Malaria and Malnutrition: Kwashiorkor Associated with Low Levels of Parasitaemia.

Background: The relationship between protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and malaria is controversial. While most studies demonstrate that PEM is associated with greater malaria morbidity, some indicate that PEM may in fact have a protective effect. PEM is differentiated into three subgroups: kwashiorkor (marked protein deficiency), marasmus (calorie deficiency), and kwashiorkor/marasmus.

What works and why? Evaluation of a community nutrition programme in Kenya.

Objective: To investigate the nutritional impact of a community-based programme that focused on social cohesion and action.

Design: The change in nutritional status of children aged 12–60 months was examined over a period of 3 years in Makueni District in Eastern Province of Kenya in six communities in which an intervention programme of Participatory Learning and Action was introduced and in ten communities in which only basic preparations were made but no intervention was started.

Setting: The intervention was part of the Government of Kenya Community Based Nutrition Programme and was supported by the Government of Denmark.

Social capital and healthy urbanization in a globalized world.

This paper critically reviews the extent in which social capital can be a resource to promote health equity in urban contexts. It analyzes the concept of social capital and reviews evidence to link social capital to health outcomes and health equity, drawing on evidence from epidemiological studies and descriptive case studies from both developed and developing countries. The findings show that in certain environments social capital can be a key factor influencing health outcomes of technical interventions.