Understanding the enablers and barriers to appropriate infants and young child feeding practices in India: A systematic review

Despite efforts to promote infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, there is no collective review of evidence on IYCF enablers and barriers in India. This review was conducted using 2015 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Six computerized bibliographic databases, Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, and Ovid MEDLINE, were searched for published studies on factors associated with IYCF practices in India from 1 January 1993, to 30 April 2020. IYCF practices examined were early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, continued breastfeeding at one year, introduction to solid semi‐solid or soft foods, minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, minimum acceptable diet, continued breastfeeding at two years, predominant breastfeeding, and bottle feeding. In total, 6968 articles were retrieved, and 46 studies met the inclusion criteria. The common enablers of IYCF were higher maternal socioeconomic status (SES) and more frequent antenatal care visits (ANC) (≥3). Common barriers to IYCF practices were low SES and less frequent ANC. The review showed that the factors associated with IYCF practices in India are largely modifiable and multi‐factorial. Improving IYCF practices would require the adoption of both facilities‐ and community‐based policy interventions at the subnational and national levels in India

Double Burden of Malnutrition Among Migrants and Refugees in Developed Countries

Background: The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) increases the risk of developing non-communicable diseases among migrant and refugee populations living in developed countries. This systematic review aims to examine the DBM among migrants and refugees in developed countries. It aims to appraise, synthesise, and summarise literature to create an evidence base that looks at multiple faces of DBM. Methods/Design: This protocol is informed by the standard Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. A systematic review of peer-reviewed quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies on DBM among migrants and refugees in developed countries will be undertaken. The review will include only studies published in English. Eight bibliographic databases will be searched: Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ProQuest, Scopus, PubMed, and web of science. Grey literature will also be searched. Studies that meet the inclusion criteria will be imported to Covidence. Screening for eligible studies will be conducted by two independent researchers. The quality of included studies will be appraised for risk of bias using validated tools. A narrative synthesis approach will be undertaken to report retrieved data. Discussion: The protocol provides insight into the scope and parameters of the systematic review to be conducted

Association between intimate partner violence and male alcohol use and the receipt of perinatal care : evidence from Nepal demographic and health survey 2011-2016

The utilization of perinatal care services among women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and male alcohol use is a major problem. Adequate and regular perinatal care is essential through the continuum of pregnancy to mitigate pregnancy and birth complications. The aim of this study is to determine the association between IPV and male alcohol use and the receipt of perinatal care in Nepal. This study used pooled data from 2011 and 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS). A total of 3067 women who interviewed for domestic violence module and had most recent live birth 5 years prior surveys were included in the analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between IPV and male alcohol use and the receipt of perinatal care. Of the total women interviewed, 22% reported physical violence, 14% emotional violence, and 11% sexual violence. Women who were exposed to physical violence were significantly more likely to report non-usage of institutional delivery [adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 1.30 (95% Cl: 1.01, 1.68)] and skilled delivery assistants [aOR = 1.43 (95% Cl: 1.10, 1.88)]. Non-attendance of 4 or more skilled antenatal care visits was associated with a combination of alcohol use by male partner and exposure to emotional [aOR = 1.42 (95% Cl: 1.01, 2.00)] and physical violence [aOR = 1.39 (95% Cl: 1.03, 1.88)]. The negative association between IPV and perinatal care suggests it is essential to develop comprehensive community- based interventions which integrates IPV support services with other health services to increase the uptake of perinatal care through the continuum of pregnancy

Factors Associated with Psychological Distress during COVID-19:A Cross-Sectional Study of Sub-Saharan African Migrant Workers across Australia and Canada

Objective: Ensuring the sustainability of the migrant workforce requires a comprehensive understanding of the psychological challenges faced by this sub-population due to concerns about the wellbeing and financial situation of family members in their home countries. Therefore, this study investigates the factors associated with psychological distress among sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) migrant workers across Australia and Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Data were collected from 378 first-generation migrant workers with SSA ancestry residing in Australia and Canada using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine socio-demographic factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress among SSA migrants’ populations. Results: Across both countries, migrants with lower levels of education were more prone to reporting feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress during the pandemic. Female participants in Australia were more likely to report feeling of depression. Participants in Australia and Canada who were separated/divorced/widowed were less likely to report stress and depression, respectively. Participants in Australia who had lived in Australia between 11 and 20 years and those between 36 and 50 years old were more likely to report feelings of depression. Participants residing in Australia whose SSA ancestry was Southern Africa/Central Africa were more likely to report anxiety. Participants in Australia who worked as part-time permanent workers and those who worked as fixed-term workers/short-term/casual workers were less likely to report anxiety. Finally, participants in Canada who reported two or more people living with them had higher odds of reporting anxiety. Conclusions: The findings from this study highlight key factors associated with SSA migrant workers’ psychological distress during the pandemic. The results can inform policies and provide insight to the development of mental health intervention strategies for migrant workers to minimize similar distress during pandemics

