particularly high in South Asia despite recent successes in economic growth, agricultural output and health care. The present paper reviews the most recent evidence on patterns and trends of hidden hunger across the region, with a focus on the most significant deficiencies - iodine, Fe, vitamin A and Zn - and interprets these in terms of health and economic consequences.