Rapidly increasing body mass index among children, adolescents and young adults in a transitioning population, South Africa, 2008-15

Nutrition transition in Brazilian children under 5 years old from 2006 to 2019

This manuscript aims to report the nutrition transition in Brazilian children under 5 years old from 2006 to 2019. Microdata from the Brazilian National Survey on Demography and Health of Women and Children (PNDS 2006) and the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019) were analyzed. The indicators considered were: micronutrient status (anemia and vitamin A deficiency), anthropometric status (stunting and excessive weight), and breastfeeding practice (exclusive breastfeeding among children < 6 months and continued breastfeeding among children 12-23 months). We also analyzed minimum dietary diversity (MDD), consumption of ultra-processed foods, consumption of meat or eggs, and not consuming fruits or vegetables in children 6-59 months of age only for ENANI-2019. Equiplot charts were generated according to geographic region, maternal schooling level, and maternal race/skin color. From 2006 to 2019, the prevalence rates of anemia and vitamin A deficiency decreased from 20.5% to 10.1% and 17.2% to 6%, respectively. The prevalence of stunting remained at 7%, and excessive weight rates increased from 6% to 10.1%. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among children < 6 months increased from 38.6% to 45.8%, and of continued breastfeeding among children 12-23 months from 34.6% to 43.6%. In 2019, 61.5% of children achieved the MDD, 88.8% consumed ultra-processed foods, 83.1% consumed meat or egg, and 25.7% did not consume fruits or vegetables the day before the survey. Trends of decreased micronutrient deficiencies, increased breastfeeding, and excessive weight rates, as well as reductions in disparities related to geographic region, maternal schooling level, and maternal race/skin color, were observed for most of the indicators.

In-utero HIV exposure and cardiometabolic health among children 5-8 years: findings from a prospective birth cohort in South Africa

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate if in-utero HIV exposure is associated with adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes at 5-8 years of age.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

We enrolled a random sample of HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) and HIV-unexposed children from the Drakenstein Child Health study, a longitudinal birth cohort study in Cape Town, South Africa, in a cardiometabolic health pilot study. Outcomes were assessed by trained study staff and included: anthropometry, body composition and size, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, lipids, and insulin resistance using HOMA-IR. We used multivariable linear and log-binomial regression to estimate associations between HIV-exposure and cardiometabolic outcomes, adjusted for child age, sex, height, body size, and maternal factors as appropriate.

RESULTS

We included 260 children (HEU n = 100, HIV-unexposed n = 160). HEU children had older mothers (median age 30 vs. 26 years), with minimal differences in gestational age and size at birth by HIV-exposure status. In multivariable analyses, HEU children had lower weight-for-age (mean difference -0.35, 95% confidence interval -0.66, -0.05), and height-for-age (mean difference -0.29, 95% confidence interval -0.56, -0.03; z-scores). There were no differences in adiposity, impaired glucose metabolism, or lipid levels by HIV-exposure status. Overall, 12% of children had blood pressure more than 90th percentile, with no differences by HIV-exposure status.

CONCLUSION

Overall, there were few differences in cardiometabolic outcomes between HEU and HIV-unexposed children in this South African cohort. Although these findings are reassuring, monitoring of cardiometabolic health is important as HEU and HIV-unexposed children enter adolescence and cardiometabolic risk trajectories become established.

Stunting and overweight among children in Northeast Brazil: prevalence, trends (1992-2005-2015) and associated risk factors from repeated cross-sectional surveys

Background

A study involving children from Alagoas (Northeast Brazil) revealed that, as a consequence of a drastic reduction in the prevalence of stunting between 1992 to 2005, (22.5 to 11.4%) combined with an increase in overweight prevalence (6.7 to 9.3%), the prevalence of these two conditions in 2005 was very close. If these trends were maintained, it is very likely that, at this time, the childhood overweight prevalence has already exceeded that of the stunting. However, no study is available to confirm this hypothesis. The identification of these changes is relevant to the planning and evaluation of public policies. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, time trends and associated factors with stunting and overweight in children from Alagoas.

