Farm forests, seasonal hunger, and biomass poverty: Evidence of induced intensification from panel data in the Ethiopian Highlands.

Seasonal hunger is the most common food insecurity experience for millions of small dryland farmers. This study tests the relationships between food insecurity, farm forests, and biomass poverty using a longitudinal dataset from the Amhara region of Ethiopia. These data form part of the Ethiopia Socioeconomic Survey, which collected panel data over three survey rounds from 530 households between 2011 and 2016. This dataset represents a collection of unique socioeconomic, wellbeing, and micro-land use measures, including farm forests. Hierarchical mixed effect regression models assessed the relationship between food insecurity and farm forests as well as the conditional effects of biomass poverty among the poorest farmers and women-headed households. Over a six-year study period, farmers reported increased stress from smaller land holdings, higher prices, and climate-related shocks. A clear trend towards spontaneous dispersed afforestation is observed by both researchers and satellite remote sensing. Model results indicate, dedicating approximately 10% of farm area to forest reduces months of food insecurity by half. The greatest reductions in food insecurity from farm forests are reported by ultra-poor and crop residue-burning households, suggesting that biomass poverty may be a major constraint to resilient food security on these farms. This research provides novel quantitative evidence of induced intensification and food security impacts of farm management preserving and building stores of biomass value as green assets. The results reported here have important implications for nature-based solutions as a major strategy to achieve sustainable development in some contexts.

Sexual risk behaviors among youth heads of household in Gikongoro, south province of Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: As a result of the 1994 genocide and AIDS, Rwanda has a crisis of orphans. In 2005, the Ministry of Local Governance and Social Affairs of Rwanda has reported one million vulnerable children. Many of these are not only orphans but also youth heads of households (YHH). The purpose of this study was to: (a) identify risk behaviors that expose YHH to HIV infection, (b) determine gender-specific high risk profiles and, (c) determine predictors of sexual onset. METHODS: A household survey was conducted among 692 YHH, aged 12-24, all beneficiaries of a World Vision basic needs program in Gikongoro, Rwanda, from January to March 2004. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data was collected on socio-demographic variables, HIV/AIDS prevention knowledge and sexual risk behaviors. Bivariate analyses of the study variables were performed to examine differences between males and females. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze factors that were independently associated with the debut of having sex. RESULTS: Forty-one percent of respondents reported sexual onset before age 15. Males were more likely to start earlier than females (50.4% versus 26.7%) but females reported more sexual onset with an older partner. Fifty-eight percent of females had their first intercourse with a partner who was four or more years older than themselves. While sexual activity was low (1.75 mean lifetime sexual partner, 0.45 mean sexual partner last twelve months), sexual experience was related to less social connectedness and use of drugs. Having a close friend also appeared to be protective for sexual debut. The analysis also found that although YHH were aware of some prevention measures against HIV/AIDS, there was low (19.8%) knowledge of the "ABC" prevention program promoted by the government. In addition, despite 85% of respondents knowing someone who had died of AIDS, only 31% perceived themselves at risk of HIV infection, and there was very low (13.2%) condom use among the sexually experienced. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the urgent need of HIV prevention programs tailored to YHH that provide knowledge, enhance negotiations skills, and increase the perception of HIV infection risk among YHH in Rwanda.

Interaction of G-protein beta3 subunit and nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms on carotid artery intima-media thickness in young adults: the Bogalusa Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: G-protein beta3 subunit (GNB3) gene C825T and endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) gene G894T polymorphisms both influence arterial structure and function. However, information is scant regarding the interaction of these genes on arterial wall thickness. METHODS: This aspect was examined in 654 white and black subjects, aged 25-43 years (72.9% white, 39.3% male). Arterial wall thickness was assessed in terms of the average intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid, internal carotid, and carotid bulb segments by B-mode ultrasonography. RESULTS: Frequencies of T allele of the GNB3 C825T polymorphism (0.718 vs. 0.304, P < 0.0001) and G allele of the eNOS G894T polymorphism (0.868 vs. 0.661, P < 0.0001) were higher in blacks compared to whites. In a multivariate model including gender, age, mean arterial pressure, body mass index, triglycerides/HDL cholesterol ratio, insulin resistance index, smoking, and/or race, there was no significant genotypic effect on carotid IMT with respect to GNB3 C825T or eNOS G894T polymorphisms among whites, blacks, and total sample. However, the carriers of TT genotype of the GNB3 C825T and T allele of the eNOS G894T had a significantly lower carotid IMT among blacks (P = 0.003) and the total sample (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the genetic variations of the eNOS gene in combination with the GNB3 gene jointly influence carotid artery wall thickening process in young adults, especially in blacks.

Conflict and HIV: A framework for risk assessment to prevent HIV in conflict-affected settings in Africa.

In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS and violent conflict interact to shape population health and development in dramatic ways. HIV/AIDS can create conditions conducive to conflict. Conflict can affect the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS. Conflict is generally understood to accelerate HIV transmission, but this view is simplistic and disregards complex interrelationships between factors that can inhibit and accelerate the spread of HIV in conflict and post conflict settings, respectively. This paper provides a framework for understanding these factors and discusses their implications for policy formulation and program planning in conflict-affected settings.

The effect of the health care supply environment on children's nutritional status in rural Nepal.

This article examines the effect of access to health infrastructure, personnel and services on children's nutritional status in rural Nepal. Data for the study come from the 1996 Nepal Living Standards Survey, which includes individual- and household-level information on children's nutritional status and its environmental and socioeconomic determinants, and community-level information on the availability of health care infrastructure, personnel and services. The study uses a structural modelling approach to assess the relative contributions of the health care supply environment on children's anthropometric status via the pathway of maternal and child health (MCH) service use. The findings suggest that improvements in the availability of outreach clinics and the structural quality of the closest public facility would be expected to have statistically significant and large effects on the use of MCH services, and that increases in MCH service use would have a statistically significant impact on weight-for-age, but not weight-for-height or height-for-age. The overall impact of the heath care supply environment on nutritional status is assessed through a series of policy simulations.

