Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Nutrition and Agricultural Linkages Project in Western Kenya: Design of the Mama SASHA Cohort Study of Vitamin A (COVA).

Objectives: The 2013 Lancet Maternal and Child Nutrition series identified rigorous evaluations of nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions as a research priority. The Mama SASHA study in Western Kenya links delivery of vitamin A (VA) rich orange-flesh sweet potato (OFSP) vines to antenatal care to improve VA and nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women and their children. Methods: In addition to cross-sectional surveys in intervention and control communities at baseline and endline, the evaluation strategy includes a nested longitudinal study that follows women and their infants from pregnancy through 9 months postpartum. VA status of mothers and their infants is assessed during four visits using infection-adjusted plasma retinol binding protein and breast milk retinol (postpartum). Maternal and child iron and anemia status, anthropometry, dietary intakes, agricultural practices, health services uptake, household food security and program uptake are also measured Results: 505 eligible pregnant women, attending ANC at 4 control and 4 intervention facilities, were consented and enrolled. At enrollment overall prevalence of infection adjusted vitamin A deficiency was 21.8%. Women in control and intervention communities did not differ with respect to VA, iron, anemia or anthropometric status; household food security or dietary diversity scores; demographic characteristics; awareness of vitamin A; or consumption of vitamin A rich foods in the past 7 days. Only 10 women had consumed OFSP in the previous 7 days; all in intervention communities. Conclusions: The longitudinal study will contribute to rigorous impact evaluation of the OFSP intervention on maternal and child VA status and allow assessment of program impact pathways.

The Importance of Pregnant Mother Participation in Mama SASHA Pregnant and Lactating Clubs in Communities.

Objectives: Antenatal clinics (ANCs) are critical for improving maternal nutrition and health knowledge. The Mama SASHA project in western Kenya delivers an orange flesh sweet potato intervention (OFSP) through ANC to improve the vitamin A status of women and children less than 2 years. A nested cohort study following women from pregnancy to 9 months postpartum was designed as an evaluation strategy for the Mama SASHA project to assess the impact of the OFSP on the nutritional status and health of the pregnant mothers and their newborns. Methods: A survey was conducted at enrollment among 505 women, 10-24 weeks gestation attending first ANC clinic visit. Results: Of the 505 enrolled women 72% reported they had not yet received counseling from the nurse on exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months during the current pregnancy; over 90% reported not yet receiving counseling on when to initiate breast feeding, the importance of colostrum, when to initiate complementary feeding or how long to breast feed. 70 % of participants were multiparas (N=352) of whom 91% attended ANC during their previous pregnancy. Of these only 39% reported receiving information from the health facility on breast feeding during their previous pregnancy, 35% on how to eat during pregnancy, and 44% on how to feed young children. Conclusions: These findings highlight that ANC is lost opportunity in providing nutrition education and counseling. There is significant need to strengthen nutritional counseling both at the ANC as well as through community-based platforms such as pregnant and/or lactating clubs.

Determinants of Vitamin A Status among Pregnant Women Participating in the Mama SASHA Cohort Study of Vitamin A in Western Kenya: Preliminary Findings.

Objectives: Mothers' vitamin A (VA) status during pregnancy and lactation determine infants' VA levels. We estimated VA status during pregnancy and assessed its determinants using data on 505 pregnant women attending first antenatal care visit in Western Kenya. Methods: VA and iron status were assessed using plasma retinol binding protein (RBP), and ferritin and transferrin receptor, respectively, corrected for inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein (CRP>5 mg/L) and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (>1 g/L)]. Anemia was assessed with Hemocue hemoglobinometer. Results: Only 34% of women had heard of VA, and 26% of them could not specify its importance. School was the most common source of VA information (68%), followed by health facility (19%). Mean (±SD) RBP was 1.44 (±0.35) μmol/l and the prevalence of VA deficiency (VAD) was 21.8%. Prevalence of inflammation (by CRP) was 24%. Anemia, but not iron deficiency, was the only factor associated with VAD (OR (CI): 1.68 (1.05, 2.71). Other potentially modifiable factors, including food insecurity, dietary diversity, awareness of VA, household or maternal consumption of VA rich foods, maternal MUAC and gestational age were not associated with VAD. Conclusions: The prevalence of VAD is high among pregnant women in Western Kenya and associated with anemia but not iron deficiency. Additional research is needed to understand the etiology of VAD in this population.

Prevalence of Vitamin a Deficiency among Infants Participating in the Mama SASHA Proof of Concept Project in Western Kenya.

