Intergenerational Food Insecurity, Underlying Factors, and Opportunities for Intervention in Momostenango, Guatemala.

Achieving sustainable food security in Guatemala, where nearly half the population is food insecure and 50% of children face chronic malnutrition, is challenging. This mixed-methods study aimed to identify the impacts of climate change on food production, community food security, and household food security. Twelve agricultural group leaders in six communities were interviewed using semi-structured guides. Key informant interview themes included subsistence agriculture, commercial production, challenges related to climate, capital, market, and capacity, as well as sustainable opportunities. Fifty-five mothers from 13 distinct communities around Momostenango were surveyed and interviewed. A significant finding is that 85% of households were food insecure, with 93% relying on agriculture. Food-secure families mostly worked on their own or leased land, whereas food-insecure ones combined farming with day labor. In times of food scarcity, strategies such as altering food consumption and reducing expenses were common. Severely food-insecure families were significantly more likely to reduce portion sizes (72%), whereas food-secure families typically resorted to less preferred foods. Overall, food insecurity was notably linked to larger families, older mothers with limited education, and reliance on agricultural day labor. Food insecurity is a long-term issue in rural areas, deeply rooted in structural socioeconomic constraints, and recurring across generations.

Best Practices for Human Milk Collection for COVID-19 Research.

In addition to providing life-giving nutrients and other substances to the breastfed infant, human milk can also represent a vehicle of pathogen transfer. As such, when an infectious disease outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic occurs-particularly when it is associated with a novel pathogen-the question will naturally arise as to whether the pathogen can be transmitted through breastfeeding. Until high-quality data are generated to answer this question, abandonment of breastfeeding due to uncertainty can result. The COVID-19 pandemic, which was in full swing at the time this document was written, is an excellent example of this scenario. During these times of uncertainty, it is critical for investigators conducting research to assess the possible transmission of pathogens through milk, whether by transfer through the mammary gland or contamination from respiratory droplets, skin, breast pumps, and milk containers, and/or close contact between mother and infant. To promote the most rigorous science, it is critical to outline optimal methods for milk collection, handling, storage, and analysis in these situations, and investigators should openly share their methods in published materials. Otherwise, the risks of inconsistent test results from preanalytical and analytical variation, false positives, and false negatives are unacceptably high and the ability to provide public health guidance poor. In this study, we provide "best practices" for collecting human milk samples for COVID-19 research with the intention that this will also be a useful guide for future pandemics.

Implementing effective eLearning for scaling up global capacity building: findings from the malnutrition elearning course evaluation in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Global demand for capacity building has increased interest for eLearning. As eLearning resources become more common, effective implementation is required to scale up utilization in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the process of implementing a malnutrition eLearning course, effectiveness of course delivery models devised, factors affecting course completion, and cost comparison between the models and face-to-face training at healthcare and academic institutions in Ghana. METHODS: Four delivery models: Mobile Training Centre (MTC), Online Delivery (OD), Institutional Computer Workstation (ICW) and Mixed Delivery (MD) - a combination of OD and ICW - were determined. Participants were enabled to access the course using one of the four models where contextually appropriate. Pre and post-assessments and questionnaires were administered to compare participants' course completion status and knowledge gain between delivery models. The effect of access to computer and Internet at home and relevance of course to job and academic progression on course completion were further investigated. Comparison of delivery model costs against face-to-face training was also undertaken. RESULTS: Of 7 academic and 9 healthcare institutions involving 915 people, 9 used MTC (34.8%), 3 OD (18.8%), 3 ICW (34.2%) and 1 MD (12.2%). Course completion was higher among institutions where the course was relevant to job or implemented as part of required curriculum activities. Knowledge gain was significant among most participants, but higher among those who found the course relevant to job or academic progression. The implementation costs per participant for training with MTC were £51.0, OD £2.2, ICW £1.2 and MD £1.1, compared with a face-to-face training estimate of £105.0 (1 GHS = 0.14 GBP). CONCLUSION: The malnutrition eLearning course makes global capacity building in malnutrition management achievable. Adopting contextually appropriate delivery models and ensuring training is relevant to job/academic progression can enhance eLearning effectiveness in LMICs.

