Effect of Moringa Oleifera fortified porridge consumption on protein and vitamin A status of children with cerebral palsy in Nairobi, Kenya: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Malnutrition due to inadequate dietary intake is commonly reported in children with Cerebral palsy (CP). Poor dietary intakes are majorly caused by feeding dysfunctions secondary to oro-motor impairment characteristic of the condition. Strategies that improve nutrient densities in foods can help enhance nutrient intakes by these children.

Predictors of the amount of intake of Ready-To-Use-Therapeutic foods among children in outpatient therapeutic programs in Nairobi, Kenya.

Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) therapy is a standard protocol for treating children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) admitted in Out-Patient Therapeutic Programmes (OTP). The amount of RUTF to be consumed by a child is based on weight (200 kcal/kg body weight/day) as stipulated in the Kenya Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) protocol for timely weight gain. There is limited information on the determinants of consumption of the correct amount of RUTF.

Relationship between maternal body composition during pregnancy and infant's birth weight in Nairobi informal settlements, Kenya.

Background: Maternal nutrition depletion during pregnancy compromises fetal programming, and is a cause of adverse birth outcomes. Maternal body composition measurement using direct body composition assessment methods such as the deuterium dilution technique provides better prediction of birth outcomes as compared with commonly used techniques like anthropometry. This study assessed body composition of pregnant mothers in urban informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, and established the relationship between maternal body composition and infant birth weight.

Stakeholders' perceptions of the nutrition and dietetics needs and the requisite professional competencies in Uganda: a cross-sectional mixed methods study.

Background: Effective implementation of nutrition and dietetics interventions necessitates professionals in these fields to possess the requisite competencies for health systems performance. This study explored the stakeholders' perceptions of the community nutrition and dietetics needs, the nature of work done by graduates of the Bachelor's degree in Human Nutrition/Human Nutrition and Dietetics (HN/HND), and the competencies required of Nutrition and Dietetics professionals in Uganda.

Methods: A cross-sectional mixed methods design was used.

Diet satisfaction and associated factors among adult surgical orthopaedic inpatients at a teaching hospital in Lusaka province, Zambia; a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Poor quality of food services in hospital contributes to low diet satisfaction among inpatients in both developed and developing countries. However, there is paucity of literature on diet satisfaction in health care facilities in the sub-Saharan region and in particular Zambia. Therefore, this study sought to assess levels of diet satisfaction among adult surgical orthopaedic inpatients at a teaching hospital in Lusaka province, Zambia.

Nutritional risk and associated factors of adult in-patients at a teaching hospital in the Copperbelt province in Zambia; a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Nutritional risk and undernutrition are common problems among medical and surgical patients. In hospital, malnutrition is frequently under-diagnosed and untreated thereby contributing to morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of nutritional risk among adult inpatients at a teaching hospital in Zambia.

Dietary adequacy of adult surgical orthopaedic patients admitted to a teaching hospital in Zambia; a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Sub-optimal dietary intake among in-patients including those with orthopaedic injuries is one of the factors that contributes to malnutrition and poor clinical outcomes in hospitals. The purpose of this study was to determine adequacy of intake of selected nutrients among adult surgical orthopaedic patients on standard hospital diet.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving 98 adult surgical orthopaedic patients aged 18-64 years and admitted in low cost wards was conducted.

Community perceptions towards the new role of traditional birth attendants as birth companions and nutrition advocates in Kakamega County, Kenya.

Delivery with skilled birth attendants is important for reducing maternal mortality in developing countries. However, traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are abundant in such settings, managing deliveries without the skills and resources necessary to prevent mortality in this situations. Interventions that have been proposed to mitigate the situation include redefining the role of TBAs to nutrition advocates and birth companions for pregnant women to health facilities.

Infant feeding practices among HIV-exposed infants less than 6 months of age in Bomet County, Kenya: an in-depth qualitative study of feeding choices.

Background: In children, HIV can be acquired from the mother during pregnancy, delivery and through breast milk. The WHO recommends exclusive breast feeding or exclusive replacement feeding for the first 6 months after birth for HIV-exposed infants. Barriers such as HIV-related stigma, inadequate resources, lack of access to safe water and negative cultural beliefs have been shown to influence infant feeding among HIV-exposed infants in some settings.