Objectives: Vitamin A (VA) deficiency (VAD) is a significant burden among children under-5- years-old and pregnant and lactating women in sub-Saharan Africa. We assessed the levels of VA and prevalence of VAD among children age 6-23 mo in 2 counties in western Kenya. Methods: Dry-Blood-Spot (DBS) samples were obtained from 1838 infants in a community-based cross-sectional survey. Laboratory analysis of retinol-binding protein (RBP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) was carried out using a rapid EIA to estimate VA and subclinical inflammation statuses, respectively. A validation of DBS as a matrix using 60 matching serum-DBS samples was carried out. Values were adjusted for influence of inflammation using CRP (CRP, >5 mg/L) and population prevalence of VAD (RBP<0.825 μmol/L, biologically equivalent to 0.70 μmol/L retinol) estimated. Results: Mean (geometric±SD) concentration of RBP was adequate (1.56±0.79 μmol/L) with inflammation-adjusted mean (±SE) prevalence of VAD being high (18.3±1.1%). The level of CRP was within normal range (1.06±4.95 mg/L) whilst 18.4±0.9% had subclinical inflammation (CRP>5 mg/L). VAD was not associated with child sex (Chi-squared, Χ2=0.42, P=0.51), child nutritional status (wasting (P=0.68) and stunting (P=0.91), reported child intake of VA capsule within the past 1 year (P=0.84), maternal VA nutritional knowledge (Χ2=0.10, P=0.80), or reported maternal intake of VA capsule within 2 months of delivery (P=0.27). Older children had a 10% increased risk of VAD. Conclusions: Prevalence of VAD in this sample of infants was high irrespective of intake of VA capsule or maternal VA nutrition knowledge. A sustainable food-based intervention in this area of western Kenya to combat VAD especially in pregnant women and infants is warranted.

Simultaneous Quantification of Iron, Vitamin A and Inflammation Status Markers Using a Multiplex Immunoassay Method.

Objectives: Deficiencies of vitamin A and iron affect a significant portion of the world's population, and efforts to characterize deficiency patterns have been hampered by a lack of measurement tools appropriate for large-scale use. Since vitamin A and iron are not easily measured directly, reliable proxy markers indicative of deficiency status have been identified and widely adopted. Inflammation or infection must be assessed at the same time, as these affect vitamin A and iron status markers. To address these technical challenges, we developed a multiplex immunoassay method for simultaneous measurement of five markers relevant to assessing vitamin A and iron status and infection: retinol binding protein, soluble transferrin receptor, ferritin, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein and c-reactive protein. Methods: Using affordable technology from Quansys Biosciences, antibodies are coated in five discrete regions of the well of a microtiter plate and the five analytes are assayed in a single volume of sample. Assay performance was evaluated by comparing multiplex and conventional assay results for plasma from 72 US volunteers. Results: Results of the new and established conventional assay methods were highly correlated (0.606 to 0.991, p<.0001). Inter-assay imprecision for the multiplex panel varied from 1% to 8%, and all samples fell within the limits of quantification for all assays at a single dilution. Absolute values given by the multiplex and conventional assays differed, indicating a need for further work to devise a new calibration curve. Conclusions: This multiple micronutrient assay has excellent potential for use in population assessment of vitamin A and iron deficiencies.

Health and economic impact of human papillomavirus 16 and 18 vaccination of preadolescent girls and cervical cancer screening of adult women in Peru / Repercusiones sanitarias y económicas de la vacunación de niñas preadolescentes contra los tipos 16 y 18 del virus del papiloma humano y el tamizaje del cáncer cervicouterino en las mujeres adultas en el Perú

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the benefits, cost-effectiveness (i.e., value for money), and required financial costs (e.g., affordability) of adding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to Peru's cervical cancer screening program. METHODS: Evidence (e.g., coverage, delivery costs) from an HPV vaccination demonstration project conducted in Peru was combined with epidemiological data in an empirically calibrated mathematical model to assess screening (HPV DNA testing three to five times per lifetime) and HPV vaccination under different cost, coverage, and efficacy assumptions. Model outcomes included lifetime risk of cancer reduction, cancer cases averted, lives saved, average life expectancy gains, short-term financial costs, and discounted long-term economic costs. RESULTS: Status quo low levels of screening (e.g., cytologic screening at 10.0% coverage) reduced lifetime risk of cervical cancer by 11.9%, compared to not screening. Adding vaccination of preadolescent girls at a coverage achieved in the demonstration program (82.0%) produced an additional 46.1% reduction, and would cost less than US$ 500 per year of life saved (YLS) at ~US$ 7/dose or ~US$ 1 300 at ~US$ 20/dose. One year of vaccination was estimated to cost ~US$ 5 million at ~US$ 5/dose or ~US$ 16 million at ~US$ 20/dose, including programmatic costs. Enhanced screening in adult women combined with preadolescent vaccination had incremental cost-effectiveness ratios lower than Peru's 2005 per capita gross domestic product (GDP; US$ 2 852, in 2009 US$), and would be considered cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS: Preadolescent HPV vaccination, followed by enhanced HPV DNA screening in adult women, could prevent two out of three cervical cancer deaths. Several strategies would be considered "good value" for resources invested, provided vaccine prices are low. While financial costs imply substantial immediate investments, the high-value payoff should motivate creative mechanisms for financing and scale-up of delivery programs.

