Publications by authors named "R Masia Martorell"
Background: Women's health and well-being (WHW) have been receiving growing attention, but limited progress has been made on how to measure its different domains in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We used data from five long-term birth cohorts in Brazil, Guatemala, the Philippines and South Africa to explore different domains of adult WHW, and how these domains relate to early life exposures.
Methods: Based upon an a priori conceptualisation of eight postulated WHW outcomes available in the data, we grouped them as follows: human capital (intelligence quotient, schooling, height, and teenage childbearing), metabolic health (body mass index and metabolic syndrome score), and psychological (happiness and Self-Reported Questionnaire (SRQ) scores).
Article Synopsis
- Diversity is crucial for the health and diet quality of adolescents under 15, but there wasn't an existing indicator for assessing their dietary diversity.
- Researchers established a new indicator called the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Adolescents (MDD-A) by analyzing dietary data, focusing on the adequacy of 11 micronutrients using a scoring system based on food groups.
- Findings suggest that a minimum intake of 6 food groups in a day can indicate good micronutrient adequacy, with further research needed to validate this measurement in various settings.
Limited evidence exists on the long-term effects of early feeding practices on child growth and development. We examined the relationships between infant feeding practices and child height and development at ages 2 and 6-7 years. We studied 885 mother-child dyads from a randomized controlled trial of preconception supplementation in Vietnam.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Although there is growing evidence on the role of preconception nutrition for birth outcomes, limited evidence exists for its effects on maternal health.
Objectives: This study evaluates the impact of preconception micronutrient supplementation on maternal BMI (kg/m) and body composition at 6 to 7 y postpartum (PP).
Methods: We followed females who participated in a randomized controlled trial of preconception supplementation in Vietnam and delivered live offspring (n = 1599).
Predictors of anaemia in mothers and children in Uttar Pradesh, India.
Public Health Nutr
January 2024
Article Synopsis
- Anaemia is a major health issue in India, affecting over half of women and children, and this study investigates the various factors contributing to anaemia among non-pregnant mothers and children in Uttar Pradesh.
- The research involved a cross-sectional survey of 1,238 participants in 25 districts, measuring several health indicators and employing path analysis to understand how these factors affect hemoglobin (Hb) levels.
- The findings revealed that a significant portion of both mothers (36.4%) and children (56.0%) were anaemic, mainly due to iron deficiency, highlighting the need for comprehensive interventions that address multiple nutritional and inflammatory factors.