Ophthalmologists' Perspective on Barriers to Cataract Surgery and Surgical Productivity in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia: A Descriptive, Mixed-Methods Survey.

Purpose: While progress was made towards the Vision 2020: The Right to Sight goals, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia fell short of the recommended cataract surgical rate (CSR) on a national level. Post-operative cataract surgical outcomes are also lower compared to other regions. This study aimed to describe perceived barriers to cataract surgical uptake, factors related to surgeon surgical productivity, and surgical offerings in each of these countries.

The Impact of a Large-Scale Social and Behavior Change Communication Intervention in the Lake Zone Region of Tanzania on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Stunting Prevention.

Background: Large-scale social and behavioral change communication (SBCC) approaches can be beneficial to achieve improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). Addressing Stunting in Tanzania Early (ASTUTE) included a significant SBCC component and targeted precursors to stunting including KAP related to maternal and child health, antenatal care, WASH, childhood development, and male involvement.

Methods: Baseline, midline, and endline surveys were conducted for a total of 14,996 female caregivers and 6726 male heads of household in the Lake Zone region of Tanzania.

A National Communications Campaign to decrease childhood stunting in Tanzania: an analysis of the factors associated with exposure.

Background: Childhood stunting is a major problem in Tanzania, affecting an estimated 2.7 million children under 5 years of age. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors associated with exposure to mass media (radio and television) and IPC (interpersonal communication) components integrated in a national communications campaign aiming to decrease stunting in Tanzania.

National Nutrition Communication Campaign in Indonesia: a cross-sectional study of factors associated with exposure.

Background: Reducing childhood stunting continues to be a priority in Indonesia. In 2015, the National Nutrition Communication Campaign (NNCC) implemented mass media and interpersonal communication (IPC) interventions to disseminate stunting-related information. Whereas other studies of the NNCC's impact on attitudes and behaviors are currently underway, the purpose of this study was to better understand the factors associated with exposure to the media and IPC components of the NNCC.

Tanzanian men's engagement in household chores is associated with improved antenatal care seeking and maternal health.

Background: Male support for partners' antenatal care (ANC) has the potential to improve women's care-seeking and maternal health outcomes. This study describes factors that are associated with men's involvement in household tasks and explores the relationship between men's help with tasks and women's ANC-seeking, diet and workload during pregnancy as well as other health behaviors.

Methods: This study was conducted in five Lake Zone regions of Tanzania.

Health facility-based counselling and community outreach are associated with maternal dietary practices in a cross-sectional study from Tanzania.

Background: Anemia and underweight among women are major public health challenges. Access to health services can improve dietary behaviors and women's nutritional status. We examined whether exposure to health services is associated with women's dietary practices in Tanzania.

Understanding female and male empowerment in Burkina Faso using the project-level Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro-WEAI): a longitudinal study.

Background: Achieving gender equality and women's empowerment is a major global priority. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Building the Resilience of Vulnerable Communities in Burkina Faso (BRB) project, an agricultural development program, improved women's empowerment, as measured by the project-level Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro-WEAI).

Methods: This study used a longitudinal, quasi-experimental study design.

Association between WASH-Related Behaviors and Knowledge with Childhood Diarrhea in Tanzania.

Background: Diarrhea remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children in Tanzania. The purpose of this study was to explore associations between diarrheal disease and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) related behaviors and determine care-seeking predictors for diarrheal disease.

Methods: Data from 9996 female primary caregivers were collected as part of a larger integrated nutrition program.

Use of Technology to Access Health Information/Services and Subsequent Association With WASH (Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Knowledge and Behaviors Among Women With Children Under 2 Years of Age in Indonesia: Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) remain a public health concern in Indonesia. Proper WASH practices can decrease risk of stunting, wasting, and disease in children under the age of 2.

Objective: The purpose of our study is to examine if using technology to access health information and services among Indonesian women affects knowledge and behaviors regarding handwashing and defecation practices.

Interpersonal communication campaign promoting knowledge, attitude, intention, and consumption of iron folic acid tablets and iron rich foods among pregnant Indonesian women.

Background And Objectives: Indonesia's community health delivery system offers services such as prenatal care and supplementation. Despite accessibility to these services, compliance with supplementation is low, and childhood stunting rates remain high. To address undernutrition, a National Nutrition Communication Campaign (NNCC) - using interpersonal communication (IPC) strategies - was implemented to promote consumption of iron-folic acid (IFA) supplements and iron-rich foods (ATIKA).

An interpersonal nutrition campaign and maternal knowledge and childhood feeding practices: a case study from mothers in rural Indonesia.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which a national nutrition communication campaign (NNCC) intervention providing interpersonal communication (IPC) was associated with improved knowledge and behaviors related to feeding practices among mothers with children under two years of age in rural Indonesia.

Methods: Data came from a follow-up, cross-sectional survey of 1734 mothers. Key outcomes of interest were minimum meal frequency, minimum dietary diversity and minimum acceptable diet, as defined by the World Health Organization.

Are Household Expenditures on Food Groups Associated with Children's Future Heights in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam?

Household expenditure surveys, routinely conducted in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), usually include questions pertaining to recent household expenditures on key food groups. When child anthropometrics are also available, such expenditure data can provide insights into household food purchasing patterns that are associated with subsequent child growth measures. We used data from 6993 children, born around 2001, from Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam, from the Young Lives younger cohort.

A National Communication Campaign in Indonesia Is Associated with Improved WASH-Related Knowledge and Behaviors in Indonesian Mothers.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) behaviors play a significant role in stunting. Knowledge and behaviors regarding WASH among caregivers are critical to providing children with chances to survive and thrive. The purpose of this study is to determine if exposure to a national communication campaign using media and interpersonal communication (IPC) is associated with WASH-related knowledge and behaviors among Indonesian mothers with children under the age of two.

