Dietary Diversity and Vegetable and Fruit Consumption of Households in a Resource-Poor Peri-Urban South Africa Community Differ by Food Security Status.

Sociodemographic, living standard measure, consumption of vegetables and fruit, and dietary diversity in relation to household food security were assessed. Using a hunger score, households were categorized as food secure (n = 125) or food insecure (n = 273). Food secure respondents had a higher mean dietary diversity score (3.98; 95%CI [3.79, 4.18] versus 3.65; 95% [CI 3.53, 3.77]), were more likely to eat vitamin A-rich foods (OR 1.15; 95% CI [1.05, 1.26]), a more varied diet (DDS ≥ 4, OR 1.90; 95% CI [1.19, 3.13]), and vegetables daily (OR 3.37; 95% CI [2.00, 5.76]). Cost limited daily vegetable/fruit consumption in food insecure households. Respondents with ≥ 8 years of schooling were more likely (OR 2.07; 95% CI [1.22, 3.53]) and households receiving social grants were less likely (OR 0.37; 95% CI [0.19, 0.72]) to be food secure. Results highlight the association between dietary diversity and household food security.

Presentation and interpretation of food intake data: factors affecting comparability across studies.

Non-uniform, unclear, or incomplete presentation of food intake data limits interpretation, usefulness, and comparisons across studies. In this contribution, we discuss factors affecting uniform reporting of food intake across studies. The amount of food eaten can be reported as mean portion size, number of servings or total amount of food consumed per day; the absolute intake value for the specific study depends on the denominator used because food intake data can be presented as per capita intake or for consumers only. To identify the foods mostly consumed, foods are reported and ranked according to total number of times consumed, number of consumers, total intake, or nutrient contribution by individual foods or food groups. Presentation of food intake data primarily depends on a study's aim; reported data thus often are not comparable across studies. Food intake data further depend on the dietary assessment methodology used and foods in the database consulted; and are influenced by the inherent limitations of all dietary assessments. Intake data can be presented as either single foods or as clearly defined food groups. Mixed dishes, reported as such or in terms of ingredients and items added during food preparation remain challenging. Comparable presentation of food consumption data is not always possible; presenting sufficient information will assist valid interpretation and optimal use of the presented data. A checklist was developed to strengthen the reporting of food intake data in science communication.

An epidemiological assessment of immunization programme participation in the Philippines.

Because a large proportion of preschool children failed to present for free diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) immunizations in a poor, rural area of the Philippines, we undertook an epidemiological analysis of their characteristics. The parents of 159 children were interviewed to determine the demographic, attitudinal, knowledge, and administrative correlates of immunization status. Logistic regression was used to model immunization status. Children were less likely to be immunized if they had a high score on an Adversity Index (composed of measures of the weather, the number of visits the team made, the distance, the appropriateness of the time of day, and miscellaneous problems), if they received health care from a native mother and child health specialist, if a parent was not on the town council, and if pain was an important deterrent. By contrast, many demographic and attitudinal measures that have traditionally been thought to predict health behaviour were not useful discriminators. Recommendations are made for immunization programme management. The general use of this method for programme planning is elaborated.

PIP: Because a large proportion of preschool children failed to present for free diphteria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) immunization in a poor, rural area of the Philippines, the authors undertook an epidemiological analysis of their characteristics. The parents of 159 children were interviewed to determine the demographic, attitudinal, knowledge, and administrative correlates of immunization status. Logistic regression was used to model immunization status. Children were less likely to be immunized if they had a high score on an Adversity Index (composed of measures of the weather, the number of visits the team made, the distance, the appropriateness of the time of day, and miscellaneous problems), if they received health care from a native mother and child health specialist, if a parent was not on the town council, and if pain was an important deterrent. By contrast, many demographic and attitudinal measures that have traditionally been thought to predict health behavior were not useful discriminators. Recommendations are made for immunization program management. The general use of this method for program planning is elaborated.

The epidemiology of injuries to bicycle riders.

Over half a million injuries related to bicycle crashes were seen in U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 1982. The data reviewed show a strong link between bicycle/motor vehicle collisions, head injury, and serious morbidity and mortality.