Background: Despite the nationwide micronutrient powder (MNP) supplementation, the Philippines only saw limited success in reducing the prevalence of anemia-a condition that has remained a public health concern among young children. Objective: To assess and explore the acceptability and compliance to MNP and Bigas-Mongo (BigMo) complementary food blend among mothers/caregivers of children aged 6 to 23 months and the promotion of these products by community health workers (CHWs). Methods: This study was part of the randomized controlled trial involving 3 methods of data collection: (1) bimonthly visits to mothers and caregivers for 6 months to determine the level of acceptability and compliance of the 4 intervention groups; (2) initial and final interviews with mothers/ caregivers (initial ¼ 141; final ¼ 130) to gather their experiences and difficulties in MNP and BigMo preparation and feeding; and (3) focus group discussion (n ¼ 4) among CHWs (n ¼ 13) to understand their perceptions and difficulties in promoting MNP and BigMo. Results: The overall compliance to MNP consumption was 74.7%, with some difference between the groups. Analysis of the information received from mothers/caregivers showed that maternal adaptive strategies in preparing and feeding MNP to their children could affect MNP use, while nonreceptiveness of mothers to integrating MNP into the child's feeding routine, perceived side effects, and perceived unfavorable taste and smell were key factors considered to limit MNP use.
Introduction: Stunting is the most prevalent form of child malnutrition worldwide, and is the best overall indicator of growth. This study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal characteristics and nutritional status of children aged 0-23 months based on their length/height-for-age. Method: The study used data from the 2015 Updating Survey conducted by the Philippines’ Food and Nutrition Research Institute – Department of Science and Technology. It employed a stratified multi-stage sampling technique covering all regions in the Philippines. Mothers (n=5,254) of sampled children 0-23 months were the respondents of the Maternal Health and Nutrition survey. The length-for-age z-scores (LAZ) of children and maternal characteristics were analysed. Rao-Scott Chi-square test was used for association analysis. Logistic regression was performed for model fitting. Results: A quarter (25.2%) of children aged 0-23 months in the Philippines at the time of the survey were stunted, with the highest prevalence (36.2%) observed among 12-23 months. Children being stunted or normal in height was associated with prenatal services, maternal nutritional status, education, and duration of lactation. Maternal education (OR: 0.39; p=0.012), age-appropriate breastfeeding (OR: 0.63; p=0.042), and prenatal services like tetanus toxoid vaccination (OR: 0.67; p=0.011) and ultrasound (OR: 0.71; p=0.025) lowered the likelihood of a child being stunted. Conclusion: It is recommended to strengthen and intensify service delivery among pregnant and lactating women because of the implication of maternal factors to the length-for-age status of children 0-23 months.
Unemployment has been a long-standing problem in many countries, including the Philippines, and the recent pandemic even worsened the economic conditions of Filipinos with a large part of the population losing their jobs. One way to create more platforms that will enable the employability of the population is through the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) program, whose goal is to produce middle- and high-skilled graduates ready to take on the demands of the rapidly changing economy. With the current gender gap in terms of employment, this study focuses on the employment status of female graduates of TVET and the possible factors that influence the employment of Filipino female TVET graduates were determined. The survey data collected by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in 2018 for their employability study of 2017 women TVET graduates was utilized in this study. Binary Firth logistic regression models were fitted on subpopulations of TVET female graduates who were employed before and after training. Results have shown a significant increase in the proportion of employed women after graduation, which was indicated in the estimates before and after the training. Among the unemployed Filipino female before the training, more than half of them (52%) were employed after the training. Age, education, region, and reasons for taking up a program showed to be determinants of the employability of female TVET graduates. The factors that hinder women from entering employment despite their TVET training is the primacy of their household and family duties. Their choice or nature of programs shows that women take stereotypical roles associated with women, an issue that is still present today because of prevailing traditional gender norms. With the huge decline in economic activities brought by the pandemic, the results of this study will be particularly important in creating more and better employment opportunities for Filipino women.
Objectives. This study aimed to determine the acceptability of four height/length boards as measuring equipment, (1) NNC wooden height board (HB), (2) Allen's stick, (3) aluminum-acrylic height board, and (4) stadiometer, from the perspective of the community nutrition and health workers (CNHWs) and mothers/caregivers. Methods.The study was conducted in two municipalities in the province of Laguna, Philippines. Respondents were 12 CNHWs and 22 parents/guardians of randomly selected children ages 1-5 years. Focus group discussions were also conducted among CNHWs to determine their perceptions, experiences, and feedback on the use of the equipment. Parents/guardians were interviewed about their views on the acceptability of the equipment. Results and Conclusion.In the urban area, Allen's stick was most favored by end-users, while in the rural area, the NNC wooden HB was the most acceptable. Meanwhile, guardians preferred the aluminum-acrylic HB in the rural area and Allen's stick in the urban area. It was concluded that the use of height boards to measure the height or length of children was acceptable to both CHNWs and parents. CHNWs preferred the stadiometer for height measurement and Allen's stick for length measurement. In contrast parents/guardians preferred the aluminumacrylic HB and Allen's stick as these were deemed non-threatening, culturally acceptable, safe, comfortable for the children, and the procedures were easily understood.
Introduction:The elderly population is susceptible to malnutrition due to the physiological and functional changes caused by ageing. Hence, to prevent the degenerative nutritional conditions of the elderly and improve their quality of life, this study aimed to determine the influencing factors of malnutrition among Filipino elderly. Methods: Anthropometric component data from the 8th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) were utilised along with the nutritional status of Filipino elderly, based on body mass index as the dependent variable and variables from the clinical and health, dietary, and socioeconomic components of NNS as explanatory factors. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was then performed in fitting models. Results: High magnitude and severity of malnutrition were observed among Filipino elderly -20.2% were underweight and 24.8% were overweight. Significant influencing factors in estimating an elderly's odds of being underweight were the elderly's age group, presence of hypertension, presence of anaemia, and adequacy of vitamin A intake. Whereas, significant influencing factors in estimating an elderly's odds of being overweight/obese included highest educational attainment, presence of anaemia, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia. Conclusion: Knowing the influencing factors may help the elderly become more aware and conscious of their health, as well as to promote nutrient intakes to prevent malnutrition that can worsen their health conditions. Additionally, concerned institutions in the country could use the findings of this study as one of the bases in strengthening their approach and implementation or even provide relevant and timely policies and programmes that address malnutrition in the elderly of this country.
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