Improved care and survival in severe malnutrition through eLearning.

BACKGROUND: Scaling up improved management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) has been identified as the nutrition intervention with the greatest potential to reduce child mortality but it requires improved operational capacity. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether an eLearning course, which can be used at scale in resource-poor countries, leads to improved diagnosis, clinical management and survival of children with SAM. DESIGN: A 2-year preintervention and postintervention study between January 2015 and February 2017. SETTING: Eleven healthcare facilities: nine in Ghana, one in Guatemala, and one in El Salvador. INTERVENTION: Scenario-based eLearning course 'Caring for infants and young children with severe malnutrition'. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Identification of children with SAM, quality of care, case-fatality rate. METHODS: Medical record reviews of children aged 0-60 months attending eleven hospitals between August 2014 and July 2016, observations in paediatric wards, and interviews with senior hospital personnel. RESULTS: Postintervention there was a significant improvement in the identification of SAM: more children had the requisite anthropometric data (34.9% (1300/3723) vs 15.9% (629/3953)) and more were correctly diagnosed (58.5% (460/786) vs 47.1% (209/444)). Improvements were observed in almost all aspects of the WHO 'Ten Steps' of case-management, and case-fatality fell from 5.8% (26/449) to 1.9% (14/745) (Post-pre difference=-3.9%, 95% CI -6.6 to -1.7, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: High quality, interactive eLearning can be an effective intervention in scaling up capacity building of health professionals to manage SAM effectively, leading to a reduction in mortality.

Effectiveness of the Malnutrition eLearning Course for Global Capacity Building in the Management of Malnutrition: Cross-Country Interrupted Time-Series Study.

BACKGROUND: Scaling up improved management of severe acute malnutrition has been identified as the nutrition intervention with the largest potential to reduce child mortality, but lack of operational capacity at all levels of the health system constrains scale-up. We therefore developed an interactive malnutrition eLearning course that is accessible at scale to build capacity of the health sector workforce to manage severely malnourished children according to the guidelines of the World Health Organization. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test whether the malnutrition eLearning course improves knowledge and skills of in-service and preservice health professionals in managing children with severe acute malnutrition and enables them to apply the gained knowledge and skills in patient care. METHODS: This 2-year prospective, longitudinal, cross-country, interrupted time-series study took place in Ghana, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Colombia between January 2015 and February 2017. A subset of 354 in-service health personnel from 12 hospitals and 2 Ministries of Health, 703 preservice trainees from 9 academic institutions, and 204 online users participated. Knowledge gained after training and retention over time was measured through pre- and postassessments comprising questions pertaining to screening, diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment, and prevention of malnutrition. Comprehension, application, and integration of knowledge were tested. Changes in perception, confidence, and clinical practice were assessed through questionnaires and interviews. RESULTS: Before the course, awareness of the World Health Organization guidelines was 36.73% (389/1059) overall, and 26.3% (94/358) among in-service professionals. The mean score gain in knowledge after access to the course in 606 participants who had pre- and postassessment data was 11.8 (95% CI 10.8-12.9; P<.001)-a relative increase of 41.5%. The proportion of participants who achieved a score above the pass mark posttraining was 58.7% (356/606), compared with 18.2% (110/606) in pretraining. Of the in-service professionals, 85.9% (128/149) reported applying their knowledge by changing their clinical practice in screening, assessment, diagnosis, and management. This group demonstrated significantly increased retained knowledge 6 months after training (mean difference [SD] from preassessment of 12.1 [11.8]), retaining 65.8% (12.1/18.4) of gained knowledge from the training. Changes in the management of malnutrition were reported by trained participants, and institutional, operational, and policy changes were also found. CONCLUSIONS: The malnutrition eLearning course improved knowledge, understanding, and skills of health professionals in the diagnosis and management of children with severe acute malnutrition, and changes in clinical practice and confidence were reported following the completion of the course.

