Last data update: Jun 17, 2024. (Total: 47034 publications since 2009)
Records 1-11 (of 11 Records) |
Query Trace: Ververs M [original query] |
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"I could not find the strength to resist the pressure of the medical staff, to refuse to give commercial milk formula": a qualitative study on effects of the war on Ukrainian women's infant feeding
Iellamo A , Wong CM , Bilukha O , Smith JP , Ververs M , Gribble K , Walczak B , Wesolowska A , Al Samman S , O'Brien M , Brown AN , Stillman T , Thomas B . Front Nutr 2024 11 1225940 INTRODUCTION: During emergencies, breastfeeding protects infants by providing essential nutrients, food security, comfort, and protection and is a priority lifesaving intervention. On February 24, 2022, the war in Ukraine escalated, creating a humanitarian catastrophe. The war has resulted in death, injuries, and mass internal displacement of over 5 million people. A further 8.2 million people have taken refuge in neighboring countries, including Poland. Among those impacted are infants and young children and their mothers. We conducted a study to explore the infant feeding challenges and needs of Ukrainian women affected by the war. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative descriptive study involving in-depth interviews (IDIs) with 75 war-affected Ukrainian mothers who had at least one infant aged less than 12 months at the time of the interview. Eligible mothers were either (1) living as Ukrainian refugees in Poland, having crossed the border from Ukraine on or after February 24, 2022, when the war started (n = 30) or (2) living in Ukraine as internally displaced persons or as residents in the community (n = 45). All interviews were audio-recorded (either transcribed or had responses summarized as expanded notes) and analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis using a two-step rapid analysis process. RESULTS: Participants in Ukraine who wanted to initiate breastfeeding right after birth faced opposition from healthcare workers at maternity hospitals. Ukrainian refugees who gave birth in Poland faced language barriers when seeking breastfeeding support. Half of the participants in Ukraine received commercial milk formula (CMF) donations even if they said they did not need them. Most respondents stated that breastfeeding information and support were urgently needed. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that healthcare workers in Ukrainian maternity hospitals require additional training and motivation on delivering breastfeeding support. In addition, lactation consultants in maternity ward are needed in Ukraine, and interpretation support is needed for refugees to overcome language barriers. There is a need to control the indiscriminate donations of commercial milk formula and to ensure that complementary foods and commercial milk formula are available to those that need it. This study confirms the need for actions to ensure infant and young child feeding (IYCF) support is provided during emergencies. |
A comparison of total cost estimates between exclusive breastfeeding and breast milk substitute usage in humanitarian contexts
Mowl Z , Lefevre A , Ververs M . Public Health Nutr 2023 26 (12) 1-26 OBJECTIVE: Using a model-based analysis, we calculated the total costs associated with the exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and breast milk substitute (BMS) usage for one infant for six months within select humanitarian contexts to (a) determine if there is a notable difference in costs and (b) use these results to inform future creation of data-informed humanitarian response standard operating procedures (SOPs). DESIGN: The inputs and costing data were drawn from a mixture of local e-commerce vendors, peer-reviewed literature, and personal communications with field-based humanitarian responders. To account for cost fluctuations, each input's costs along with low and high parameters are presented. All costs are presented in 2021 United States Dollars (USD). SETTING: Humanitarian responses within Indonesia and Jordan. PARTICIPANTS: Not applicable. RESULTS: There was a notable difference in the total cost of care in both selected locations across the study arms (Indonesia: $542; Jordan: $892). CONCLUSIONS: Given the reality of limited funding for comprehensive humanitarian response around the world and the necessity of prioritizing certain interventions, humanitarian response organizations should consider the notable cost difference between EBF and BMS usage (along with the proven health benefits of EBF). This difference should play a role in informing the future creation of SOPs while also ensuring that all infants within a humanitarian crisis receive appropriate feeding. |
Operational challenges and considerations for COVID-19 research in humanitarian settings: A qualitative study of a project in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.
