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Biomedical subjects

A Briend

Publications and source records attributed to A Briend.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Measuring change in nutritional status: a comparison of different anthropometric indices and the sample sizes required.

The usefulness of different anthropometric indices to detect nutritional changes at the community level, ie, in a number of children considered as a group, was compared by using data from a longitudinal study from rural Bangladesh which followed up quarterly an average of 413 children aged 6-35 months from December 1984 to December 1987. Weight change, mid-upper arm circumference and weight-for-height responded most quickly to seasonal variations of the food situation. Height-for-age was more responsive to long-term variations. Although similar conclusions were reached when proportions of children below a cut-off point or mean indices were compared, the comparison of mean indices required a smaller sample size to detect changes. The difference in sample size needed ranged from 48 to 61 per cent. All indices varied significantly with age, which suggests that precise knowledge of age is essential for proper interpretation of nutritional surveillance data.

Aging↗
PubMed1989

Lack of impact of a water and sanitation intervention on the nutritional status of children in rural Bangladesh.

The nutritional impact of a water and sanitation intervention in a rural community of Bangladesh, comprising the provision of handpumps, construction of latrines and hygiene education was assessed. During 3 years, the quarterly anthropometric measures of about 200 children aged 12-35 months from the intervention community were compared with those of a similar number of children from a control area. The interventions reduced the incidence of diarrhoea by 25 per cent among the children less than 5 years of age. There was no significant difference in nutritional status, however, between the two groups of children. Moreover, within the intervention area, indicators of water and latrine use were not significantly related to the children's nutritional status. This suggests that either the obtained reduction of diarrhoea was not large enough to have an impact on nutritional status or that diarrhoea is not an important cause of malnutrition in this community.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed1988

Breast feeding, nutritional state, and child survival in rural Bangladesh.

The effect of breast feeding on nutritional state, morbidity, and child survival was examined prospectively in a community in rural Bangladesh. Every month for six months health workers inquired about breast feeding and illness and measured arm circumference in an average of 4612 children aged 12-36 months. Data from children who died within one month of a visit were compared with those from children who survived. Roughly one third of the deaths in the age range 18-36 months were attributable to absence of breast feeding. Within this age range protection conferred by breast feeding was independent of age but was evident only in severely malnourished children. In communities with a high prevalence of malnutrition breast feeding may substantially enhance child survival up to 3 years of age.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed1987

Arm circumference and other factors in children at high risk of death in rural Bangladesh.

Mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) was measured monthly for 6 months in about 500 children aged 6-36 months from rural Bangladesh. Children who would die within 1 month of screening could be identified with 94% specificity and 56% sensitivity--almost twice the sensitivity achieved by other anthropometric screening schemes for this level of specificity. Specificity was slightly improved when the absence of breast-feeding, concurrent diarrhoea, oedema, and acute respiratory infection were taken into account. Children at high risk of death can be detected by monthly measurement of MUAC, which may be used in poor communities where interventions have to be selective.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Usefulness of nutritional indices and classifications in predicting death of malnourished children.

The usefulness of nutritional indices and classifications in predicting the death of children under 5 years old was evaluated by comparing measurements of 34 children with diarrhoea who died in a Dhaka hospital with those of 318 patients who were discharged in a satisfactory condition. In a logistic regression analysis mid-upper arm circumference was found to be as effective as other nutritional indices in predicting death. Combinations of different indices did not improve the prediction. Arm circumference might be preferable to more complex criteria for predicting the death of malnourished children.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1985

Do maternal energy reserves limit fetal growth?

Birth weight and maternal anthropometric measurements were made in a sample of 2456 deliveries in a poor, African peri-urban community. Maternal anthropometry was similar to that observed in affluent societies, whereas birth weight was significantly lower, even when adjusted for maternal weight and parity. Moreover, multiple stepwise regression showed that for a given maternal weight, fatter women had smaller babies. This is at odds with the classical hypothesis that a maternal energy deficit limits fetal growth.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1985

The role of nutrition in primary health care. Practical considerations for the vaccination programme in Kaya, Burkina Faso.

A programme of intervention in problems of nutrition is presented as part of a vaccination programme such as the one carried out in Kaya, Burkina Faso. In this region the most widespread type of malnutrition is essentially 'energy-malnutrition' more than 'protein-malnutrition'; other more specific deficiencies are observed: it concerns iron, folates and vitamin A. As a consequence the first aim of intervention is to eradicate the protein-energy-malnutrition. To achieve this a specialized health worker will have to trace first the undernourished children (either by measuring their arm circumference of with the aid of a thinness diagram). The he/she will propose a programme of nutritional rehabilitation using locally available products, which will be completed with a demonstration of oral rehydration. The promotion of adequate nutrition and of vaccination against major infectious diseases are two of the indispensable activities as parts of primary health care. Starting from the nutritional situation prevailing in Burkina Faso we propose concrete interventions which will be applied among others in the vaccination programme in Kaya province.

Burkina Faso↗
PubMed1980

Maternal physical activity, birth weight and perinatal mortality.

As a result of the acquisition of upright posture, adaptation to muscular exercise seems to be unique in man. It involves a redistribution of the cardiac output mediated by the sympathetic system towards priority organs which apparently do not include the pregnant uterus. This could explain the poor tolerance of the human fetus to maternal exercise. The hypothesis is supported by the independence of a detrimental effect of work from the effect of maternal nutrition and by an influence of maternal posture in late pregnancy on its outcome. Possible relations between maternal activity before and during late pregnancy and perinatal mortality are discussed in the context of this hypothesis.

Birth Weight↗