OBJETIVO: Calcular los beneficios, la rentabilidad (relación costo-efectividad), y los costos financieros (asequibilidad) de añadir la vacunación contra el virus del papiloma humano (VPH) al programa de tamizaje del cáncer cervicouterino en el Perú. MÉTODOS: Se combinaron los datos probatorios (por ejemplo, cobertura, costos de prestación) de un proyecto piloto de vacunación contra el VPH llevado a cabo en el Perú con datos epidemiológicos, en un modelo matemático calibrado empíricamente para evaluar el tamizaje (prueba de ADN del VPH tres a cinco veces durante toda la vida) y la vacunación contra el VPH, según diferentes supuestos de costo, cobertura y eficacia. Los resultados del modelo incluían la reducción del riesgo de cáncer durante toda la vida, los casos de cáncer evitados, las vidas salvadas, los incrementos de la esperanza media de vida, los costos financieros a corto plazo y los costos económicos a largo plazo actualizados. RESULTADOS: Los bajos niveles de tamizaje actuales (cobertura del tamizaje citológico de 10,0 %) redujeron en 11,9 % el riesgo de cáncer cervicouterino durante toda la vida en comparación con la ausencia de tamizaje. La adición de la vacunación de las niñas preadolescentes con la cobertura alcanzada en el programa piloto (82,0 %) produjo una reducción adicional de 46,1 % y costaría menos de US$ 500 por cada año de vida salvado a US$ 7 la dosis, o de US$ 1 300 a US$ 20 la dosis. Se calculó que el costo de las vacunaciones de un año era aproximadamente de US$ 5 millones a unos US$ 5 la dosis o de aproximadamente US$ 16 millones a unos US$ 20 la dosis, incluidos los costos programáticos. La mejora del tamizaje en las mujeres adultas combinada con la vacunación de las preadolescentes mostraba cocientes de rentabilidad incremental inferiores al producto interno bruto per cápita del Perú en el año 2005 (PIB US$ 2 852, en dólares del 2009), y se consideraría rentable. CONCLUSIONES: La vacunación de las preadolescentes contra el VPH, junto con la mejora del tamizaje mediante la prueba de ADN del VPH en las mujeres adultas, podría prevenir dos de cada tres muertes debidas a cáncer cervicouterino. Varias estrategias se considerarían rentables en relación con los recursos invertidos, a condición de que el precio de la vacuna sea bajo. Aunque los costos financieros implican inversiones inmediatas sustanciales, el valor elevado de los beneficios debe motivar la elaboración de mecanismos creativos para financiar y extender los programas de prestación de servicios.

Vacuna contra el VPH en el Perú: Resúmen de la experiencia y evaluación del proyecto piloto de la vacuna contra el VPH en el Perú / HPV vaccine in Peru: Summary of experience and evaluation of the pilot of the HPV vaccine in Peru

La presente publicación describe la evaluación de los principales efectos y resultados del Proyecto Piloto de la vacuna contra el Virus de Papiloma Humano (VPH) en dos de sus tipos: Tipo 16 y tipo 18, que son responsables de casi el 70% de los casos de cáncer uterino

Cost-effectiveness analysis of unsafe abortion and alternative first-trimester pregnancy termination strategies in Nigeria and Ghana

To explore the policy implications of increasing access to safe abortion in Nigeria and Ghana, we developed a computer-based decision analytic model which simulates induced abortion and its potential complications in a cohort of women, and comparatively assessed the cost-effectiveness of unsafe abortion and three first-trimester abortion modalities: hospital-based dilatation and curettage, hospital- and clinic-based manual vacuum aspiration (MVA), and medical abortion using misoprostol (MA). Assuming all modalities are equally available, clinic-based MVA is the most cost-effective option in Nigeria. If clinic-based MVA is not available, MA is the next best strategy. Conversely, in Ghana, MA is the most cost-effective strategy, followed by clinic-based MVA if MA is not available. From a real world policy perspective, increasing access to safe abortion in favor over unsafe abortion is the single most important factor in saving lives and societal costs, and is more influential than the actual choice of safe abortion modality (Afr. J. Reprod. Health 2010; 14[2]: 85-103)