Reports

Every report we find, newest first.

Reports gathered from around the world, newest first.

How to use the reports

1Search by title, author or topic, or narrow the list by right, region and type of design.
2Open a report to read its summary and the findings taken from it.
3Choose "Read at source" to go to the original document.
4For older reports, set Age of report to Archive.

18,668 reports · page 1865 of 1867

Peer-reviewed articleCrossref1 Jan 2026

Performance in Reducing Child Stunting in Africa: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis of 54 Countries Over the past Two Decades (2000-2022)

Background: Africa remains off-track to meet 2030 stunting targets despite relative economic growth. We aimed to quantify the “nutrition conversion gap”, the efficiency with which national resources are translated into stunting reduction, and examine factors associated with technical inefficiency across 54 African nations. Methods: This longitudinal panel study (2000–2022; N=1,134 country-years) used Stochastic Frontier Analysis to estimate a health production frontier, defined as the maximum achievable Health Production Score (100 minus stunting prevalence). Inputs (GDP per capita, dietary adequacy, and maternal education) were modeled as 3-year weighted moving averages. Technical inefficiency was modeled as a function of lagged diarrhea incidence, electrification, urbanization, and political stability. Findings: Significant performance heterogeneity exists across the continent. High technical inefficiency (=0·976, =6·43) accounted for 97·6% of observed nutritional disparities. Low GDP elasticity (= 0·042, p<0·001) suggests economic growth alone is an insufficient lever for stunting eradication. Senegal and Somalia emerged as “Positive Deviants” operating near the frontier, whereas Equatorial Guinea and Botswana represent a “Wealth Paradox”. Electricity access significantly reduced the conversion gap (p<0·001). A “Stability Paradox” was identified, where political stability in the absence of reform correlated with increased inefficiency (= 0·38, p<0·001). Interpretation: Nutritional progress is profoundly decoupled from national wealth. Policy must pivot from aggregate resource accumulation toward mitigating systemic bottlenecks, specifically infection control and electrification. Strengthening health system efficiency through decentralized, community-led models represents a more potent roadmap for human capital development than simple macroeconomic expansion.

Peer-reviewed articleOpenAlex14 Sept 2026

Development and nutritional evaluation of an extruded grain amaranth-instant porridge as a supplementary food for children under five with moderate acute malnutrition

Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) among children under five remains a challenge in Tanzania, where the fortified blended foods used to manage it are almost entirely imported, expensive and inaccessible. This study developed and evaluated a grain amaranth-based extruded instant porridge as a locally sourced alternative. Five formulations were generated from grain amaranth, pro-vitamin A maize, soybean and sesame by two-stage linear programming using regional food composition data, with crude protein maximized subject to a technological fat ceiling of 11.0 g/100 g. Formulation 1, the least-cost solution, and Formulation 5, the most nutrient-dense within fat ceiling that is more economical than the non-compliant Formulation 3, were advanced to twin-screw extrusion. Proximate composition (AOAC 2005), mineral content (microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry) and anti-nutritional factors (colorimetric methods) were determined; functional and sensory properties were evaluated; data were analyzed by ANOVA. Protein ranged from 18.14 g/100 g in Formulation 1 to 20.53 g/100 g in Formulation 5 reaching 98.0% of the WFP/UNICEF Super Cereal Plus (CSB++) minimum of 400 kcal/100 g. Formulation 5 showed the highest fat (11.95 g/100 g) and zinc (8.98 mg/100 g), all within CSB++ ranges, with only potassium below specification (37.1%). Extrusion significantly increased water absorption capacity ( p < 0.001), shifted the flour from the fair to good flowing category, and reduced tannins, oxalates and phytate by 50.2, 64.9 and 77.6% relative to raw grain amaranth. Sensory scores showed good overall acceptability (6.2–6.9), with significant differences for aroma ( p < 0.001) and flavor ( p = 0.002); SC(F5)-777 ranked highest among extruded samples. Food-to-food fortification using grain amaranth at 40–45% produced energy- and nutrient-dense instant porridge with improved mineral content, functional properties, and sensory characteristics, demonstrating strong potential for use as locally available supplementary food for managing MAM in children under five.

Amos Steven Mwikwabe, Haikael David Martin, Benson Kusirie Mushi et al.

