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Biomedical subjects

S Filteau

Publications and source records attributed to S Filteau.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Maternal micronutrient status and decreased growth of Zambian infants born during and after the maize price increases resulting from the southern African drought of 2001-2002.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects on maternal micronutrient status and infant growth of the increased maize prices that resulted from the southern African drought of 2001-2002. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: A maternal and child health clinic in Lusaka, Zambia. SUBJECTS: Maternal and infant health and nutrition data and maternal plasma were being collected for a study of breast-feeding and postpartum health. Samples and data were analysed according to whether they were collected before (June to December 2001), during (January 2002 to April 2003) or after (May 2003 to January 2004) the period of increased maize price. Season and maternal HIV status were controlled for in analyses. RESULTS: Maize price increases were associated with decreased maternal plasma vitamin A during pregnancy (P = 0.028) and vitamin E postpartum (P = 0.042), with the lowest values among samples collected after May 2003 (vitamin A: 0.96 micromol l(-1), 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-1.09, n = 38; vitamin E: 30.8 micromol mmol(-1) triglycerides, 95% CI 27.2-34.8, n = 64) compared with before January 2002 (vitamin A: 1.03 micromol l(-1), 95% CI 0.93-1.12, n = 104; vitamin E: 38.9 micromol mmol(-1) triglycerides, 95% CI 34.5-43.8, n = 47). There were no significant effects of sampling date on maternal weight, haemoglobin or acute-phase proteins and only marginal effects on infant weight. Infant length at 6 and 16 weeks of age decreased progressively throughout the study (P-values for time of data collection were 0.51 at birth, 0.051 at 6 weeks and 0.026 at 16 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: The results show modest effects of the maize price increases on maternal micronutrient status. The most serious consequence of the price increases is likely to be the increased stunting among infants whose mothers experienced high maize prices while pregnant. During periods of food shortages it might be advisable to provide micronutrient supplements even to those who are less food-insecure.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed2004

Association of subclinical vitamin D deficiency with severe acute lower respiratory infection in Indian children under 5 y.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether subclinical vitamin D deficiency in Indian children under 5 y of age is a risk factor for severe acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI). DESIGN: A hospital-based case-control study. SETTING: Sanjeevani Paediatrics Hospital, a private hospital in Indapur, India. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 150 children including 80 cases and 70 controls, aged 2-60 months, were enrolled. Case definition of severe ALRI as given by the World Health Organization was used for cases. Controls were healthy children attending outpatients' service for immunization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) with severe ALRI, controlling for demographic and other potential risk factors. RESULTS: Serum 25OHD3 increased with age. Factors significantly associated with decreased risk of severe ALRI in univariate analysis were: exclusive breastfeeding in the first 4 months (cases 35/78 (45%), controls 41/64 (64%); P=0.02); introduction of other dietary liquids than milk only after 6 months (cases 46/70 (66%), controls 31/66 (47%); P=0.03); use of liquid petroleum cooking fuel (cases 32/80 (40%), controls 40/70 (57%); P=0.04); infant not covered in swaddling cloths when exposed to sunlight before crawling (cases 11/52 (21%), controls 25/54 (46%); P=0.006); and serum 25OHD3>22.5 nmol/l (cases 16/80 (20%), controls 48/70 (69%); P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, factors associated with significantly lower odds ratio for having severe ALRI were: serum 25OHD3>22.5 nmol/l (OR: 0.09; 95% CI 0.03-0.24; P<0.001) and exclusive breastfeeding in the first 4 months of life (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.18-0.99; P=0.046) with age and height/age as significant covariates. CONCLUSION: Subclinical vitamin D deficiency and nonexclusive breastfeeding in the first 4 months of life were significant risk factors for severe ALRI in Indian children.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed2004

Low-cost intervention to decrease mastitis among lactating women.

UNLABELLED: Mastitis is a common maternal health problem which can lead to serious infant health problems such as poor growth and HIV infection. Anti-secretory factor (AF), which can be induced in milk by maternal consumption of a low-cost cereal product, has been associated with decreased mastitis. CONCLUSION: Consumption of cereals which induce AF should be investigated as a potential intervention in less-developed countries where the consequences of mastitis for infants are most severe.