Association between obesity and miscarriage among women of reproductive age in Nepal

Background: Obesity is a major health problem in low and middle income countries (LMICs) and is associated with miscarriage. This study aims to examine the association between obesity and miscarriage among reproductive age women (15–49 years) in Nepal. Methods: The combined 19160 cross-sectional pregnancy data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) for the years 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016 was utilized. Miscarriage was defined as a spontaneous loss of pregnancy that occurred before the foetus reached 7 months of gestational age. Logistic regression analyses that adjusted for clustering, stratification and sampling weights were used to examine the association between obesity and miscarriage among women of reproductive age. Results: The odds of miscarriage were 1.45 times higher (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.45; 95%Cl: 1.06, 1.98, P = 0.021) among women with obesity. Women who did not use contraception, younger (15–19 years), and older women (35 years or more) were significantly more likely to have miscarriage. Women who smoked tobacco reported higher odds of miscarriage than women who did not smoke tobacco (AOR = 1.27; 95%Cl: 1.07,1.50, P = 0.006). Stratification of maternal smoking status by maternal Body Mass Index (BMI), after adjusting for contraception, mother age and year of survey revealed that tobacco smoking and obesity are associated with miscarriage (AOR = 1.46; 95%Cl: 1.05,2.04, P = 0.025). Conclusions: Findings from this study show that obesity and tobacco smoking are associated with miscarriage. Smoking cessation, pregnancy planning and counselling on healthy weight for women of reproductive age in Nepal may help promote healthy behaviours and decrease the likelihood of miscarriage

Child marriage in South Asia : a systematic review

Background: Child marriage is a serious public health issue with dire implications at the individual and societal level. Almost half of all child marriages globally originate from South Asia. The aim of this study is to identify consistent factors associated with and resulting from child marriage in South Asia through a review of available evidence. Methods: This systematic review adhered to the 2015 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Six computerized bibliographic databases, namely PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Ovid Medline, PUBMED, and Scopus were searched. Retrieved studies were exported to EndNote and screened for eligibility using pre-determined criteria. The quality of the included studies was rated using 14 quality appraisal criteria derived from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Tool. Results: A total of 520 articles were retrieved from six databases. Of these, 13 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in this study. Factors consistently associated with child marriage in South Asia were rural residence, low level of education, poor economic background, low exposure to mass media and religion (Hindu and Muslim in particular countries). Maternal health care factors resulting from child marriage included: low utilization of antenatal care services, low institutional delivery, and low delivery assistance by a skilled birth attendant. Conclusions: Child marriage results from an interplay of economic and social forces. Therefore, to address the complex nature of child marriage, efforts targeting improvement in education, employment, exposure to health information via mass media, and gender egalitarianism are required

Understanding the enablers and barriers to appropriate infants and young child feeding practices in India : a systematic review

Despite efforts to promote infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, there is no collective review of evidence on IYCF enablers and barriers in India. This review was conducted using 2015 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Six computerized bibliographic databases, Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, and Ovid MEDLINE, were searched for published studies on factors associated with IYCF practices in India from 1 January 1993, to 30 April 2020. IYCF practices examined were early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, continued breastfeeding at one year, introduction to solid semi-solid or soft foods, minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, minimum acceptable diet, continued breastfeeding at two years, predominant breastfeeding, and bottle feeding. In total, 6968 articles were retrieved, and 46 studies met the inclusion criteria. The common enablers of IYCF were higher maternal socioeconomic status (SES) and more frequent antenatal care visits (ANC) (≥3). Common barriers to IYCF practices were low SES and less frequent ANC. The review showed that the factors associated with IYCF practices in India are largely modifiable and multi-factorial. Improving IYCF practices would require the adoption of both facilities- and community-based policy interventions at the subnational and national levels in India