SurvivalTZRead at source

Peer-reviewed articleOpenAlex15 Sept 2026

Association between anthropometric criteria and body composition among children aged 6–59 months with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition: A prospective cohort study from South Sudan

BACKGROUND: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is diagnosed based on bilateral edema, mid‑upper arm circumference (MUAC), and/or weight‑for‑height z‑score (WHZ). These criteria do not fully overlap and may identify children with distinct biological and clinical profiles. Understanding how children with SAM identified by different criteria differ in body composition during outpatient therapeutic program (OTP) treatment may help inform treatment and post‑discharge practices. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of children aged 6-59 months with uncomplicated SAM admitted by MUAC only (MUAC group), WHZ only (WHZ group), or combined MUAC and WHZ criteria (Combined group) in Aweil Centre, South Sudan. Anthropometry, triceps skinfold thickness, and bioelectrical impedance analysis were collected at admission (n = 194) and discharge (n = 127). Fat mass (FM), fat‑free mass (FFM), fat mass index (FMI), fat‑free mass index (FFMI), total body water percentage (TBW), and phase angle (PhA) were assessed. Between‑group differences and within‑child changes were analyzed using linear mixed effects models adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: At admission, children in the MUAC and Combined groups were younger and more stunted, with the Combined group showing the most severe deficits across anthropometry, FMI, and PhA. During treatment, the WHZ group exhibited the fastest recovery, with predominantly FFM accretion (82% of weight gain) and the largest increases in FFMI. In contrast, the MUAC group accumulated mainly FM (78% of weight gain) with minimal FFM gain and a decline in PhA, while the Combined group showed mixed FM and FFM recovery patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Children admitted for outpatient SAM treatment by MUAC, WHZ, or combined criteria appeared to follow different recovery trajectories despite meeting standard anthropometric discharge thresholds. Body‑composition and impedance indicators suggested heterogeneity in tissue gain patterns and vulnerability profiles across admission groups, particularly in the MUAC and Combined groups. While exploratory, these findings suggest that anthropometric recovery alone may not uniformly capture the full recovery pattern across SAM admission groups, warranting the need for longitudinal studies evaluating whether body-composition differences at discharge predict subsequent clinical outcomes and post-discharge vulnerability.

Gabriele Rossi, Rachel M. Creighton, Patricia Ayebazibwe et al.

SurvivalSSRead at source

Peer-reviewed articleOpenAlex17 Sept 2026

Early Body Mass Index z ‐Score Change and Resolution of Severe Malnutrition in Children With Sickle Cell Anemia in a Low‐Income Setting: A Prospective Single‐Arm Extension Study

BACKGROUND: Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) in low-income settings are at risk of severe malnutrition, but optimal nutritional management has not been established. We evaluated an intensified ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) regimen in children with persistent severe malnutrition after initial treatment and assessed whether early change in body mass index z-score (BMIZ) was prognostic of later resolution of severe malnutrition. PROCEDURE: Children aged 5-12 years with SCA and BMIZ less than -3.0 after 12 weeks of supplemental RUTF received higher intensity, weight-based RUTF plus hydroxyurea through Week 24. We examined whether the change in BMIZ from baseline to Week 4 was associated with the resolution of severe malnutrition (BMIZ ≥-3.0) by Week 12 or, among extension participants, by Week 24. RESULTS: Of 108 children, 66 (61%) entered the extension. During Weeks 12-24, 11 of 66 (17%) achieved resolution, increasing the cumulative proportion with BMIZ ≥-3.0 from 39% (42/108) at Week 12 to 49% (53/108) by Week 24. Greater improvement in BMIZ from baseline to Week 4 was associated with higher odds of resolution by Week 12 or, among extension participants, by Week 24 (OR 12.38; p < 0.001), whereas older age was associated with lower odds of resolution (OR 0.72; p = 0.006). Among extension participants, higher Week-12 BMIZ was associated with higher odds of Week-24 resolution (OR 14.44; p = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS: In children with SCA and severe malnutrition, early BMIZ improvement in this small, single-arm extension was associated with later resolution of severe malnutrition, and may help risk-stratify children who need earlier reassessment or alternative management, a prognostic signal that warrants prospective testing rather than an immediate change in practice.

Safiya Gambo, Shehu Umar Abdullahi, Hassan Adam Murtala et al.

