Child mortality is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa and is influenced by nutritional status. A conceptual framework was proposed to explain factors related to undernutrition. Previously proposed conceptual frameworks for undernutrition do not consider child mortality and describe factors related to undernutrition from a qualitative viewpoint only. A structural equation modelling approach was applied to the data from World Bank and FAO databases collected from over 37 sub-Saharan countries from 2000 to the most recent update. Ten food groups, exclusive breastfeeding, poverty and illiteracy rates, and environmental hygiene were investigated in relation to underweight, stunting, low birthweight, and child mortality.Standardized beta coefficient was reported, and graphical models were used to depict the relations among factors related to under-five mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.Child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa ranged between 76 and 127 × 1,000. In the same period, low birthweight rate was about 14%. Poverty and illiteracy are confirmed to affect health resources, which in turn influenced nutritional status and child mortality. Among nutritional factors, exclusive breastfeeding had a greater influence than food availability. Low birthweight, more than underweight and stunting, influenced child mortality.Structural equation modelling is a suitable way to disentangle the complex quantitative framework among factors determining child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.Acting on poverty at the base appear to be the more effective strategy along with improvement of breastfeeding practice and improvement of hygiene conditions.

ObjectiveTo determine undernutrition prevalence in 0–59-month-old children and its determinants during the period 2000–2015 in sub-Saharan Africa.DesignEcological study of time series prevalence of undernutrition in sub-Saharan Africa assessed from 2000 to 2015.SettingUnderweight and stunting prevalence from the World Bank database (2000–2015) were analysed. Mixed models were used to estimate prevalence of underweight and stunting. Country-specific undernutrition prevalence variation was estimated and region comparisons were performed. A meta-regression model considering health and socio-economic characteristics at country level was used to explore and estimate the contribution of different undernutrition determinants.ParticipantsCountries of sub-Saharan Africa.ResultsDuring 2000–2015, underweight prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa was heterogeneous, ranging between 7 and 40 %. On the other hand, stunting prevalence ranged between 20 and 60 %. In general, higher rates of underweight and stunting were estimated in Niger (40 %) and Burundi (58 %), respectively; while lowest rates of underweight and stunting were estimated in Swaziland (7 %) and Gabon (21 %). About 1 % undernutrition prevalence reduction per year was estimated across sub-Saharan Africa, which was not statistically significant for all countries. Health and socio-economic determinants were identified as main determinants of underweight and stunting prevalence variability in sub-Saharan Africa.ConclusionsUndernutrition represents a major public health threat in sub-Saharan Africa and its prevalence reduction during the period 2000–2015 was inconsistent. Improving water accessibility and number of medical doctors along with reducing HIV prevalence and poverty could significantly reduce undernutrition prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction in hospitals across Africa, the case fatality rates of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) have remained consistently high (over 20%), despite the existence of the WHO treatment guideline. This has been attributed to inconsistencies in the implementation of the WHO treatment guidelines in sub-Saharan African countries. In spite of this awareness, the SAM treatment guidelines adopted by various sub-Saharan African countries and hospitals are unknown. Knowledge of the exact treatment practices employed in the management of SAM in different hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa is not known. This study aims to investigate the admission criteria, in-patient treatment guidelines and practices and outcomes of complicated SAM in sub-Saharan African children aged 0-59 months. Methods this is an observational study which involves the extraction of admission, treatment and discharge data from the medical records of infants and children aged 0-59 months diagnosed and treated for complicated SAM in sub-Saharan Africa. This information is being used to develop a comprehensive database on the treatment of complicated SAM across sub-Saharan Africa. Information on the national and hospital guidelines for the treatment of complicated SAM is also collected. Results results of this study will serve as a useful resource on the true reflection of the treatment of complicated SAM across sub-Saharan Africa and will provide valuable information for optimising SAM treatment. Conclusion in order to advocate best practice and reduce SAM-related mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, the identification of the different diagnostic and treatment methods and respective outcomes across different hospitals and countries is imperative.

No abstract

Background: HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) alter vitamin D metabolism, and may be associated with bone loss.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and body composition in postmenopausal South African women living with HIV and on ART.Method: In this 2-year longitudinal study on 120 women conducted in the North West province of South Africa, serum 25(OH)D concentration, bone mineral density (BMD) at three sites, lean mass and percentage of body fat (%BF) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Multivariable linear mixed models were used to assess the association between serum 25(OH)D and body composition over 2 years. Linear mixed models were also used to determine the longitudinal association between lean mass, %BF and BMD.Results: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency increased from baseline (10.2% and 19.5%) to 11.5% and 37.5%, respectively, after 2 years. Serum 25(OH)D decreased significantly, however, with a small effect size of 0.39 (P = 0.001), whilst total BMD (effect size 0.03, P = 0.02) and left hip femoral neck (FN) BMD (effect size 0.06, P = 0.0001) had significant small increases, whereas total spine BMD did not change over the 2 years. Serum 25(OH)D had no association with any BMD outcomes. Lean mass had a stronger positive association with total spine and left FN BMD than %BF.Conclusion: Serum 25(OH)D was not associated with any BMD outcomes. Maintenance of lean mass could be important in preventing bone loss in this vulnerable group; however, longer follow-up may be necessary to confirm the association.