Effect of an Arsenic Mitigation Program on Arsenic Exposure in American Indian Communities: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of the Community-Led Strong Heart Water Study Program.

Background: Chronic arsenic exposure has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease; diabetes; cancers of the lung, pancreas and prostate; and all-cause mortality in American Indian communities in the Strong Heart Study.

Objective: The Strong Heart Water Study (SHWS) designed and evaluated a multilevel, community-led arsenic mitigation program to reduce arsenic exposure among private well users in partnership with Northern Great Plains American Indian Nations.

Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the SHWS arsenic mitigation program over a 2-y period on ) urinary arsenic, and ) reported use of arsenic-safe water for drinking and cooking.

Spare the rod, spoil the child: measurement and learning from an intervention to shift corporal punishment attitudes and behaviors in Grenada, West Indies.

Childrearing practices in the Caribbean and other postcolonial states have long been associated with corporal punishment and are influenced by expectations of children for respectfulness and obedience. Evidence across settings shows that physical punishment of young children is both ineffective and detrimental. Saving Brains Grenada (SBG) implemented a pilot study of an intervention based on the Conscious Discipline curriculum that aimed to build adult caregivers' skills around non-violent child discipline.

Behavioral determinants of arsenic-safe water use among Great Plains Indian Nation private well users: results from the Community-Led Strong Heart Water Study Arsenic Mitigation Program.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavioral determinants associated with exclusive use of arsenic-safe water in the community-led Strong Heart Water Study (SHWS) arsenic mitigation program.

Methods: The SHWS is a randomized controlled trial of a community-led arsenic mitigation program designed to reduce arsenic exposure among private well users in American Indian Great Plains communities. All households received point-of-use (POU) arsenic filters installed at baseline and were followed for 2 years.

Implementing a Community-Led Arsenic Mitigation Intervention for Private Well Users in American Indian Communities: A Qualitative Evaluation of the Strong Heart Water Study Program.

Arsenic is a naturally occurring toxicant in groundwater, which increases cancer and cardiovascular disease risk. American Indian populations are disproportionately exposed to arsenic in drinking water. The Strong Heart Water Study (SHWS), through a community-centered approach for intervention development and implementation, delivered an arsenic mitigation program for private well users in American Indian communities.

Food Hygiene and Fecal Contamination on the Household Compound are Associated with Increased Pediatric Diarrhea in Urban Bangladesh (CHoBI7 Program).

In this prospective cohort study, we explored individual- and household-level risk factors associated with diarrheal diseases among 251 children younger than 5 years in slum areas of urban Dhaka, Bangladesh. During the 3-month study period, diarrhea surveillance was conducted monthly, and spot checks of the household compound were performed at baseline to assess the presence of feces (animal or human) in the household compound and in cooking and food storage areas, and to assess whether cooked food was covered and refrigerated. We also collected caregiver reports on child mouthing behaviors.

Formative Research for the Development of the CHoBI7 Cholera Rapid Response Program for Cholera Hotspots in Bangladesh.

Cholera is a severe form of acute watery diarrhea that if left untreated can result in death. Globally, there are 2.9 million cholera cases annually.

Fecal Sampling of Soil, Food, Hand, and Surface Samples from Households in Urban Slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh: An Evidence-Based Development of Baby Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Interventions.

The aim of this study was to identify the exposure pathways of fecal pathogens for a pediatric population living in the urban slums of Bangladesh. A total of 252 soil, food, surface, and hand rinse samples were collected from the pilot households with children less than 5 years of age. All samples were analyzed using the IDEXX Quanti-Tray System (Colilert-18) to enumerate fecal indicator bacteria Escherichia coli.

Diarrheal Disease Awareness Is Associated with Caregiver Handwashing with Soap in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (REDUCE Program).

Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of childhood illness and a major cause of infant and child mortality globally. In the Reducing Enteropathy, Undernutrition, and Contamination in the Environment (REDUCE) prospective cohort study, we investigated the association between diarrheal disease awareness and handwashing with soap among caregivers of children under 5 years of age. A total of 259 caregivers of children under 5 years of age in Walungu Territory, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), were administered an open-ended questionnaire assessing awareness of diarrheal disease transmission and prevention, and key times to wash hands with soap.