Methods

Independent cross-sectional household surveys were conducted in 1992 (n = 1231), 2005 (n = 1381) and 2015 (n = 988). Data were collected from probabilistic samples of children aged 0–60 months. Stunting was defined by stature-for-age < − 2 sd and overweight by weight-for-stature > 2 sd.

Results

Between 1992, 2005 and 2015, the stunting prevalence was 22.6, 11.2 and 3.2% (reduction of 85.8%), while the overweight prevalence was 6.9, 7.5 and 14.9% (increase of 115.9%), respectively. After multivariate analysis, the following positive associations with stunting were observed in 1992: age group > 24 months (28.3% vs 14.5%), mother with ≥2 children (28.8% vs 12.8%), low birth weight (28.3% vs 15.7%) and mother with low schooling (29.3% vs 7.2%). In 2015 there was a higher prevalence of stunting in males (4.2% vs 2.2%), in children < 24 months (4.6% vs 2.2%), with low birth weight (8.6% vs 3.0%) and in those who had mothers with low schooling (7.0% vs 2.6%). Regarding overweight, in 1992 there was higher prevalence for male (9.1% vs 4.7%) and in children whose mothers had ≤2 children (8.9% vs 5.8%), while in 2015 only birth weight >  4 kg was associated to overweight (27.3% vs 14.2%).

Conclusions

During the analyzed period, there was a significant decrease in stunting prevalence. At the same time, a substantial increase was observed in the overweight prevalence. Currently, stunting is a problem of low magnitude, while overweight has become a worrying public health problem.

Intergenerational changes in adiposity and fat distribution from 1982 to 2011 in male children and adolescents from Kolkata (India)

BACKGROUND

India, as a developing country, is subjected to numerous socioeconomic changes. They can significantly influence human development and be mirrored by the secular trends regarding the adiposity and body fat distribution.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to examine the intergenerational changes of adiposity and body fat distribution in Bengali boys, between 1982 and 2011.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 2064 Bengali boys, aged 7-16, from the middle-class families, examined in two cross-sectional surveys in 1982-83 and 2005-2011. Triceps, biceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfolds were measured. Their sum and the mean percentage of every skinfold were calculated. The percentage of body fat (%BF) was assessed using Slaughter's equations.

RESULTS

Positive secular trend, significant for most of the age groups, was observed for %BF and sum of skinfolds. It was also present for suprailiac and subscapular skinfolds.

CONCLUSIONS

Adiposity has significantly changed over the past three decades. The results confirm that the measurements of skinfold thickness are a great tool to relatively easily and accurately assess body adiposity in countries such as India. Moreover, further analysis of these trends can help to identify possible negative changes as well as establish their causes in a particular population.

Surgical Infections in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Global Assessment of the Burden and Management Needs

Background: The burden of surgical infections in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains poorly defined compared with high-income countries. Although there are common infections necessitating surgery prevalent across the world, such as appendicitis and peptic ulcer disease, other conditions are more localized geographically. To date, comprehensive assessment of the burden of surgically treatable infections or sequelae of surgical infections in LMICs is lacking. Methods: We reviewed the literature to define the burden of surgical infections in LMICs and characterize the needs and challenges of addressing this issue. Results: Surgical infections comprise a broad range of diseases including intra-abdominal, skin and soft tissue, and healthcare-associated infections and other infectious processes. Treatment of surgical infections requires a functional surgical ecosystem, microbiology services, and appropriate and effective antimicrobial therapy. Systems must be developed and maintained to evaluate screening, prevention, and treatment strategies. Solutions and interventions are proposed focusing on reducing the burden of disease, improving surveillance, strengthening antibiotic stewardship, and enhancing the management of surgical infections. Conclusions: Surgical infections constitute a large burden of disease globally. Challenges to management in LMICs include a shortage of trained personnel and material resources. The increasing rate of antimicrobial drug resistance, likely related to antibiotic misuse, adds to the challenges. Development of surveillance, infection prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship programs are initial steps forward. Education is critical and should begin early in training, be an active process, and be sustained through regular programs.