Interventions on Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review of Evidence and Knowledge Gaps.

BackgroundAdequate fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake is important for health, yet populations globally are failing to meet recommendations.ObjectiveA scoping review to summarize available evidence of evaluations of interventions to increase F&V intake globally, focusing on target populations, intervention strategies, research methods, and summarizing their evaluated impacts.MethodsWe searched PubMed and Web of Science in February 2023 for intervention studies in which dietary intake of fruit and/or vegetables were documented.

Diets, Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Nutritional Status Among Children, Adolescents and Adults in the Philippines: A Scoping Review.

Suboptimal diets contribute to the risk of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases across the life course. Globally, intakes of fruit and vegetables (F&V) fall below recommendations, including in the Philippines. To promote F&V intakes, understanding the extent of inadequate intakes across population groups and key drivers of dietary patterns is needed.

Drivers of Anemia Reduction among Women of Reproductive Age in the Philippines: A Country Case Study.

Background: Anemia prevalence among women of reproductive age (WRA) in the Philippines was 25% in 2000, decreasing to 13% in 2018. To date, an in-depth assessment of the determinants associated with this decline has not been conducted.

Objective: To conduct a systematic in-depth assessment of the quantitative and qualitative determinants of anemia among WRA in the Philippines between 2008 and 2018.

Assessment of the quality of inpatient meals and nutrition and dietetics service processes in select Philippine public hospitals.

Aims: The nutrition and dietetics service in Philippine public hospitals was implemented by the Department of Health in 2016 to standardise the daily allowance and nutritional content of inpatient meals. Five years later, it is timely for the Department of Health to assess the quality of inpatient meals and mandated nutrition processes in areas such as staffing, food service, and outcomes monitoring.

Methods: A mixed-method sequential explanatory design was employed using (1) quantitative assessment through a facility survey (n = 193 hospitals) and (2) qualitative exploration of quantitative results through 6 focus group discussions (n = 36 hospitals).

The Philippines' snapshot situation of pregnancy-related and child feeding practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maternal, infant and young child health and nutrition are affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to present the snapshot situation of maternal health practices of pregnant women including infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices of children under two during the COVID-19 pandemic. A rapid nutrition assessment survey (RNAS) was conducted through phone interview in nine selected areas from November 3 to December 3, 2020.

Acceptance and Compliance With Micronutrient Powder and Complementary Food Blend Use by Filipino Mothers and Their Promotion by Community Workers.

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 = 141; final = 130) to gather their experiences and difficulties in MNP and BigMo preparation and feeding; and (3) focus group discussion (n = 4) among CHWs (n = 13) to understand their perceptions and difficulties in promoting MNP and BigMo.