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene and Nutritional Risk Factors for Acute Respiratory Illness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: REDUCE Prospective Cohort Study.

The objective of this cohort study was to examine the prevalence of acute respiratory illness among children under 5 years of age and to identify water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and nutritional risk factors. This prospective cohort study was conducted in Walungu Territory, South Kivu, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and enrolled 512 participants. Spot checks of the household environment were conducted at baseline.

Low dietary diversity is associated with linear growth faltering and subsequent adverse child developmental outcomes in rural Democratic Republic of the Congo (REDUCE program).

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between dietary diversity, child growth and child developmental outcomes. This was a prospective cohort study. Developmental outcomes were assessed by communication, fine motor, gross motor, personal social, problem solving and combined developmental scores measured by the Extended Ages and Stages Questionnaire (EASQ) at a 6-month follow-up visit.

Fecal Contamination in Child Play Spaces and on Child Hands Are Associated with Subsequent Adverse Child Developmental Outcomes in Rural Democratic Republic of the Congo: REDUCE Prospective Cohort Study.

The objective of the Reducing Enteropathy, Undernutrition, and Contamination in the Environment (REDUCE) program is to identify exposure pathways to fecal pathogens that are significant contributors to morbidity among young children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and on developing and evaluating scalable interventions to reduce fecal contamination from these pathways. This prospective cohort study of 270 children under 5 years of age was conducted in rural South Kivu, DRC, to investigate the association between Escherichia coli in hand rinse, soil, food, object, surface, stored water, and water source samples and child developmental outcomes. Child developmental outcomes were assessed by communication, fine motor, gross motor, personal social, problem-solving, and combined scores measured by the Extended Ages and Stages Questionnaire (EASQ) at a 6-month follow-up.

Determinants of vaccine coverage and timeliness in a northern Pakistani village.

The incidence of vaccine preventable disease in Pakistan remains high despite a long-standing Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). We describe vaccine completeness, timeliness and determinants of coverage from a remote rural cohort (2012-2014). Vaccination histories were taken from EPI records.

Household Bird Ownership is Associated with Respiratory Illness among Young Children in Urban Bangladesh (CHoBI7 Program).

There is limited evidence on the association between animal ownership and respiratory illness among young children in low- and middle-income countries. In this study, we examined the association between animal ownership and respiratory illness among children younger than 5 years of age enrolled in a prospective cohort study in urban Bangladesh. This prospective cohort study enrolled 884 participants younger than 5 years of age in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Effects of a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Mobile Health Program on Respiratory Illness in Bangladesh: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial of the CHoBI7 Mobile Health Program.

Acute respiratory infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among young children globally. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Cholera-Hospital-Based-Intervention-for-7-days (CHoBI7) handwashing with soap and water treatment mobile health (mHealth) program on respiratory illness among diarrhea patients and their household members in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh. A cluster-randomized controlled trial of the CHoBI7 mHealth program was conducted among diarrhea patient households in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Linear Growth Faltering Is Associated with Subsequent Adverse Child Cognitive Developmental Outcomes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (REDUCE Program).

Globally, 140 million children under 5 years of age are estimated to be stunted. Previous studies have found an association between stunting and poor cognitive outcomes. However, there is limited evidence of this association in sub-Saharan African settings, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Diarrhea Prevalence and Child Growth Faltering Are Associated with Subsequent Adverse Child Developmental Outcomes in Bangladesh (CHoBI7 Program).

Millions of young children annually are not meeting their developmental potential in low- and middle-income countries. Previous studies have shown that diarrheal diseases during early life are associated with subsequent malnutrition. This prospective cohort study of 576 children under 5 years was conducted in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh, to investigate the association between diarrhea prevalence, child growth, and child cognitive developmental outcomes.

Identifying psychosocial determinants of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) behaviors for the development of evidence-based Baby WASH interventions (REDUCE program).

Diarrheal disease remains a leading cause of child mortality, globally. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), each year there are an estimated 45 million episodes of diarrhea in children under five years of age. The Reducing Enteropathy, Diarrhea, Undernutrition, and Contamination in the Environment (REDUCE) program seeks to develop theory-driven, evidence-based approaches to reduce diarrheal diseases among young children.

