Demand-driven capacity building for public health nutrition research in Lao PDR.

In Laos, rates of undernutrition, especially among children under 5 years of age, remain high. In response, a large multidisciplinary team embarked on a multi-year project in Laos beginning in 2019 with the purpose of institutional strengthening around public health nutrition research. This paper summarizes the Applied Nutrition Research Capacity Building project's activities, immediate project results, and prospects for sustaining impacts into the future.

Developing a national health research agenda for Lao PDR: prioritising the research needs of stakeholders.

Background: Currently the health research system in Lao PDR is fragmented and largely donor led. Capacity among national public health institutes is limited to select priority research questions for funding.

Objective: The objective of this capacity building and practice-oriented study is to describe the process and outcome of the first National Health Research Agenda for Lao PDR and how the agenda contributes to institutional capacity of the Ministry of Health, in order to contribute to evidence-informed public health policy making.

Effects of therapeutic zinc supplementation for diarrhea and two preventive zinc supplementation regimens on the incidence and duration of diarrhea and acute respiratory tract infections in rural Laotian children: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Diarrhea and respiratory tract infections are leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality. This individually randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was designed to evaluate the effects of different zinc supplementation regimens on the incidence and duration of diarrhea and acute lower (ALRI) and upper (AURI) respiratory tract infections among rural Laotian children. The study included 3407 children, 6-23 months at enrollment.

Are dietary intake and nutritional status influenced by gender? The pattern of dietary intake in Lao PDR: a developing country.

Background: Recognition of discrepancies between men and women in nutritional intake is important to tackle food and nutrition insecurity and the often-double burden of malnutrition. The purpose of this study was to assess nutritional status and dietary intake of the Lao population, with a focus on possible influences of gender.

Methods: Dietary intake was assessed in a national cross-sectional study of 1771 randomized participants aged from 1.

Cognitive function measured with the Revised Hasegawa's Dementia Scale among elderly individuals in Lao PDR.

In Lao PDR, measurement of cognitive function has rarely been conducted among elderly individuals. This study aimed to investigate the cognitive function among elderly individuals who lived at their homes with family in Lao PDR. Participants were elderly individuals aged 60 years or over registered with the local government in urban (Vientiane capital; VC) and rural areas (Khammouane province; KP).

Impact of Two Forms of Daily Preventive Zinc or Therapeutic Zinc Supplementation for Diarrhea on Hair Cortisol Concentrations Among Rural Laotian Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Zinc supplementation has been shown to reduce the morbidity burden among young children, and may reduce chronic stress. Hair cortisol has been promoted as an indicator of chronic stress. We assessed the impact of different strategies for delivering supplementary zinc on hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in young Laotian children and examined risk factors associated with HCC.

Effects of Daily Zinc, Daily Multiple Micronutrient Powder, or Therapeutic Zinc Supplementation for Diarrhea Prevention on Physical Growth, Anemia, and Micronutrient Status in Rural Laotian Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the optimal zinc supplementation strategy for improving growth and hematologic and micronutrient status in young Laotian children.

Study Design: In total, 3407 children aged 6-23 months were randomized to receive either daily preventive zinc tablets (7 mg/d), high-zinc, low-iron micronutrient powder (10 mg/d zinc, 6 mg/d iron, and 13 other micronutrients), therapeutic zinc supplementation for diarrhea (20 mg/d for 10 days per episode), or daily placebo powder; all were followed for ~9 months. Anthropometry, hemoglobin, zinc, and iron status were assessed at baseline and endline.

Comparison of two forms of daily preventive zinc supplementation versus therapeutic zinc supplementation for diarrhea on young children's physical growth and risk of infection: study design and rationale for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Zinc is an essential nutrient that is required for children's normal growth and resistance to infections, including diarrhea and pneumonia, two major causes of child mortality. Daily or weekly preventive zinc supplementation has been shown to improve growth and reduce the risk of infection, while therapeutic zinc supplementation for 10-14 days is recommended for the treatment of diarrhea. The overall objective of the present study is to compare several regimens for delivering zinc to young children, both for the prevention of zinc deficiency and the treatment of diarrhea.

Comparison of haemoglobin assessments by HemoCue and two automated haematology analysers in young Laotian children.

Background: Haemoglobin (Hb) assessment by Hemocue is used widely for anaemia screening in both adults and children. However, few studies have compared the diagnostic accuracy of Hemocue with an automated haematology analyser in young children.

Aim: To compare Hb concentrations by Hemocue Hb301 and two automated haematology analysers in young children in rural communities of Lao PDR.