Effects of conservation measures on crop diversity and their implications for climate-resilient livelihoods: the case of Rupa Lake Watershed in Nepal.

Agrobiodiversity conservation is vital for achieving sustainability, but empirical studies on the effects of different practices or measures on crop diversity are rare. This study aims to estimate the effects of raising conservation awareness (RCA), building diversity blocks (BDB), and their combination on crop diversity among 240 randomly selected households surrounding the Rupa Lake Watershed in Nepal. Based on descriptive analysis and multiple regression models, the results indicate that the two single measures had no significant effect on the numbers of crop species and varieties grown by households in 2018. However, the combination of RCA and BDB had a significantly positive effect on the number of crop varieties, especially for grain and vegetable crops. Considering that these crops are essential in the daily lives of local people, the results indicate that a strategy that combines both awareness raising and on-farm conservation measures can generate higher crop diversity and better serve the climate-resilient livelihoods of people in mountainous areas.

[Risk factors for anemia in infants aged 6-12 months from rural areas of southern Shaanxi Province, China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of anemia and related risk factors in infants aged 6-12 months from rural areas of southern Shaanxi Province. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was used to collect the basic information on infants aged 6-12 months and their families from rural areas of southern Shaanxi Province, China. The content of hemoglobin was measured in these infants. A multivariate logistic stepwise regression analysis was performed to determine the risk factors for the development of anemia in infants. RESULTS: A total of 1 802 infants and their families participated in the survey, and there were 1 770 valid samples. A total of 865 infants (865/1 770, 48.87%) were found to have anemia. The multivariate logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that breastfeeding after birth (lack of scientific supplementary food) increased the risk of anemia in infants (OR=1.768, P<0.01). Addition of supplementary food which met the criteria for minimum feeding frequency recommended by WHO (OR=0.779, P<0.05) and formula milk feeding (OR=0.658, P<0.01) were protective factors against anemia in infants. CONCLUSIONS: In the rural areas in southern Shaanxi Province, anemia in infants aged 6-12 months is still a serious public health problem. Improper feeding can increase the risk of anemia in infants, and scientific addition of supplementary food is the key to reducing anemia in infants.

[Research progress in soil-transmitted helminth infection control among children at home and abroad].

Children are the vulnerable group for soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections. Being infected with STHs for long term would affect the children' s nutritious status, health development and cognitive ability. This paper reviews the prevalence and influencing factors of the infections of STHs (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichuria and hookworm) for children at home and abroad, as well as the impact of STH infections on children's health, cognitive ability and school performance, and the related interventions and their effects.

[Soil-transmitted nematode infection of children and its influencing factors in poverty-stricken areas in two provinces of southwest China].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the infection status and the main risk factors of soil-transmitted nematodes in children in the poverty-stricken areas of Guizhou Province and Sichuan Province, so as to provide the evidences for making suitable control strategies in these areas. METHODS: A total of 95 villages and 6 primary schools in 6 poor counties in the two provinces were selected as investigation sites according to the stratified random sampling method. Eleven preschool children aged 3-5 years in each sample village and 11 school children aged 8-10 years in each sample school were chose as investigation objectives, their feces were collected and examined by Kato-Katz technique. In addition, the village doctor and cadres in each village were investigated by a standardized questionnaire to understand the deworming condition of children and the social economy and sanitary status in 2009. Then the correlation between average soil-transmitted nematode infection rate and its influencing factors was analyzed by the Tobit model. RESULTS: A total of 1 707 children from 95 villages in the two provinces were examined. In Guizhou Province, the total infection rate of soil-transmitted nematodes in children was 46.1%, and the infection rates of Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworm, and Trichuris trichiura were 31.1%, 4.1% and 10.8% respectively, and the corresponding rates in Sichuan Provinces were 9.8%, 3.6%, 3.5%, 2.7%, respectively. In the dimension of school, a total of 890 school-aged kids from 46 schools in the two provinces were examined, the infection rates of soil-transmitted nematodes, Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworm, and Trichuris trichiura in Guizhou Province were 53.8%, 32.7%, 6.6% and 14.4%, respectively, and the corresponding rates in Sichuan Province were 7.3%, 2.2%, 2.9% and 2.2%, respectively. The results from Tobit analysis indicated that the proportion of children accepted deworming treatment and the paddy field in the cultivated area were statistically correlated to the infections of soil-transmitted nematodes and Ascaris lumbricoides (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The soil-transmitted nematode infection rates of children are still at a high level in poor areas of southwest China. In order to decrease the infection rates, besides the long-term deworming, water supply and sanitary improvement, and the health education should be strengthened, and the treatment of soil-transmitted nematodes should be covered by the New Rural Cooperative Medical System.

[Correlation between soil-transmitted nematode infections and children's growth].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the infection status of soil-transmitted nematodes in southwest China and the correlation between soil-transmitted nematode infections and children's growth. METHODS: The prevalence of soil-transmitted nematode infections was determined by Kato-Katz technique, and in part of the children, the examination of Enterobius vermicularis eggs was performed by using the cellophane swab method. The influencing factors were surveyed by using a standardized questionnaire. The relationship between soil-transmitted nematode infections and children's growth was analyzed by the ordinary least square (OLS) method. RESULTS: A total of 1 707 children were examined, with a soil-transmitted nematode infection rate of 22.2%. The results of OLS analysis showed that there existed the negative correlation between soil-transmitted nematode infections and the indexes of children's growth including BMI, the weight-for-age Z score and height-for-age Z score. Furthermore, other correlated variables included the age, gender, educational level of mother and raising livestock and poultry, etc. CONCLUSIONS: Children' s retardation is still a serious issue in the southwest poor areas of China and correlated with the infections of soil-transmitted nematodes. For improving children's growth, it is greatly significant to enhance the deworming and health education about parasitic diseases in mothers.

[Investigation on prevalence of soil-transmitted nematode infections and influencing factors for children in southwest areas of China].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the infection status and main risk factors of soil-transmitted nematodes in southwest China so as to provide the evidence for making the control programs for soil-transmitted nematodiasis. METHODS: The prevalence of soil-transmitted nematode infections was determined by Kato-Katz technique and influencing factors were surveyed by using a standardized questionnaire, and in part of the children, the examination of Enterobius vermicularis eggs was performed by using the cellophane swab method. The relationship between soil-transmitted nematode infections and influencing factors was analyzed by the multiple probit estimated method. RESULTS: A total of 1 707 children were examined, with a soil-transmitted nematode infection rate of 22.2%, the crowd infection rates ofAscaris lumbricoides, hookworm, and Trichuris trichiura were 16.0%, 3.8% and 6.6% respectively and 495 children were examined on Enterobius vermicularis eggs, with the infection rate of 5.1%. The results of probit estimated analysis suggested that the effects of 4 factors on soil-transmitted nematode infections were significant (all P values were less than 0.05), namely the number of sib, educational level of mother, drinking unboiled water and raising livestock and poultry. Among the factors above, the educational level of mother could reduce the probability of infection (ME = -0.074), while the number of sib, drinking unboiled water and raising livestock and poultry could increase the probability of the infections (with ME of 0.028, -0.112 and 0.080, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Soil-transmitted nematode infection rates are still in a high level for children in southwest poor areas of China, with Ascaris lumbricoides as a priority. The changes of children's bad health habits, raising livestock and poultry habits, and implementing the health education about parasitic diseases in mothers would be of great significance for the prevention and control of soil-transmitted nematodiasis.