Prevalence, trends, and drivers of the utilization of unskilled birth attendants during democratic governance in Nigeria from 1999 to 2018

Comprehensive epidemiological data on prevalence, trends, and determinants of the use of unskilled birth attendants (traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and other unskilled birth attendants) are essential to policy decision-makers and health practitioners, to guide efforts and resource allocation. This study investigated the prevalence, trends, and drivers of the utilization of unskilled birth attendants during democratic governance in Nigeria from 1999 to 2018. The study used the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys data for the years 1999 (n = 3552), 2003 (n = 6029), 2008 (n = 28,647), 2013 (n = 31,482), and 2018 (34,193). Multivariate multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate the association between socioeconomic, demographic, health-service, and community-level factors with the utilization of TBAs and other unskilled birth attendants in Nigeria. Between 1999 and 2018, the study showed that the prevalence of TBA-assisted delivery remained unchanged (20.7%; 95% CI: 18.0–23.7% in 1999 and 20.5%; 95% CI: 18.9–22.1% in 2018). The prevalence of other-unskilled-birth-attendant use declined significantly from 45.5% (95% CI: 41.1–49.7%) in 2003 to 36.2% (95% CI: 34.5–38.0%) in 2018. Higher parental education, maternal employment, belonging to rich households, higher maternal age (35–49 years), frequent antenatal care (ANC) (≥4) visits, the proximity of health facilities, and female autonomy in households were associated with lower odds of unskilled birth attendants’ utilization. Rural residence, geopolitical region, lower maternal age (15–24 years), and higher birth interval (≥2 years) were associated with higher odds of unskilled-birth-attendant-assisted deliveries. Reducing births assisted by unskilled birth attendants in Nigeria would require prioritized and scaled-up maternal health efforts that target all women, especially those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, those who do not attend antenatal care, and/or those who reside in rural areas

The Impact of Heritage Tourism on Sustainable Community Development, Health and Wellbeing

This systematic review aims to understand the impact of heritage tourism on sustainable community development, including the health and wellbeing of local host communities. The protocol is guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. It highlights the scope and methodology for the systematic review to be conducted. Studies will be included if they: (i) were conducted in English; (ii) were published between January 2000 and December 2018; (iii) used quantitative and/or qualitative methods; and (iv) analysed the impact of heritage tourism on sustainable community development and/or the health of local host communities. Data extraction will be informed by Cochrane Collaboration. The quality of evidence of the studies included will be assessed using validated tools. Findings will be summarised into themes and narrated. The systematic review will establish the impact of heritage tourism on sustainable community development including health and well-being. It also aims provide a theoretical framework which will inform recommendations to improve the life-worlds of local host communities and moderate any tensions between the expanding heritage reach of states and the maintenance of customary and traditional value systems, community governance structures, and associated community development and health benefits

The association between post-migration nutrition and lifestyle transition and the risk of developing chronic diseases among sub-Saharan African migrants : a mixed method systematic review protocol

Sub-Saharan African (SSA) migrants face nutrition and lifestyle changes upon arrival in a host country. The shift in diet and lifestyle reflects post-migration acculturation and could predispose migrants to nutrition-and lifestyle-related chronic diseases. A mixed-methods systematic review of published studies and the grey literature on post-migration nutrition and lifestyle transition among SSA migrants will be undertaken. Studies published in English and conducted from 2000 to 2020 using quantitative and/or qualitative methods will be included. Ten bibliographic databases will be searched: Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, CINAHL, PubMed, ProQuest, PsycINFO, Informit and Web of Science. Data extraction will be informed by the Cochrane PROGRESS-Plus framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute manual. The quality of the included studies will be appraised for risk of bias using validated tools. An integrated approach to quantitative and qualitative data synthesis through data transformation will be undertaken, and a narrative synthesis of the findings will be provided. This protocol is guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines and provides insight into the scope and parameters of the systematic review to be conducted. The aim of the review is to evaluate the association between post-migration nutrition and lifestyle transition and the risk of developing chronic diseases among SSA migrants in Australia. This review will provide insight into possible areas for interventions to improve the health of migrants. Systematic Review Registration: The protocol was registered with the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews CRD42020206560