Exploring the association between haematological markers of iron and general movements in 4-month-old infants exposed to anaemia in-utero.

Background: Iron is a vital micronutrient for brain development, influencing myelination, neurotransmitter balance, and the maturation of specific brain cells. Hence iron insufficiency in the foetal, neonatal and infancy period has the potential to influence the neuromotor development.

Aims: We aimed to describe haematological markers of iron at 4 months of age in infants exposed to prenatal anaemia and explore the association with their quality of general movements.

The Association Between Breastfeeding and Growth Among Infants with Moderately Low Birth Weight: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To assess the association between breastfeeding competency, as determined by Latch, Audible swallowing, Type of nipple, Comfort, and Hold (LATCH) and Preterm Infant Breastfeeding Behavior Scale (PIBBS) scores, and exclusive breastfeeding and growth among infants with low birth weight (LBW) in India, Malawi, and Tanzania.

Study Design: We conducted LATCH and PIBBS assessments among mother-infant dyads enrolled in the Low Birthweight Infant Feeding Exploration (LIFE) observational study of infants with moderately LBW (1500g-2499 g) in India, Malawi, and Tanzania. We analyzed feeding and growth patterns among this cohort.

RAPIDIRON Trial follow-up study - the RAPIDIRON-KIDS Study: protocol of a prospective observational follow-up study.

Background: Anemia is a worldwide problem with iron deficiency being the most common cause. When anemia occurs in pregnancy, it increases the risk of adverse maternal, fetal, and postnatal outcomes. It induces preterm births and low birth weight (LBW) deliveries, long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae, and an increased risk of earlier onset of postnatal iron deficiency.

Facilitators, barriers, and key influencers of breastfeeding among low birthweight infants: a qualitative study in India, Malawi, and Tanzania.

Background: Low birthweight (LBW) infants are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Exclusive breastfeeding up to six months is recommended to help them thrive through infection prevention, growth improvements, and enhancements in neurodevelopment. However, limited data exist on the feeding experiences of LBW infants, their caregivers and key community influencers.

Experiences of peer counsellors in supporting exclusive breastfeeding in southern India: An exploratory qualitative study.

Objective: Peer counsellors are effective in addressing a variety of health challenges, including exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). Providing education and support from a person of similar background and experience has been an important adjunct to the practice of health workers for the past 50 years.

Design: It is an exploratory qualitative study.

Lessons learned in implementing the Low Birthweight Infant Feeding Exploration study: A large, multi-site observational study.

Objective: Globally, early and optimal feeding practices and strategies for small and vulnerable infants are limited. We aim to share the challenges faced and implementation lessons learned from a complex, mixed methods research study on infant feeding.

Design: A formative, multi-site, observational cohort study using convergent parallel, mixed-methods design.

Safe infant feeding in healthcare facilities: Assessment of infection prevention and control conditions and behaviors in India, Malawi, and Tanzania.

Infants need to receive care in environments that limit their exposure to pathogens. Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) environments and suboptimal infection prevention and control practices in healthcare settings contribute to the burden of healthcare-associated infections, which are particularly high in low-income settings. Specific research is needed to understand infant feeding preparation in healthcare settings, a task involving multiple behaviors that can introduce pathogens and negatively impact health.

Facility-based care for moderately low birthweight infants in India, Malawi, and Tanzania.

Globally, increasing rates of facility-based childbirth enable early intervention for small vulnerable newborns. We describe health system-level inputs, current feeding, and discharge practices for moderately low birthweight (MLBW) infants (1500-<2500g) in resource-constrained settings. The Low Birthweight Infant Feeding Exploration study is a mixed methods observational study in 12 secondary- and tertiary-level facilities in India, Malawi, and Tanzania.

Feeding practices and growth patterns of moderately low birthweight infants in resource-limited settings: results from a multisite, longitudinal observational study.

Objectives: To describe the feeding profile of low birthweight (LBW) infants in the first half of infancy; and to examine growth patterns and early risk factors of poor 6-month growth outcomes.

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting And Participants: Stable, moderately LBW (1.

A training curriculum for an mHealth supported peer counseling program to promote exclusive breastfeeding in rural India.

Background: Despite strong evidence about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, that is the baby receiving only breast milk, no other foods or liquids, rates have remained relatively unchanged over the past two decades in low- and middle-income countries. One strategy for increasing exclusive breastfeeding is through community-based programs that use peer counselors for education and support. The use of mobile health applications is also gaining increasing applicability in these countries.

Design, Development, and Testing of BEST4Baby, an mHealth Technology to Support Exclusive Breastfeeding in India: Pilot Study.

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at 6 months of age in most low- and middle-income countries, including India, is surprisingly low. There is a relative lack of mobile health apps that specifically focus on leveraging the use of peer counselors (PCs) to support mothers as a means of increasing EBF practices in low- and middle-income countries.

Objective: This study aimed to design, develop, and test the usability of Breastfeeding Education Support Tool for Baby (BEST4Baby), a mobile health app specifically designed to support PCs in providing in-home breastfeeding counseling support to mothers in rural India on optimal breastfeeding practices.

Mixed-methods, descriptive and observational cohort study examining feeding and growth patterns among low birthweight infants in India, Malawi and Tanzania: the LIFE study protocol.

Introduction: Ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 will not be possible without evidence-based strategies addressing the health and care of low birthweight (LBW, <2.5 kg) infants. The majority of LBW infants are born in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and account for more than 60%-80% of newborn deaths.