Fecal Contamination on the Household Compound and in Water Sources are Associated with Subsequent Diarrhea in Young Children in Urban Bangladesh (CHoBI7 Program).

We investigated the environmental and individual-level risk factors for diarrheal disease among young children in slum areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh. A prospective cohort study was conducted among 884 children under 5 years of age. Caregiver reports were collected on sociodemographic factors and hygiene behaviors.

Psychosocial Factors Mediating the Effect of the CHoBI7 Mobile Health Program on Handwashing With Soap and Household Stored Water Quality: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Household members of diarrhea patients are at higher risk of developing diarrheal diseases (>100 times for cholera) than the general population during the 7 days after the diarrhea patient is admitted at a health facility. There is growing evidence demonstrating that theory-driven water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions are likely to yield greater behavior change than those based on health education alone. The Cholera Hospital-Based Intervention for 7-Days (CHoBI7) mobile health (mHealth) program is a theory-driven WASH intervention initially delivered to a diarrhea patient by a health promoter during a health facility visit and reinforced through weekly voice and text messages.

Child Mouthing of Soil and Contaminated Fomites and Unimproved Sanitation are Associated with Subsequent Poor Child Developmental Outcomes in Urban Bangladesh (CHoBI7 Program).

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between mouthing of soil and living in unsanitary conditions and child cognitive development in urban Bangladesh.

Study Design: This prospective cohort study of 224 children under 5 years of age was conducted in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh. Developmental outcomes were assessed by communication, fine motor, gross motor, personal social, problem solving, and combined developmental scores measured by the Extended Ages and Stages Questionnaire (EASQ) at a 12-month follow-up visit.

Formative research for the development of baby water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions for young children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (REDUCE program).

Background: Research exploring the unique exposure pathways to fecal pathogens for young children and innovative water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions for susceptible pediatric populations is needed to reduce the burden of diarrheal diseases and stunting globally. The Reducing Enteropathy, Diarrhea, Undernutrition, and Contamination in the Environment (REDUCE) program seeks to 1) identify exposure pathways to fecal pathogens that are significant contributors to morbidity for young children in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and 2) develop and evaluate scalable interventions that reduce fecal contamination and exposure from these pathways. The formative research portion of the project sought to identify feasible and acceptable WASH interventions to modify behaviors found to be associated with diarrheal disease and impaired growth in our REDUCE cohort study.

Formative Research for the Design of a Baby Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Mobile Health Program in Bangladesh (CHoBI7 Mobile Health Program).

Poor food hygiene practices, child feces not being disposed of in a latrine, child mouthing of contaminated fomites, and poor hand hygiene of caregivers have been associated with diarrheal diseases, environmental enteropathy, and impaired growth in young children. Mobile health (mHealth) programs present a low-cost approach to delivering water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs. We conducted a theory-driven and evidence-based approach to formative research and intervention development to design and pilot test a Baby WASH mHealth program targeting food hygiene, child mouthing, and child feces disposal behaviors in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Formative research to scale up a handwashing with soap and water treatment intervention for household members of diarrhea patients in health facilities in Dhaka, Bangladesh (CHoBI7 program).

Background: During the time a diarrhea patient presents at a health facility, the household members of the patient are at higher risk of developing diarrheal diseases (> 100 times for cholera) than the general population. The Cholera-Hospital-based-Intervention-for-7-Days (CHoBI7) is a health facility-initiated water treatment and handwashing with soap intervention designed to reduce transmission of diarrheal diseases between patients and their household members. The present research aimed to (1) develop a scalable approach to integrate the CHoBI7 intervention program into services provided at government and private health facilities in Bangladesh; and (2) tailor the intervention program for the household members of all diarrhea patients, irrespective of the etiology of disease.

Process evaluation for the delivery of a water, sanitation and hygiene mobile health program: findings from the randomised controlled trial of the CHoBI7 mobile health program.

Objective: The Cholera-Hospital-Based Intervention for 7-days (CHoBI7) mobile health (mHealth) program delivers mobile messages to diarrhoea patient households promoting water treatment and handwashing with soap. The randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the CHoBI7 mHealth program demonstrated this intervention was effective in significantly reducing diarrhoea and stunting amoung young children. The objective of this study was to assess the implementation of the CHoBI7 mHealth program in delivering mHealth messages during this RCT.