Comment on 'The role of information in the planning, management and evaluation of community nutrition programmes.'

<p>This comment points to the need to carefully assess the roles that the use of routine growth monitoring data could play in the evaluation of community nutrition programmes, especially when coverage levels change.</p

Habitat utilisation and nesting behaviour of two sympatric weavers in Mbalmayo District, Cameroon

Avian ecology and behaviour data provides crucial information for bird conservation and management, but are still missing for many species, particularly in developing countries. This study examines habitat utilisation, nesting behaviour, anthropogenic disturbances and impacts on agricultural crops of Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus and Vieillot’s Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus in Mbalmayo District, Cameroon. Abundance was estimated by nest counts and point counts of birds at 40 previously located colonies, where also tree metrics and anthropogenic disturbances were measured. In total, more than 1 700 birds of the two species were estimated within a 9 km2 study area, divided into two blocks and five different habitat types. Village Weavers were generally more abundant, especially in the urban habitat, whereas Vieillot’s Black Weavers were most numerous in the rural habitat. Among the tree species used for nesting, mango Mangifera indica and African border tree Newbouldia laevis had the highest nest counts, which also was positively related to canopy cover diameter. Traffic noise disturbance was associated with lower bird and nest counts, whereas the opposite was observed on farming disturbance. The relative impacts on agricultural crops were estimated for African oil palm Elaeis guineensis (38%), maize Zea mays (36%), Musa spp. (18%) and Mangifera indica (8%). The implications for long-term coexistence between farmland birds and humans are discussed, and the challenge is to minimise both kinds of bird–human interactions, i.e. anthropogenic disturbances and agricultural crop damage

Metabolic Syndrome among Refugee Women from the West Bank, Palestine : A Cross-Sectional Study

This study was carried out among Palestinian refugee women in the West Bank to provide data on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its correlates. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional study of 1694 randomly selected refugee women from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) health centers throughout the West Bank during June and July 2010. In this cohort, 30% of the refugee women were overweight, 39% were obese, and 7% were extremely obese. Based on World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, the age-adjusted prevalence of MetS was 19.8%. The results of the binary logistic regression analysis indicated that older age and younger marital age were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of MetS in the women. The high prevalence of obesity and MetS mandates the implementation of national policies for its prevention, notably by initiating large-scale community intervention programs for 5.2 million refugees in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, to tackle obesity and increase the age at marriage

Micronutrient status of Palestinian school children following salt and flour fortification : a cross-sectional study

Background In 1996 and in 2006, Palestine initiated salt iodization and multiple micronutrient fortification of wheat flour, respectively as a strategy to prevent deficiencies of these nutrients. In 2009, we assessed the impact of these interventions on the health and nutritional status of schoolchildren residing in the West Bank. Methods We surveyed a sample of 22 schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Government. We randomly selected students from the first (mean age 6.7 years [SD 0.5]), sixth (11.8 years [0.6]), and ninth grades (14.8 years [0.6]). Data were obtained from 1484 (99%) of 1500 students planned for enrollment. Results Our results suggest that iodine intake appears adequate and there was essentially no iodine deficiency. As to the status of other micronutrients, the main nutritional micronutrient risks for schoolchildren in the West Bank continue to be low serum levels of iron, zinc, and vitamin B-12; folate levels were seemingly high. The overall prevalence of anemia was 9.6%, but there were pockets of anemia in certain districts. Almost 42% of the anemia in our sample was explained by iron deficiency. There were significant differences in iron deficiency between girls and boys, 29.5% vs. 15.7%, respectively (p = 0.0001). There were no cases of lead toxicity in the studied sample. Conclusions Wheat flour and salt fortification has had a major influence on improving the micronutrient status of Palestinian children, for some but not all micronutrients. The recommended key blood and biochemical parameters to be incorporated in the surveillance system are iron, zinc, and vitamin B12

Micronutrient status of Palestinian school children following salt and flour fortification: a cross-sectional study

Background In 1996 and in 2006, Palestine initiated salt iodization and multiple micronutrient fortification of wheat flour, respectively as a strategy to prevent deficiencies of these nutrients. In 2009, we assessed the impact of these interventions on the health and nutritional status of schoolchildren residing in the West Bank. Methods We surveyed a sample of 22 schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Government. We randomly selected students from the first (mean age 6.7 years [SD 0.5]), sixth (11.8 years [0.6]), and ninth grades (14.8 years [0.6]). Data were obtained from 1484 (99%) of 1500 students planned for enrollment. Results Our results suggest that iodine intake appears adequate and there was essentially no iodine deficiency. As to the status of other micronutrients, the main nutritional micronutrient risks for schoolchildren in the West Bank continue to be low serum levels of iron, zinc, and vitamin B-12; folate levels were seemingly high. The overall prevalence of anemia was 9.6%, but there were pockets of anemia in certain districts. Almost 42% of the anemia in our sample was explained by iron deficiency. There were significant differences in iron deficiency between girls and boys, 29.5% vs. 15.7%, respectively (p = 0.0001). There were no cases of lead toxicity in the studied sample. Conclusions Wheat flour and salt fortification has had a major influence on improving the micronutrient status of Palestinian children, for some but not all micronutrients. The recommended key blood and biochemical parameters to be incorporated in the surveillance system are iron, zinc, and vitamin B12