Majer J , Udoh K , Beleke A , Ahmed D , Kumar D , Summers A , Ververs M , Bollemeijer I , Doocy S . PLoS One 2022 17 (6) e0267822 Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, much research has been conducted globally, but relatively few studies have been carried out in complex emergency settings that pose numerous operational challenges. We conducted a qualitative study to explore the barriers and enablers of a COVID-19 cohort study conducted in South Sudan and Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, to inform future research on COVID-19 and infectious diseases in humanitarian settings. We used a case study design embedded within the original prospective cohort study. Qualitative data was collected through four health facility assessments, 28 key informant interviews, and a focus group discussion. Data were analyzed using a manual thematic analysis approach and summarized against four primary themes: testing challenges and enablers, perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19, national health system considerations, and study management considerations. Findings suggest most of the challenges affecting the cohort study were not specific to COVID-19 research but have been a feature of previous infectious disease research carried out in complex emergencies. However, the pandemic has exacerbated certain problems. The high proportion of travellers enrolled due to testing mandates, stigmatization of infected individuals linked to the heavy global focus on COVID-19, strained resources during waves of increasing infections, and remote management requirements all negatively impacted the cohort study. Factors that facilitated the research included proactive management, data quality oversight procedures, and strong collaboration with national health stakeholders. The global impact of COVID-19, its high public profile, and specific pandemic policies pose further operational challenges for research in already complex humanitarian settings. Future studies could plan mitigation measures that include flexibility in staffing and budgets, strategies to expand testing, and early partnerships with local organizations and health authorities. |
Child nutritional status as screening tool for identifying undernourished mothers: an observational study of mother-child dyads in Mogadishu, Somalia, from November 2019 to March 2020
Zacks R , Ververs M , Hwang C , Mahdi A , Leidman E . BMJ Nutr Prev Health 2021 4 (2) 501-509 BACKGROUND: Active screening of only pregnant and lactating mothers (PLMs) excludes other mothers of reproductive age susceptible to undernutrition. Our analysis evaluated if mothers presenting with wasted children were more likely to be undernourished themselves. METHODS: The observational study enrolled mother and child dyads presenting to an outpatient facility in Mogadishu, Somalia, between November 2019 and March 2020. Trained nurses recorded lower extremity oedema for children aged 6-59 months, parity and gestational status for women aged 19-50 years and age, access to care, height/length, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and weight for both. Weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) for children and body mass index (BMI) for mothers were calculated using standard procedures. Wasting was defined as WHZ <-2, MUAC <12.5 cm and/or presence of oedema for children. Undernutrition was defined as MUAC <23 cm for PLMs and BMI <18.5 kg/m(2) for neither pregnant nor lactating mothers (non-PLMs). Four multivariable linear regression models were fit to evaluate maternal anthropometric indicators (BMI or MUAC) given child anthropometric indicators (MUAC or WHZ), adjusting for maternal age, parity and gestational status. RESULTS: A total of 93.6% (2142/2288) of enrolled dyads met inclusion criteria. Wasting was observed among 57.5% of children; 20.2% of pregnant mothers, 20.0% of lactating mothers and 7.95% of non-PLMs were undernourished. Models suggest significant, positive associations between child and maternal anthropometrics; a one-unit increase in WHZ and a 1 cm increase in child MUAC were associated with 0.22 kg/m(2) (95% CI 0.22 to 0.24) and 0.19 kg/m(2) (95% CI 0.16 to 0.21) increases in maternal BMI, respectively, and 0.20 cm (95% CI 0.18 to 0.22) and 0.24 cm (95% CI 0.23 to 0.25) increases in maternal MUAC, respectively. Adjusted R(2) values were low (range 0.06-0.10). CONCLUSIONS: Undernutrition among non-PLMs illustrates the importance of expanding screening. However, while significant, the strength of association between mother and child anthropometrics does not support child nutritional status as a screening tool for identifying at-risk mothers. |
Use of mid-upper arm circumference to screen for thinness among sub-Saharan African male detainees