[Dietetic Determinants of Zinc Consumption in Stunted Children Under Five in Maya Communities From Guatemala]. / Determinantes dietéticos del consumo de zinc en menores de cinco años con retardo del crecimiento en comunidades mayas de Guatemala.

The objective of the study was to identify the elements from feeding patterns that influence the intake and bioavailability of zinc in stunted children (SC) 1-5 years from Maya communities living in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed in 138 stunted children aged 1-5 years. It was applied: an inventory of zinc food sources availability, a Food Frequency Questionnaire, a questionnaire about living conditions. anthropometrics measurements and information on food intake habits, and information about disease prevalence. Twenty-eight food sources of zinc were available for consumption (54% low and 7% high zinc bioavailability). The consumption of foods with high bioavailability was low, while the antagonistic foods were high. On average the daily zinc consumption in diet 3 mg (95% CI: 2.65-3.35). Only 14.5% of the children met the zinc requirements, and 2.9% reached the daily recommendation. Episodes of diarrhea and respiratory infections were observed 15 days before the visit, in 29.71% and 45.6% of children, respectively. Most of children have a diet that does not cover the daily requirement.

El objetivo del estudio fue identificar elementos del patrón alimentario que influyen en la ingesta y biodisponibilidad de zinc en niños con retardo del crecimiento (RC) entre 1-5 años en comunidades maya de la localidad de Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Estudio descriptivo, transversal aplicado en 138 niños de entre 1-5 años con RC. Se realizó un inventario de disponibilidad alimentaria de fuentes de zinc, se construyó un cuestionario frecuencia de consumo de alimentos, un cuestionario de condiciones de vida, prácticas alimentarias, antropometría, y se recolectó información acerca de enfermedades infecciosas. Hubo disponibilidad de 28 alimentos fuentes de zinc (54% de baja y 7% de alta biodisponibilidad). El consumo de alimentos de alta biodisponibilidad fue bajo y el de alimentos antagonistas, alto. Los niños consumían 3 mg de zinc al día (IC95% 2,65-3,35). Solo el 14,5% alcanzaba los requerimientos de zinc, y el 2,9% alcanzaba la recomendación diaria. La ocurrencia de diarrea e infecciones, en los quince días previos, fue del 29,71 y 45,65%, respectivamente. Concluimos que la mayoría de niños con RC tuvo un bajo consumo de fuentes de zinc, alto consumo de alimentos antagonistas.

Determinantes dietéticos del consumo de zinc en menores de cinco años con retardo del crecimiento en comunidades mayas de Guatemala / Dietetic Determinants of Zinc Consumption in Stunted Children Under Five in Maya Communities From Guatemala

RESUMEN El objetivo del estudio fue identificar elementos del patrón alimentario que influyen en la ingesta y biodisponibilidad de zinc en niños con retardo del crecimiento (RC) entre 1-5 años en comunidades maya de la localidad de Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Estudio descriptivo, transversal aplicado en 138 niños de entre 1-5 años con RC. Se realizó un inventario de disponibilidad alimentaria de fuentes de zinc, se construyó un cuestionario frecuencia de consumo de alimentos, un cuestionario de condiciones de vida, prácticas alimentarias, antropometría, y se recolectó información acerca de enfermedades infecciosas. Hubo disponibilidad de 28 alimentos fuentes de zinc (54% de baja y 7% de alta biodisponibilidad). El consumo de alimentos de alta biodisponibilidad fue bajo y el de alimentos antagonistas, alto. Los niños consumían 3 mg de zinc al día (IC95% 2,65-3,35). Solo el 14,5% alcanzaba los requerimientos de zinc, y el 2,9% alcanzaba la recomendación diaria. La ocurrencia de diarrea e infecciones, en los quince días previos, fue del 29,71 y 45,65%, respectivamente. Concluimos que la mayoría de niños con RC tuvo un bajo consumo de fuentes de zinc, alto consumo de alimentos antagonistas.

