Enacting the Code by effective national laws influence trends in exclusive breastfeeding: an analytical study from the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Publication date: 2021
The marketing of breast milk substitutes is presumed to be associated with declines in breastfeeding practices. National laws to control the marketing of breast milk substitutes are expected to improve exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding rates and trends in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This study aims to highlight the power of the code when implemented in its entirety in national laws for the control of marketing of breast milk substitutes in raising exclusive breastfeeding rates.
Integration of curative and preventive services for strengthening nutritional outcome of infants and young children
Publication date: 2020
Child survival is influenced by prenatal care, prenatal management, maternal age, maternal nutrition and the process of childbirth. This study aims to identify means for strengthening primary health care services and to answer the question of whether integration of preventive and curative services can strengthen one another and how this can impact nutritional status of children. Based on the results, integration of preventive and curative services can strengthen primary health care and should start from pregnancy. Immunization services represent opportunities for counselling in nutrition and early signs of sickness in the child for preventing delay in management and thereby improving nutritional status of children.
Early breastfeeding practices promote effective parenting: an analytical study in countries exposed to conflict in the Middle East
Publication date: 2020
Breastfeeding is nurture and nutrition for every child, but the extent to which it influences parenting is controversial. This study aims to examine the effect of early breastfeeding practices in relation to child discipline and childcare. Findings show that breastfeeding is protective against violent parenting styles and enhances adequacy of childcare. Additionally, exposure to operative delivery with anesthesia may interfere with early initiation of breastfeeding and negatively influence parenting.
Nourishing care for early child development in the Eastern Mediterranean Region through early child nutrition: case studies from six countries
Publication date: 2020
An optimum brain development requires a stimulating environment, adequate nutrients and social interaction but is challenged by poverty and illiteracy. This study aims to assess the status of early child education and child development in relation to early feeding practices. Findings show that early breastfeeding practices reinforce early child education which promotes early child development. The study concludes that promoting early and continued breastfeeding is necessary for achieving nurturing care framework in developing countries.
Passive smoking is associated with risk of early onset of cardiac dysfunction
Publication date: 2020
Secondhand smoke exposes infants and young children to many short- and long-term hazards. In adults, passive smoking was found to result in left sided diastolic dysfunction. This study aims to identify changes in the structure and function of the right side of the heart that can be influenced by exposure of infants to secondhand smoke. Findings show that formula milk fed infants are at risk of right sided diastolic dysfunction while early breastfeeding seems to protect the heart from the hazards of secondhand smoke.
Overweight increases the risk of right ventricular dysfunction in the non-breastfed infants
Publication date: 2020
Overweight in infancy could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus in later life, however the mechanisms need to be investigated. This study aims to assess the relationship between overweight and right ventricular function during infancy in relation to the mode of feeding. Findings shows that overweight in milk formula fed infants increases right sided cardiac dimensions but in breastfed infants the functional component of the right ventricular functions is increased. .
Food consumption patterns and nutrient intakes of children and adolescents in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a call for policy action
Publication date: 2020
The Eastern Mediterranean Region has witnessed significant social and economic changes that may have influenced the diet of children and adolescents, and increased the risk for obesity and malnutrition in this age group. This review aims to characterize and assess food consumption patterns and nutrient intakes amongst school-aged children (5–10 years) and adolescents (10–19 years) in countries of the Region. Acknowledging the impact that nutrition may have on building societies and transforming the lives of children, adolescents and their families, there is a crucial need for a food system approach in developing and implementing national and regional policies and interventions aimed at improving the diet of children and adolescents.
Echocardiography of the right ventricle in infancy: do early feeding practices make a difference?
Publication date: 2020
It is important to understand the role of various feeding practices during infancy on the development of the cardiac structures, to intervene early with the prevention of cardiovascular disease. This study aims to compare the structures and functions of the right side of the heart in exclusively breastfed and formula-fed babies in the first year of life. Findings show that exclusive breastfeeding in infancy supports higher performance of the right side of the heart in infancy. Findings also suggest that early developmental changes in the right side of the heart can be influenced by the feeding patterns in infancy.
Continuous skin-to-skin care assists breastfeeding mothers to adapt to sleep
Publication date: 2020
Mothers suffer disturbed sleep caused by the nocturnal patterns of breastfeeding. Skin-to-skin care between mothers and babies has known comforting effects on mother and baby. This study aims to examine the effect of daily practice of skin-to-skin care in the first weeks after delivery in assisting mothers to adapt to the sleep patterns of her baby. Findings show that daily skin-to-skin care in the early weeks can support adaptation of mother to her infant’s night feeds, promotes child growth and development and maternal well-being.
Breastfeeding promotion in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Publication date: 2019
This publication consists of eight articles of which the first six address the status of breastfeeding in different parts of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The last two articles discuss the social determinants that influence infant feeding practices and the status of breastfeeding promotion in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Arabic summaries for the articles are provided in the end of each article.
A snapshot of infant feeding and nutritional status of infants and young children at governorate level in Egypt
Publication date: 2019
This article presents estimates for different indicators related to infant and young child nutrition in Egypt. The addressed indicators are breastfeeding initiation, breastfeeding continuation, anaemia in children under five-years of age and Vitamin A and iron intakes in children under-five years of age. It was noticed that nutritional status of children in Egypt differs from one region to another. The discrepancy reflects different styles of feeding according to food availability, socioeconomic and cultural factors. Action is needed through plans, policies and awareness campaigns to reverse such trends, focusing on priorities and success stories.
Education and poverty: a paradigm of inequity and disempowerment to breastfeeding women
Publication date: 2019
Maternal education has been shown to be strongly associated with nutrition outcomes during infancy and early childhood. The aim of the study is to examine how education of mothers influences their breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in the first two years of life in 25 countries by level of income. The study concludes that empowerment of breastfeeding women by education whilst supporting them to breastfeed in their study and workplaces by enacting more effective and supportive maternity laws is required to ensure that their dual role in the economy is achieved.
How breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices affect nutritional status of young children in Egypt
Publication date: 2019
Adequate complementary feeding practices are important for ensuring optimal nutritional status of children under-five. This study aims to present the status and determinants of poor nutritional status of infants and young children in relation to breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. According to this study, partial breastfeeding or any breastfeeding is protective against obesity and overweight. Mother’s level of education exhibits a paradoxical effect whereby higher education is associated with suboptimal breastfeeding practices despite adequate complementary feeding practices.
Conflict, nutritional status and patterns of young child feeding
Publication date: 2019
Malnutrition in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region impedes their development This article aims to study patterns of complementary feeding and continued breastfeeding on nutritional status and deaths from micronutrient deficiencies in countries of the Region. Findings show that in the poor, inadequate food diversity and suboptimal breastfeeding practices in the second year of life influence nutritional status of children under-five of age and cascade nutritional deficiencies.
Infant feeding and cardiovascular disease: A multi-staged analysis from global to country data
Publication date: 2019
Death from cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally and in particular in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This study examines the relationship between early infant feeding practices as risk factors of death from cardiovascular disease with a focus on high blood pressure in the 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. As a conclusion, optimal infant feeding practices contribute directly and indirectly to reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease.
In-depth analysis of mortality in relation to malnutrition in children under-five of age in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Publication date: 2018
The study aims to analyze regional mortality rates in relation to socio-demographic, nutritional indices and early feeding practices in children under five in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The study shows that suboptimal early feeding practices leading to the double burden of malnutrition influence the under-five mortality rates in children. .