Mapping inequalities in exclusive breastfeeding in low- and middle-income countries, 2000–2018

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF)—giving infants only breast-milk for the first 6 months of life—is a component of optimal breastfeeding practices effective in preventing child morbidity and mortality. EBF practices are known to vary by population and comparable subnational estimates of prevalence and progress across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are required for planning policy and interventions. Here we present a geospatial analysis of EBF prevalence estimates from 2000 to 2018 across 94 LMICs mapped to policy-relevant administrative units (for example, districts), quantify subnational inequalities and their changes over time, and estimate probabilities of meeting the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) of ≥70% EBF prevalence by 2030. While six LMICs are projected to meet the WHO GNT of ≥70% EBF prevalence at a national scale, only three are predicted to meet the target in all their district-level units by 2030

Magnitude and causes of childhood blindness and severe visual impairment in Sekoru District, Southwest Ethiopia: a survey using the key informant method.

There are very few population-based data on childhood blindness in the Horn of Africa. In Sekoru district, Ethiopia, we performed a whole-of-population cross-sectional survey using the key informant method to determine the magnitude and causes of childhood blindness (presenting visual acuity <3/60 in the better eye) and severe visual impairment (SVI; presenting visual acuity <6/60 but ≥3/60 in the better eye). Forty-two key informants were trained to identify blind/SVI children aged <16 years. Identified children were examined by an ophthalmologist. Causes of blindness/SVI were established by clinical examination. Key informants visited 94% of 22,666 households, identifying 112 children, of whom 36 (32%) were confirmed to be blind/SVI by the ophthalmologist. Twenty (56%) of the 36 were male. The mean age was 10.7 years. The district prevalence of childhood blindness/SVI was 0.062% (95% CI 0.042-0.082%). Lens-related abnormalities (mainly congenital cataract) were the commonest causes. Avoidable causes of blindness accounted for 89% of cases. Paediatric ophthalmic services are required here, as elsewhere in rural Ethiopia. Assessment by key informants has an acceptable positive predictive value in this setting. This method warrants further evaluation as a tool for measuring the prevalence of other rare conditions in rural and remote populations

Additional file 4 of Mapping age- and sex-specific HIV prevalence in adults in sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2018

Additional file 4: Supplemental results.1. README. 2. Prevalence range across districts. 3. Prevalence range between sexes. 4. Prevalence range between ages. 5. Age-specific district ranges