ABSTRACT The objective of the study was to identify the elements from feeding patterns that influence the intake and bioavailability of zinc in stunted children (SC) 1-5 years from Maya communities living in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed in 138 stunted children aged 1-5 years. It was applied: an inventory of zinc food sources availability, a Food Frequency Questionnaire, a questionnaire about living conditions. anthropometrics measurements and information on food intake habits, and information about disease prevalence. Twenty-eight food sources of zinc were available for consumption (54% low and 7% high zinc bioavailability). The consumption of foods with high bioavailability was low, while the antagonistic foods were high. On average the daily zinc consumption in diet 3 mg (95% CI: 2.65-3.35). Only 14.5% of the children met the zinc requirements, and 2.9% reached the daily recommendation. Episodes of diarrhea and respiratory infections were observed 15 days before the visit, in 29.71% and 45.6% of children, respectively. Most of children have a diet that does not cover the daily requirement.

[Composition and nutritional value of lunches and breakfasts purchased outside the households in urban Guatemala]. / Composición y valor nutritivo de almuerzos y desayunos comprados fuera del hogar en zonas urbanas de Guatemala.

UNLABELLED: The National Survey of Family Income and Expenditure (ENIGFAM 2009-2010), showed that a third, and almost two thirds of Guatemalans purchased outside the home breakfast and lunch. OBJECTIVE: To determine the composition, nutritional value and price of breakfast and lunch menus purchased outside the home in urban areas of three departments. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive study. We got nutritional value of energy, carbohydrates, proteins and fats, by direct weight of a sample selected through convenience in Guatemala, San Marcos and Quetzaltenango. We evaluated the nutritional content of 159 breakfasts and 162 lunches, plus evaluate nutritional value of 10 complementary recipes by the triplicate recipe method. RESULTS: The menus were acquired from Monday to Friday in diners and street vendors. The median price was Q9.00 (U.S. $ 1.13) for breakfast and Q12.75 (U.S. $ 1.59) for lunch. Breakfast ration weighted 425,4g breakfast with 5 or more preparations per menu. Lunch weighted 832,5g, with 5 or more preparations per menu. At 100 grams, the medians of the nutritional value of breakfast was 127,5Kcal; 4,0g of protein; 4,2g of fat; 18,7g of carbohydrate; lunch was 109,3Kcal; 3,8g of protein; fat and 17,3g; 2,7g carbohydrate. It was concluded that the menus correspond to the pattern of consumption (or purchase) of the Guatemalan population described in the National Basket of Goods and Services and in the Basic Food Basket, with high amounts of refined carbohydrates, saturated fat and little protein.

La Encuesta Nacional de Ingresos y Gastos Familiares (ENIGFAM 2009-2010), mostró que una tercera parte, y casi dos terceras partes de los guatemaltecos compran fuera del hogar desayuno y almuerzo. Objetivos: Determinar la composición, valor nutritivo y precio de menús de desayuno y almuerzo adquiridos fuera del hogar en zonas urbanas de tres departamentos del país. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo. Obtuvimos valor nutritivo de energía, carbohidratos, proteínas y grasas, mediante peso directo de la muestra seleccionada a conveniencia en Ciudad de Guatemala, San Marcos y Quetzaltenango. Se evaluó contenido nutricional de 159 desayunos y 162 almuerzos, y obtuvimos valor nutritivo de 10 recetas de menús con método de receta triplicado. Resultados y discusión: Los menús eran adquiridos de lunes a viernes en comedores y ventas ambulantes. La mediana de precio fue Q9,00 (US$1,13) para desayuno y Q12,75 (US$1,59) para almuerzo. Las raciones de desayuno y almuerzo pesaron 425,4g, con 5 o más preparaciones por menú, y 832,5g, con 5 o más preparaciones por menú, respectivamente. En 100 gramos, las medianas del valor nutritivo de desayuno fueron 127,5Kcal; 4,02g de proteína; 4,2g de Grasa; 18,7g de carbohidratos; para el almuerzo 109,3Kcal; 3,8g de proteína; 2,7g de grasa y 17,3g de carbohidratos. Se concluye que los menús corresponden al patrón de consumo aparente o compra de la población guatemalteca descrita en Canasta Nacional de Bienes y Servicios y en la Canasta Básica de Alimentos con alta cantidad de carbohidratos refinados, grasa saturada y poca proteína.