Pedal-Assist Mountain Bikes: A Pilot Study Comparison of the Exercise Response, Perceptions, and Beliefs of Experienced Mountain Bikers.

Background: Mountain biking is an aerobic physical activity that has experienced rapid growth. The emergence of the electric pedal-assist mountain bike (eMTB), while not without its critics, presents the potential for an even larger segment of the population to enjoy the health benefits of mountain biking. Although the research focused on the use of e-bikes generally is growing, there is limited research specifically targeting eMTB use.

Media Access is Associated with Knowledge of Optimal Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Practices in Tanzania.

The importance of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) behaviors in low- and middle-income countries in preventing childhood illness is well established. Tanzania is known to have high rates of chronic malnutrition and childhood stunting-both of which have been linked to poor WASH practices. Interviews were conducted with 5000 primary caregivers of children aged 0-23 months.

Maternal Employment Status and Minimum Meal Frequency in Children 6-23 Months in Tanzania.

As women in developing world settings gain access to formal work sectors, it is important to understand how such changes might influence child nutrition. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between maternal employment status and minimum meal frequency (MMF) among children in Tanzania. Interviews were conducted with 5000 mothers of children ages 0⁻23 months.

Increasing Active Transportation Through E-Bike Use: Pilot Study Comparing the Health Benefits, Attitudes, and Beliefs Surrounding E-Bikes and Conventional Bikes.

Background: The emergence of electric pedal-assist bicycles (e-bikes) presents an opportunity to increase active transportation by minimizing personal barriers of engaging in physical activity.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the beliefs of individuals using e-bikes for active transport and report preliminary biometric measurements while using e-bikes for physical activity compared with conventional bikes.

Methods: Participants used both conventional bicycles and e-bikes to compare energy expenditure while riding on the study route.

Linear Growth through 12 Years is Weakly but Consistently Associated with Language and Math Achievement Scores at Age 12 Years in 4 Low- or Middle-Income Countries.

Background: Whether linear growth through age 12 y is associated with language and math achievement at age 12 y remains unclear.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate associations of linear growth through age 12 y with reading skill, receptive vocabulary, and mathematics performance at age 12 y in 4 low- or middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: We analyzed data from the Young Lives Younger Cohort study in Ethiopia (n = 1275), India (n = 1350), Peru (n = 1402), and Vietnam (n = 1594).

Disparities in children's vocabulary and height in relation to household wealth and parental schooling: A longitudinal study in four low- and middle-income countries.

Children from low socio-economic status (SES) households often demonstrate worse growth and developmental outcomes than wealthier children, in part because poor children face a broader range of risk factors. It is difficult to characterize the trajectories of SES disparities in low- and middle-income countries because longitudinal data are infrequently available. We analyze measures of children's linear growth (height) at ages 1, 5, 8 and 12y and receptive language (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test) at ages 5, 8 and 12y in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam in relation to household SES, measured by parental schooling or household assets.

Mental and Emotional Self-Help Technology Apps: Cross-Sectional Study of Theory, Technology, and Mental Health Behaviors.

Background: Mental and emotional self-help apps have emerged as potential mental illness prevention and treatment tools. The health behavior theory mechanisms by which these apps influence mental health-related behavior change have not been thoroughly examined.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the association between theoretical behavior change mechanisms and use of mental and emotional self-help apps and whether the use of such apps is associated with mental health behaviors.

Intergenerational Transmission of Poverty and Inequality: Parental Resources and Schooling Attainment and Children's Human Capital in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam.

Academic and policy literatures on intergenerational transmissions of poverty and inequality suggest that improving schooling attainment and income for parents in poor households will lessen poverty and inequality in their children's generation through increased human capital accumulated by their children. However, magnitudes of such effects are unknown. We use data on children born in the 21 century in four developing countries to simulate how changes in parents' schooling attainment and consumption would affect poverty and inequality in both the parent's and their children's generations.

How Do Apps Work? An Analysis of Physical Activity App Users' Perceptions of Behavior Change Mechanisms.

Background: Physical activity apps are commonly used to increase levels of activity and health status. To date, the focus of research has been to determine the potential of apps to influence behavior, to ascertain the efficacy of a limited number of apps to change behavior, and to identify the characteristics of apps that users prefer.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the mechanisms by which the use of physical activity apps may influence the users' physical activity behavior.

Controlling Your "App"etite: How Diet and Nutrition-Related Mobile Apps Lead to Behavior Change.

Background: In recent years, obesity has become a serious public health crisis in the United States. Although the problem of obesity is being addressed through a variety of strategies, the use of mobile apps is a relatively new development that could prove useful in helping people to develop healthy dietary habits. Though such apps might lead to health behavior change, especially when relevant behavior change theory constructs are integrated into them, the mechanisms by which these apps facilitate behavior change are largely unknown.

Does household access to improved water and sanitation in infancy and childhood predict better vocabulary test performance in Ethiopian, Indian, Peruvian and Vietnamese cohort studies?

Objective: Test associations between household water and sanitation (W&S) and children's concurrent and subsequent Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) scores.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Ethiopia, India, Peru, Vietnam.

Household food group expenditure patterns are associated with child anthropometry at ages 5, 8 and 12 years in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam.

Unlabelled: Population-level analysis of dietary influences on nutritional status is challenging in part due to limitations in dietary intake data. Household expenditure surveys, covering recent household expenditures and including key food groups, are routinely conducted in low- and middle-income countries. These data may help identify patterns of food expenditure that relate to child growth.