The incidence of acute respiratory infection in Indonesian infants and association with vitamin D deficiency

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with acute respiratory infection (ARI) in early life, but this has not been evaluated in Indonesia. We aimed to determine the incidence of ARI in Indonesian infants, and to evaluate the association with vitamin D deficiency. METHODS: From 23 December 2015 to 31 December 2017, we conducted a community-based prospective cohort study in Yogyakarta province. We enrolled 422 pregnant women and followed their infants from birth until 12 months of age for ARI episodes. Vitamin D status was measured at birth and at age six months. We performed Cox proportional hazard regression analysis to evaluate the association between vitamin D deficiency and pneumonia incidence. RESULTS: At study completion, 95% (400/422) of infants retained with a total of 412 child years of observation (CYO). The incidence of all ARI and of WHO-defined pneumonia was 3.89 (95% CI 3.70-4.08) and 0.25 (95% CI 0.21-0.30) episodes per CYO respectively. Vitamin D deficiency at birth was common (90%, 308/344) and associated with more frequent episodes of ARI non-pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio 4.48, 95% CI:1.04-19.34). Vitamin D status at birth or six months was not associated with subsequent pneumonia incidence, but greater maternal sun exposure during pregnancy was associated with a trend to less frequent ARI and pneumonia in infants. CONCLUSION: ARI, pneumonia, and vitamin D deficiency at birth were common in Indonesian infants. Minimising vitamin D deficiency at birth such as by supplementation of mothers or safe sun exposure during pregnancy has the potential to reduce ARI incidence in infants in this setting

The prevalence and determinants of vitamin D deficiency in Indonesian infants at birth and six months of age

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency in infants has been associated with an increased risk of a number of diseases but there are limited data on the prevalence and determinants of vitamin D deficiency from tropical settings with high infant morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and determinants of vitamin D deficiency in infants at birth and at six months of age in Yogyakarta province, Indonesia. DESIGN: Serum vitamin D of eligible infants was measured in cord blood at birth and at six months of age. Factors associated with vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D <50 nmol/L) were collected prospectively monthly from birth and concentrations measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Independent risk factors were identified by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Between December 2015 to December 2017, 350 maternal-newborn participants were recruited and followed up. Vitamin D deficiency was detected in 90% (308/344) of cord blood samples and 13% (33/255) of venous blood samples at six months. Longer time outdoors (≥2 hours per day) and maternal multivitamin intake containing vitamin D during pregnancy were protective against vitamin D deficiency at birth (AOR: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.01-0.90 and AOR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.06-0.68, respectively). Risk factors for vitamin D deficiency at six months included lower cumulative skin-sun exposure score (AOR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04-1.20), severe vitamin D deficiency at birth (AOR: 7.73, 95% CI: 1.20-49.60) and exclusive breastfeeding (AOR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.07-6.49) until six months. Among exclusively breast fed (EBF) infants, a higher skin-sun exposure score was associated with reduced vitamin D deficiency risk. CONCLUSION: In equatorial regions, the role of 'safe' morning sun exposure in infants and mothers in populations with medium to dark brown skin pigmentation and effective interventions to prevent vitamin D deficiency in newborns and EBF infants, need further consideration and evaluation

Nutritional status, exclusive breastfeeding and management of acute respiratory illness and diarrhea in the first 6 months of life in infants from two regions of Indonesia

Abstract Background Infant morbidity and mortality rates remain high in Indonesia, with acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) and diarrhea the leading two health problems in children under 5 years. We aimed to describe the nutritional status, feeding practice and case management of ARI and diarrhea of infants from two regions of Indonesia during the first 6 months of life. Methods This study was an observational study conducted in parallel to an immunogenicity and efficacy trial of an oral rotavirus vaccine (RV3-BB) in the Klaten and Yogyakarta regions, Indonesia. Mothers were interviewed at 3 time points: within the first 6 days of their infant’s life, and at 8–10 and 22–24 weeks of age. Questions asked included pregnancy history, infant nutritional status, feeding status and health of infants within up to 2 weeks prior to the assessment. Results Between February 2013 and January 2014, 233 mother-infant pairs were recruited. 60% (136/223) of infants were exclusively breastfed (EBF) until 6 months of age with the strongest support for EBF reported by mothers themselves 70% (101/223) and 25% (36/223) from their partners. At 6 months, 6% (14/223) of infants were underweight and severely underweight; 4% (8/ 223) wasted and severely wasted; and 12% (28/223) were stunted and severely stunted. Non-recommended medication use was high, with 54% (21/39) of infants with reported cough within 2 weeks of an assessment receiving cough medication, 70% (27 /39) an antihistamine, 26% (10/39) a mucolytic and 15% (6 /39) an oral bronchodilator. At age 22–24 week, infants with reported diarrhea within 2 weeks of an assessment had low use of oral rehydration solutions (ORS) (3/21;14%) and zinc therapy (2/ 21;10%). Conclusion In this unique observational study, breastfeeding rates of 60% at 6 months were below the Indonesian national target of >75%. Adherence to WHO guidelines for management of ARI and diarrhea was poor, with high use of non-recommended cough medications and oral bronchodilators in the first 6 months of life and low use of ORS and zinc therapy. Ongoing education of primary health care workers and parents regarding management of common illness is needed in Indonesia

Wastewater monitoring can anchor global disease surveillance systems

ILRI staff Ekta Patel is a member of the Global Wastewater Action Group.To inform the development of global wastewater monitoring systems, we surveyed programmes in 43 countries. Most programmes monitored predominantly urban populations. In high-income countries (HICs), composite sampling at centralised treatment plants was most common, whereas grab sampling from surface waters, open drains, and pit latrines was more typical in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Almost all programmes analysed samples in-country, with an average processing time of 2·3 days in HICs and 4·5 days in LMICs. Whereas 59% of HICs regularly monitored wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 variants, only 13% of LMICs did so. Most programmes share their wastewater data internally, with partnering organisations, but not publicly. Our findings show the richness of the existing wastewater monitoring ecosystem. With additional leadership, funding, and implementation frameworks, thousands of individual wastewater initiatives can coalesce into an integrated, sustainable network for disease surveillance—one that minimises the risk of overlooking future global health threats