Marco conceptual para los sistemas de vigilancia nutricional / Conceptual framework for nutrition surveillance systems

Este artículo describe la evolución de la vigilancia nutricional como estrategia de intervención y presenta un marco para mejorar la utilidad de los programas de vigilancia nutricional. Parece evidente que los efectos de esos programas en el bienestar nutricional dependerán cada vez más de su capacidad de influir en quienes toman las decisiones. En consecuencia, es preciso considerar las fuerzas sociales y políticas y también tener en cuenta que, si un programa está demasiado descentralizado o alejado de quienes toman las decisiones fundamentales, su capacidad de influir en el flujo de recursos puede ser limitada. Es importante que la información proporcionada por los sistemas de vigilancia nutricional sea apropiada y de buena calidad. Por consiguiente, se deben analizar los datos reunidos para asegurar su exactitud y representatividad. Posteriormente, los resultados relevantes se presentarán de forma comprensible y diseñada para satisfacer las mecesidades de información de los presuntos receptores. Esos resultados también se deben disfundir a todos los organismos importantes que toman decisiones, incluidos los donantes externos de asistencia nutricional y el público general

Marco conceptual para los sistemas de vigilancia nutricional / Conceptual framework for nutrition surveillance systems

Este artículo describe la evolución de la vigilancia nutricional como estrategia de intervención y presenta un marco para mejorar la utilidad de los programas de vigilancia nutricional. Parece evidente que los efectos de esos programas en el bienestar nutricional dependerán cada vez más de su capacidad de influir en quienes toman las decisiones. En consecuencia, es preciso considerar las fuerzas sociales y políticas y también tener en cuenta que, si un programa está demasiado descentralizado o alejado de quienes toman las decisiones fundamentales, su capacidad de influir en el flujo de recursos puede ser limitada. Es importante que la información proporcionada por los sistemas de vigilancia nutricional sea apropiada y de buena calidad. Por consiguiente, se deben analizar los datos reunidos para asegurar su exactitud y representatividad. Posteriormente, los resultados relevantes se presentarán de forma comprensible y diseñada para satisfacer las mecesidades de información de los presuntos receptores. Esos resultados también se deben disfundir a todos los organismos importantes que toman decisiones, incluidos los donantes externos de asistencia nutricional y el público general

Versión en inglés se publica en el Bull. Pan Am. Health Organ, Vol. 27(3), 1993

Conceptual framework for nutrition surveillance systems

This article describes the evolution of nutrition surveillance as an intervention strategy and presents a framework for improving the usefulness of nutrition surveillance programs. It seems clear that such programs' impact on nutritional well-being will depend increasingly on their ability to reach and influence decision-makers. Therefore, it is important to consider political and social forces, and also to realize that if a program is too decentralized or too far removed from key decision-makers, its ability to influence resource flows may be limited. It if of course important that the surveillance information provided be appropriate and of good quality. Therefore, the data collected should be analized to ensure they are accurate and representative. Once that has been done, relevant findings should be presented in a readily understandable form designed to meet the intended recipients' information needs. Such findings should also be disseminated to all important decision-maker constituencies, including external donors of nutrition assistance and the general public

This article will also be published in Spanish in Bol. Oficina Sanit. Panam. Vol. 115(6):511-22, 1993

Conceptual framework for nutrition surveillance systems

This article describes the evolution of nutrition surveillance as an intervention strategy and presents a framework for improving the usefulness of nutrition surveillance programs. It seems clear that such programs' impact on nutritional well-being will depend increasingly on their ability to reach and influence decision-makers. Therefore, it is important to consider political and social forces, and also to realize that if a program is too decentralized or too far removed from key decision-makers, its ability to influence resource flows may be limited. It if of course important that the surveillance information provided be appropriate and of good quality. Therefore, the data collected should be analized to ensure they are accurate and representative. Once that has been done, relevant findings should be presented in a readily understandable form designed to meet the intended recipients' information needs. Such findings should also be disseminated to all important decision-maker constituencies, including external donors of nutrition assistance and the general public

Conceptual framework for nutrition surveillance systems

This article describes the evolution of nutrition surveillance as an intervention strategy and presents a framework for improving the usefulness of nutrition surveillance programs. It seems clear that such programs' impact on nutrtional well-being will depend increasingly on their ability to reach and influence decision-makers. Therefore, it is important to consider political and social forces, and also to realize that if a program is too decentralized or too far removed from key decision-makers, its abiltiy to influence resource flows may be limited. It is of course important that the surveillance information provided be appropriate and of good quality. Therefore, the data collected should be analyzed to ensure they are accurate and representative. Once that has been done, relevant findings should be presented in a readily understanding form designed to meet the intended recipients' information needs. Such findings should also be disseminated to all important decision-maker constituencies, including external donors of nutrition assistance and the general public (AU)

Feeding patterns of infants and young children in Kinshasa, Zaire

A 24-hour qualitative dietary recall survey of the children of 1,155 women of lower socio-economic clas in Kinshasa, Zaire was performed. Over 80 percent were still breast fed at 13 months of age and 50 percent at 16 months. Bottle feeding was seen in less than 40 percent of any age group and was rare after 14 months. Bottle feeding was accompanied by breast feeding approximately 90 percent of the time and was not found to be statistically associated with the cessation of breast feeding. Other dietary patterns are described.(AU)