Influence of care group participation on infant and young child feeding, dietary diversity, WASH behaviours and nutrition outcomes in rural Zimbabwe.

Background: The care group approach (CGA) is a community-based nutrition behaviour change strategy centred on 'peer-to-peer learning' through women support groups.

Objective: To assess the impact of the CGA on the adoption of appropriate infant and young child feeding (IYCF), dietary diversity and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices, and associated nutrition-related outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study used a mixed-method approach in selected rural districts in Zimbabwe in June 2022.

Formulation and acceptability of local nutrient-dense foods for young children: A formative study for the Child Health, Agriculture and Integrated Nutrition (CHAIN) Trial in rural Zimbabwe.

Stunting affects almost one-quarter of children globally, leading to reduced human capacity and increased long-term risk of chronic disease. Despite intensive infant and young child feeding (IYCF) interventions, many children do not meet their requirements for essential nutrients. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing an IYCF intervention utilizing nutrient-dense powders from egg, biofortified sugar beans and Moringa oleifera leaf in rural Zimbabwe.

Child Health, Agriculture and Integrated Nutrition (CHAIN): protocol for a randomised controlled trial of improved infant and young child feeding in rural Zimbabwe.

Introduction: Over one-quarter of children in sub-Saharan Africa are stunted; however, commercial supplements only partially meet child nutrient requirements, cannot be sustainably produced, and do not resolve physiological barriers to adequate nutrition (eg, inflammation, microbiome dysbiosis and metabolic dysfunction). Redesigning current infant and young child feeding (IYCF) interventions using locally available foods to improve intake, uptake and utilisation of nutrients could ameliorate underlying pathogenic pathways and improve infant growth during the critical period of complementary feeding, to reduce the global burden of stunting.

Methods And Analysis: Child Health Agriculture Integrated Nutrition is an open-label, individual household randomised trial comparing the effects of IYCF versus 'IYCF-plus' on nutrient intake during infancy.

Utility of HIV support groups in advancing implementation research in resource-limited settings: experiences from an urban-setting HIV support group in Zimbabwe.

Support groups for people living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have continued to evolve since their emergence over two decades ago. In addition to providing HIV education and fostering psychosocial support, recent efforts have shifted the focus to socio-economic activities and retention in care. The sense of urgency to adopt new treatment and prevention strategies in sub-Saharan Africa necessitates greater engagement of established HIV care programs, especially among researchers seeking to conduct implementation research, promote prevention strategies and optimize treatment as prevention.

Acceptability of donor breastmilk banking among health workers: a cross-sectional survey in Zimbabwean urban settings.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that donor human milk is superior to artificial infant formula in situations where the baby cannot feed on the mother's breastmilk. The purpose of this study was to determine the acceptability of donor human milk banking among health workers in Zimbabwean urban settings.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 535 health workers and 15 key informants.

Strategic establishment of an International Pharmacology Specialty Laboratory in a resource-limited setting.

Background: A growing number of drug development studies that include pharmacokinetic evaluations are conducted in regions lacking a specialised pharmacology laboratory. This necessitated the development of an International Pharmacology Specialty Laboratory (IPSL) in Zimbabwe.

Objectives: The aim of this article is to describe the development of an IPSL in Zimbabwe.