Edible Grain↗
PubMed2000

Perception and practice of rest during pregnancy among mothers and family decision-makers.

The incidence of low birthweight (LBW) in Bangladesh is one of the highest in the world. Inadequate rest of the mothers during pregnancy is a contributing factor to LBW. To assess the perception and practice of rest during pregnancy, 136 mothers and family members who make important decisions on family matter (FDM) were studied in rural Bangladesh. Eighty per cent of mothers perceived the importance of rest during pregnancy, whereas only 29 per cent practised rest (p < 0.003). Of the mothers who lacked perception, none practised. Eighty-five per cent of FDM perceived rest as important, yet only 27 per cent practised rest. Mothers' education and socioeconomic status were significantly associated with perception (p < 0.028,p < 0.001) and practice (p < 0.008,p < 0.006) of rest. The mother's education was also significantly (p < 0.000) associated with the socioeconomic status of the family. Our study suggests that the inability to take rest was due to workload at home, illiteracy, low socioeconomic status and failure of family members to share the workload.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Prediction of illness severity and outcome of children symptomatic following kerosene ingestion.

Kerosene pneumonitis is usually self-limiting and secondary infection is rare. Long-term studies in developed countries have produced conflicting results about complications. The position in developing countries, where children are exposed to adverse environmental and nutritional factors, is unknown. The aim of the present work was to determine whether there is an increase in respiratory or other illnesses following kerosene pneumonitis and whether these changes could be related to the severity of the initial lung damage. Fifty-seven children with clinical signs of pneumonitis were examined on admission and after overnight observation. Clinical signs were assessed for their usefulness for predicting severity. Cases and matched neighbourhood controls were seen every 2 weeks for 3 months. The time to predict most reliably the severity of short-term ill effects was 12-24 hours after the initial insult. There was no significant difference in respiratory symptoms during the 3-month follow-up in cases compared with controls. However, mild diarrhoea and fever were reported significantly more often in cases than in controls. Morbidity after clinical recovery was not shown to be a problem, irrespective of the severity of the acute event.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1997

The impact of prematurity and neonatal illness on the decision to breast-feed.

This paper reports on a qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional study of infant feeding practices made in three neonatal intensive care units. Findings from interviews with 44 mothers of diverse ethnic origin, social class, age and gestation at delivery are reported. All the mothers interviewed had at some time provided breast milk and rates of breast-feeding on these units were higher than the national average. Eight mothers reported changing their mind about feeding methods after their baby was admitted, including three changes from formula to breast-feeding. Mothers' perceptions with regard to milk expression and their expressing history gave indications of factors underlying decisions to provide breast milk and the quality of support to do so. While mothers considered overall support to have been good, notably 35% of mothers had themselves suggested that they express milk, nearly half did not start expressing for 2 or more days, 43% expressed fewer than four times a day and 48% of mothers had received conflicting advice. There were some difficulties with both the hospital facilities and with expressing milk at home. There is a need for more consistent advice and practical help to be given to mothers.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Impact of acute malaria on plasma concentrations of transferrin receptors.

The acute-phase response to infection alters the plasma concentrations of most biochemical measures of iron status, rendering assessment of status difficult. Soluble transferrin receptors (TfR) may be an exception but have not been examined longitudinally during the major metabolic and inflammatory changes which occur during clinical malaria. Blood samples were collected daily during hospitalization, and again at a follow-up 2-6 weeks after discharge, from adult, mainly European, patients (n = 49) who developed uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria following visits to endemic areas. Parasitaemia and plasma concentrations of ferritin, TfR, C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) were measured. The concentrations of CRP, AGP and ACT correlated highly (P < 0.001) with each other and with plasma ferritin, and were significantly higher (P < 0.05) at all time points in hospital compared to the follow-up. TfR concentration correlated negatively and significantly (P < 0.05) with AGP and CRP but not with ACT or ferritin, and was significantly lower (around 30%) at all time points in hospital compared to follow-up, although in only 1 subject did it ever fall outside the normal reference range. In areas where both iron deficiency and clinical episodes of malaria are common, plasma TfR values need to be interpreted cautiously as indicators of iron status.

Adult↗