SurvivalPre/postNGRead at source

Peer-reviewed articleOpenAlex18 Sept 2026

Child Growth Stunting: A Comprehensive Scientific Literature Review of Epidemiology, Etiology, Pathophysiology, and Evidence-Based Interventions

Background: Child growth stunting, defined as a height-for-age z-score (HAZ) below −2 SD based on World Health Organization standards, remains a major global public health challenge, affecting approximately 149 million children under five worldwide. Progress has stalled well short of the World Health Assembly target of a 40% reduction by 2030. Objective: This literature review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, determinants, biological mechanisms, consequences, and interventions related to child stunting. Methods: A structured search of Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar covering 2010 to 2026 retrieved 3,412 records, of which 265 peer-reviewed studies and agency reports met the eligibility criteria and were thematically synthesized. Results: Global stunting prevalence declined from 33% in 2000 to 22% in 2020, although substantial disparities persist, particularly in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Stunting is driven by multifactorial determinants, including inadequate dietary intake, recurrent infections, food insecurity, poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), inadequate childcare practices, poverty, and limited education. Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) has emerged as an important mechanism linking poor sanitation to impaired growth. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that integrated multisectoral interventions combining nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive approaches are more effective than single-sector strategies. This review contributes an integrated synthesis linking cellular-level mechanisms to multisectoral policy design, explaining why single-sector programs may reach a ceiling. Acceleration requires sustained political commitment, adequate financing, and context-specific delivery.

Engkus Kusnadi, Sri Ramdaniati, Bambang Budi Raharjo et al.

SurvivalRead at source

Peer-reviewed articleOpenAlex18 Sept 2026

Sociocultural family determinants and secondhand smoke exposure with respiratory disorders, stunting in children: Scoping review

Background: Exposure to cigarette smoke indoors remains a concern among children in developing countries. Smoking poses serious health risks to children, as no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure exists. Family sociocultural determinants play a crucial role in shaping household smoking behaviors, thereby influencing children’s respiratory health and nutritional status. However, evidence remains fragmented and incomprehensively mapped. Objective: This study aimed to map evidence on family sociocultural determinants of household tobacco smoke exposure and their association with respiratory disorders and stunting among children aged 0–59 months in developing countries. Methods: This scoping review searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar for original studies published in English between 2015 and 2025 in developing countries. Eligible studies involved children aged 0–59 months or their caregivers/households exposed to cigarette smoke and examined family sociocultural determinants of smoking related to respiratory and nutritional outcomes. Irrelevant studies were excluded, and data were descriptively analyzed. Results: Eleven articles were included: 10 country-specific and 1 multi-country study, representing 9 unique countries. Country-specific studies were from India (4), Indonesia (2), South Africa (1), Albania (1), Malaysia (1), and Turkey (1), while the multi-country study included Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, and Timor-Leste. Studies showed that family sociocultural determinants influence children's exposure to secondhand smoke and increase the risk of respiratory disorders and stunting. Evidence on family-based interventions remains limited. Conclusion: Family sociocultural determinants shape tobacco smoke exposure and its adverse effects on children’s respiratory and nutritional health. These findings support culturally appropriate health promotion strategies and community midwifery policies.

Pascoela da Costa de Jesus Xavier, Dewi Rokhanawati, Ismarwati Ismarwati

SurvivalZARead at source

Every report we find, newest first.

How to use the reports

Performance in Reducing Child Stunting in Africa: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis of 54 Countries Over the past Two Decades (2000-2022)

Development and nutritional evaluation of an extruded grain amaranth-instant porridge as a supplementary food for children under five with moderate acute malnutrition

Determinants of Maternal Malnutrition and Child Health in Balanga LGA, Gombe State, Nigeria: A Qualitative Study

Ethnic Diversity and Child Health: New Insights From Ghana

Association between anthropometric criteria and body composition among children aged 6–59 months with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition: A prospective cohort study from South Sudan

Early Body Mass Index z ‐Score Change and Resolution of Severe Malnutrition in Children With Sickle Cell Anemia in a Low‐Income Setting: A Prospective Single‐Arm Extension Study

Socio-Economic Inequalities in Child Stunting Reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa

Child Growth Stunting: A Comprehensive Scientific Literature Review of Epidemiology, Etiology, Pathophysiology, and Evidence-Based Interventions

Sociocultural family determinants and secondhand smoke exposure with respiratory disorders, stunting in children: Scoping review

Using the lives saved tool as a decision-making tool for multisectoral nutrition strategic planning for 2020–2024: experience from Burkina Faso

Search the Hub

Every report we find, newest first.

How to use the reports