Philpott DC , Belchior-Bellino V , Ververs M . Public Health Nutr 2021 24 (15) 1-24 OBJECTIVE: Body mass index (BMI) is a time-intensive measurement to assess nutritional status. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) has been studied as a proxy for BMI in adults, but there is no consensus on its optimal use. DESIGN: We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC) of MUAC for BMI <18.5, <17, and <16 kg/m2. We designed a system using two MUAC cutoffs, with a healthy (non-thin) "green" group, a "yellow" group requiring BMI measurement, and a "red" group who could proceed directly to treatment for thinness. SETTING: We retrospectively analyzed monitoring data collected by the International Committee of the Red Cross in places of detention. PARTICIPANTS: 11,917 male detainees in eight African countries. RESULTS: MUAC had excellent discriminatory ability with AUROCC: 0.87, 0.90, and 0.92 for BMI<18.5, BMI<17, and BMI<16 kg/m2, respectively. An upper cutoff of MUAC 25.5 cm to exclude healthy detainees would result in 64% fewer detainees requiring BMI screening and had sensitivity 77% (95%CI 69.4,84.7) and specificity 79.6 (95%CI: 72.6,86.5) for BMI<18.5 kg/m2. A lower cutoff of MUAC<21.0 cm had sensitivity 25.4% (95%CI: 11.7,39.1) and specificity 99.0% (97.9,100.0) for BMI<16 kg/m2. An additional 50kg weight requirement improved specificity to 99.6% (95%CI: 99.0,100.0%) with similar sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: A MUAC cutoff of 25.5 cm, above which detainees are classified as healthy and below receive further screening would result in significant time savings. A cutoff of <21.0 cm and weight <50 kg can identify some detainees with BMI <16 kg/m2 who require immediate treatment. |
Micronutrient supplementation and clinical outcomes in patients with dengue fever
Langerman SD , Ververs M . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020 104 (1) 45-51 Dengue fever (DF) is a viral infection that is common in tropical countries and represents a significant cause of global morbidity and mortality. Despite its prevalence and severity, treatment options for DF remain limited and consist primarily of supportive measures. Several recent studies have concluded that micronutrient supplementation may improve clinical outcomes in patients with DF, but no review has summarized and synthesized these findings. We conducted a literature review to identify articles investigating the effect of micronutrient supplementation on clinical outcomes among patients with DF. We found several studies which indicated that supplemental vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and zinc may be useful adjuncts in DF treatment. Folic acid supplementation did not appear to affect clinical outcomes. The reviewed studies have significant limitations including small sample sizes and limited data about the baseline nutritional status of study subjects. We identify a need for additional high-quality randomized trials to elucidate the role of micronutrient supplementation in DF treatment. |
Global mid-upper arm circumference cut-offs for adults: a call to action
Maalouf-Manasseh Z , Remancus S , Milner E , Fenlason L , Quick T , Patsche CB , Bose K , Collins S , Ververs M , Walia S , Escobar-Alegria J , Chung M , Tang AM . Public Health Nutr 2020 23 (17) 1-2 Since 2009, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) has become an accepted measure for screening children for acute malnutrition and determining eligibility for services to manage acute malnutrition. Use of MUAC has increased the reach and enhanced the quality of community-based management of acute malnutrition services. Increasingly, MUAC is also used to assess nutritional status and eligibility for nutrition support among adolescents and adults, including pregnant and lactating women and HIV and TB clients. However, globally recognised cut-offs have not been established to classify malnutrition among adults using MUAC. Therefore, different countries and programmes use different MUAC cut-offs to determine eligibility for programme services. Patient monitoring guidelines provided by WHO for country adaptation to support the integrated management of adult illness do not include MUAC, in part because guidance does not exist about what MUAC cut-off should trigger further action. |
Guidance materials from 2014 to 2019 on nutritional care for Ebola patients in Ebola Treatment Units: an analysis
Ververs M , Vorfeld C . Public Health Nutr 2020 24 (1) 1-7 OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inclusion and exclusion of nutritional content in guidance materials related to nutritional care for hospitalised Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) patients of any age with the aim to provide recommendations for future revised nutritional care guidelines in Ebola Treatment Units (ETU). DESIGN: Qualitative and quantitative analyses of ETU protocols and other guidance materials were conducted. Materials were obtained from practitioners, their organisations and governments active in EVD outbreaks since 2014. SETTING: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Democratic Republic of Congo. RESULTS: Guidance materials showed a wide variety of topics. Most contained information on different feeding phases during illness, the use of specialised products, what and how to feed children aged 0-23 months, and meal and snack frequency for different age groups. Most materials lacked guidance on how to assess or accommodate patients' dietary preferences, how to obtain feedback on nutritional care from patients or how to assess whether patients need feeding support. These aspects are particularly relevant to prevent deterioration of the patients' nutritional status. There was limited guidance on operational aspects of food preparation and provision. CONCLUSIONS: Since 2014, numerous materials have been developed by organisations and governments on nutritional support in ETU. Although every EVD outbreak response must be contextualised because of the complexity of EVD and its case management, it is important to resolve technical differences and to provide comprehensive and more practical guidance. The findings of this study may inform future revised guidelines from normative UN organisations and governments of countries affected by EVD. |