Breastfeeding in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Position Statement of Indian Academy of Pediatrics and Infant and Young Child Feeding Chapter.

Justification: Recent research has provided evidence for lack of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through human milk and breastfeeding. Updating the practice guidelines will help in providing appropriate advice and support regarding breastfeeding during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Objectives: To provide evidence-based guidelines to help the healthcare professionals to advise optimal breastfeeding practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of an mHealth supported breastfeeding peer counselor intervention in rural India.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of an mHealth-supported breastfeeding peer counselor intervention implemented in rural India and the preliminary impact of the intervention on maternal breastfeeding behaviors, including exclusive breastfeeding (EBF).

Methods: In this quasi-experimental pilot study, participants received either the intervention plus usual care (n = 110) or usual care alone (n = 112). The intervention group received nine in-home visits during and after pregnancy from peer counselors who provided education about and support for EBF and other optimal infant feeding practices and were aided with an mHealth tool.

Facilitators and challenges to exclusive breastfeeding in Belagavi District, Karnataka, India.

Objective: A primary objective of this study was to identify specific facilitators and challenges around exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in our community in India, from the perspective of breastfeeding mothers and their support networks.

Methods: We conducted eight focus groups incorporating 75 women and their support networks in the Belagavi District, Karnataka State, India. We used a directed content analysis to guide the analysis.

Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) training: What happens to knowledge and skills over time?

Background: The first minutes after birth are critical to reducing neonatal mortality. Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) is a simulation-based neonatal resuscitation program for low resource settings. We studied the impact of initial HBB training followed by refresher training on the knowledge and skills of the birth attendants in facilities.

A pre-post study of a multi-country scale up of resuscitation training of facility birth attendants: does Helping Babies Breathe training save lives?

Background: Whether facility-based implementation of Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) reduces neonatal mortality at a population level in low and middle income countries (LMIC) has not been studied. Therefore, we evaluated HBB implementation in this context where our study team has ongoing prospective outcome data on all pregnancies regardless of place of delivery.

Methods: We compared outcomes of birth cohorts in three sites in India and Kenya pre-post implementation of a facility-based intervention, using a prospective, population-based registry in 52 geographic clusters.

Home-Based Early Intervention and the Influence of Family Resources on Cognitive Development.

Objective: To investigate whether early developmental intervention (EDI) can positively affect the trajectories of cognitive development among children from low-resource families.

Methods: Longitudinal analyses were conducted of data from 293 children in the Brain Research to Ameliorate Impaired Neurodevelopment Home-based Intervention Trial, a randomized controlled trial of a home-based EDI program, to examine trajectories of Bayley Scales of Infant Development-Second Edition Mental Development Index (MDI) scores from 12 to 36 months of age among young children from high- and low-resource families in 3 low- to middle-resource countries.

Results: A 3-way interaction among family resources, intervention group, and age was statistically significant after controlling for maternal, child, and birth characteristics (Wald χ(2)(1) = 9.

Development of a 12 month screener based on items from the Bayley II Scales of Infant Development for use in Low Middle Income countries.

Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to adapt the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II for use as a screening measure that could be used by health care professionals in Low Middle Income (LMI) countries with 12 month old infants to determine if they needed further assessment and early intervention.

Methods: The adaptations were made as part of a larger study of children participating in a home-based early intervention program in India, Pakistan, and Zambia. Using Item Response Theory, a brief 12 month screener, with excellent sensitivity and specificity was identified.

Implementation and evaluation of the Helping Babies Breathe curriculum in three resource limited settings: does Helping Babies Breathe save lives? A study protocol.

Background: Neonatal deaths account for over 40% of all under-5 year deaths; their reduction is increasingly critical for achieving Millennium Development Goal 4. An estimated 3 million newborns die annually during their first month of life; half of these deaths occur during delivery or within 24 hours. Every year, 6 million babies require help to breathe immediately after birth.

Biofortification of pearl millet with iron and zinc in a randomized controlled trial increases absorption of these minerals above physiologic requirements in young children.

Millet is unusually drought resistant and consequently there is a progressive increase in the use of these grains as a human food staple, especially in large areas of India and sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study was to determine the absorption of iron and zinc from pearl millet biofortified with 2 micronutrients that are typically deficient in nonfortified, plant-based diets globally. The study was undertaken in 40 children aged 2 y in Karnataka, India (n = 21 test/19 controls).

ENC training reduces perinatal mortality in Karnataka, India.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of World Health Organization Essential Newborn Care course and the American Academy of Pediatrics Neonatal Resuscitation Program training on perinatal mortality in rural India.

Methods: This study was part of a multi-country prospective, community-based cluster randomized controlled trial. Birth, 7-day and 28-day neonatal outcomes for all women with pregnancies greater than 28 weeks in the 26 study communities in Karnataka, India were included.

Brain research to ameliorate impaired neurodevelopment--home-based intervention trial (BRAIN-HIT).

Background: This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of an early developmental intervention program on the development of young children in low- and low-middle-income countries who are at risk for neurodevelopmental disability because of birth asphyxia. A group of children without perinatal complications are evaluated in the same protocol to compare the effects of early developmental intervention in healthy infants in the same communities. Birth asphyxia is the leading specific cause of neonatal mortality in low- and low-middle-income countries and is also the main cause of neonatal and long-term morbidity including mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Outcome of intensive care unit patients using Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score.

We conducted this study to evaluate the outcome of 203 patients admitted to PICU, using PRISM score. Overall mortality was 16.7%.