Nutritional care for patients with Ebola virus disease
Ververs M , Gabra M . Emerg Infect Dis 2020 26 (1) 20-25 During the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak of 2014-2016 in West Africa, practitioners faced challenges providing nutritional care for patients in Ebola treatment units (ETUs). The current EVD outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo demonstrates the need to understand lessons learned from previous outbreaks and to update nutritional guidelines. We conducted a literature review to identify articles that included nutrition as an integral part of supportive care. We found little information on the specific nutritional care or practical challenges within an ETU. This review showed that nutritional care for EVD patients is poorly described, and therefore the optimal composition and implementation of nutritional care remain unknown. We recommend that researchers and practitioners share specific and practical details of their experiences in providing nutritional support within ETUs to expand the knowledge base and ultimately improve the nutritional care for an increasingly prevalent patient population. |
Scurvy outbreak among South Sudanese adolescents and young men - Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya, 2017-2018
Ververs M , Muriithi JW , Burton A , Burton JW , Lawi AO . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019 68 (3) 72-75 Scurvy is a relatively rare micronutrient deficiency disease that can occur among refugees dependent on food aid (1). Inadequate access to fresh fruits and vegetables in refugee camps can result in scurvy (2,3). Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya's Turkana District is home to 148,000 refugees, mostly from Somalia and South Sudan, who receive food assistance. In August 2017, a number of South Sudanese adolescent and young adult male refugees were evaluated at a health clinic in the camp for calf pain, chest pain, and gingival swelling. Because the symptoms were nonspecific, no diagnosis was made, and some patients received antibiotics and analgesics. All were managed as outpatients, but symptoms did not improve. During subsequent months, more young men with similar symptoms were reported. On January 20, 2018, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was informed and conducted clinical examinations. Signs and symptoms included lower limb pain and swelling (in some cases involving joints), lethargy, fatigue, gingival swelling and pain, hyperkeratotic skin changes, and chest pain. Based on these clinical findings, micronutrient deficiency, particularly vitamin C deficiency (scurvy), was considered a possible diagnosis, and an investigation of a possible outbreak was conducted. The suspected scurvy cases all occurred in young men from South Sudan who were living and cooking together in one geographic section of the camp. All patients who received treatment with vitamin C noted improvement of symptoms within <1 week. Patients were provided with food and cash assistance, the latter to allow dietary diversification (i.e., fresh fruits and vegetables). However, both forms of assistance were inadequate to allow access to sufficient amount of calories and the dietary diversification needed for intake of micronutrients, such as vitamin C. It is important to consider these needs when determining the amount of food or cash assistance provided to adolescents and young adult male refugees. |
Treating cholera in severely malnourished children in the Horn of Africa and Yemen
Ververs M , Narra R . Lancet 2017 Populations in Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia are experiencing starvation and concurrent outbreaks of confirmed or suspected cholera (acute watery diarrhoea [AWD]).1 Drought, conflict, and population displacement in these countries have led to increased food insecurity and a higher incidence of severe acute malnutrition (SAM).1 Limited access to safe water and poor sanitation have exacerbated cholera and AWD outbreaks and led to the dangerous comorbidity of cholera and SAM in young children. In Yemen, WHO reported that 25% of cholera cases occurred in children less than 5 years old.2 | While limited guidance exists on fluid management in children with cholera and SAM,3,4 evidence on best practices and consensus on treatment of the combination of these life-threatening conditions in children less than 5 years old are lacking. Protocols should address specific SAM-related complications including hypoglycaemia, hypothermia, and risk of heart failure in the context of cholera treatment.5 |
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