Impact of Seasonality and Food Security on Growth and Morbidity in Children under 2 Years in Rural Honduras

Child malnutrition remains a significant problem worldwide with children under two years of age at particular risk. Even mild to moderate child undernutrition in food insecure households has been associated with poor growth, increased rates of infection and poor development. Rural Honduras undergoes a rainy and a dry season each year. Households rely on subsistence agriculture and as the dry season progresses, they have fewer food reserves and limited cash resources. It is anticipated that this will lead not only to decreased measures of food security, but also that children in food secure households will have higher rates of growth and lower rates of disease than children from food insecure households. This study aims to determine predictors of household food security, the impact of seasonality on food security and the utility of food security at predicting rates of growth and disease in children under two in rural Honduras. One hundred and forty-one mother-infant pairs participated in this longitudinal, observational study. Food security was assessed at baseline and at the close of the study period utilizing a 14 question Food Insecurity Questionnaire. Additional measures included: a baseline demographic assessment and monthly child health questionnaire. Analyses of food security were completed using both a paired sample t-test and a repeated measures ANOVA to determine the impact of season (dry versus rainy) on food security. A multivariate regression model using backwards selection determined the best fit model for predicting total food security in both dry and rainy seasons. Multivariate regression modeling identified the food security questions that were the best predictors of growth and illness during dry season controlling for age cohort and gender. Food security was significantly lower during the dry season (mean 32.98±4.35) compared to the rainy season (mean=36.44±5.23) (p\u3c0.001). Bivariate analyses showed decreased rates of food security in households with female children (N=65; mean 32.5±4.98) compared to households with male children (N=74; mean 34.0 ±5.3; p=0.099) during the dry season. In addition, rates of food security in households with younger children (ages 6-12 months of age) were lower than households with older children (ages 12-19 months of age) in both dry and rainy season (p=0.110; p=0.038). Multivariate regression modeling identified the food security measures and maternal and child characteristics that predicted total food security during rainy (p=0.002) and dry season (p\u3c0.001). Multivariate regression models used questions from the food security questionnaire to predict parent-reported days of illness controlling for age and gender. Different groupings of food security questions were significant predictors for parent-reported days of diarrhea, fever, shortness of breath, and vomiting, but not days of cough. Our findings confirm higher rates of food insecurity during the dry season than during the rainy season in rural Honduras. They identify maternal and child characteristics that increase the risk and severity of food insecurity in children and also illustrate the link between different indicators of household food security and rates of child growth and morbidity

AN EXPLORATION OF A RESEARCHER-INSTRUCTOR PARTNERSHIP IN IMPLICIT RACIAL BIAS AWARENESS AND MITIGATION IN COLLEGE STEM CLASSROOMS

Seventy-six percent of all minority students who enter college with declared majors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) do not graduate with STEM degrees. Black students represent 40% of minority attrition from STEM. Implicit racial bias was indicated as a contributor to the challenges faced by Black students. The purpose of this study was to explore whether a researcher-instructor partnership brought awareness to and the potential for mitigation of implicit racial bias in course delivery and instructor interactions with Black students in STEM classes. A case study design was used over three phases to gather survey, observational, and interview data. The survey was used to collect descriptive data, data on instructor knowledge of implicit racial bias, and to recruit instructors to Phase 2 of the study. Phase 2 data were gathered through classroom observations and weekly meetings with each instructor over a 6-week period. Phase 3 data were collected using a semistructured interview to gather instructors’ perceptions of the study and benefits of the partnership. Surveys were completed by 19 STEM instructors. Four of the 19 instructors participated in the researcher-instructor partnership. Instructors reported joining the study to learn more about implicit racial bias and ways to improve instruction. Instructors found the partnership offered a respectful and comfortable space to discuss implicit racial bias. The partnership was beneficial in bringing awareness to the impact of implicit racial bias and in improving instructor-student interaction. Keywords: implicit racial bias, mitigation, Black students, STEM, attrition, partnership, case stud

No Transitional Justice Without Transition: Darfur - A Case Study

Article published in the Michigan State International Law Review

Recruitment and Retention of Organizational Participants: What\u27s Happening Out There Now?

This is a study on some initial research relating literature to actual practice in social action organizations. Our concern is to learn what are social action organizations of the 198 0s doing to recruit and maintain their membership and how this relates to the literature on recruitment and retention. We will review the literature, describe the methodology and report the findings, and then attempt to connect the findings and the literature

ISBS 2018 AUCKLAND CONFERENCE SCHEDULE FINAL

This document contains the ISBS 2018 Auckland Conference Schedule of keynotes, oral podiums, oral posters, social events, workshops, SPRINZ-HPSNZ-AUT Millennium applied half day and teachers day

Genetic sequencing using 16s rRNA for pathogen identification in retropharyngeal lymph nodes from wild elk

Cervical region lymph nodes collected by hunters from 43 wild hunter-harvested elk (Cervus elaphus) in Utah were submitted to the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory during fall 2009. We evaluated these lymph nodes as specimens for identification of bacterial pathogens using 16S rRNA genetic sequencing. Thirty-seven bacterial species were identified; each was found in 2 to 30 individual elk. Many common ruminant livestock pathogens were identified in elk; pathogens previously reported in elk were Pasteurella multocida and Streptococcus spp. Cervical region lymph nodes harvested from wild ruminants appear to be acceptable samples for genetic sequencing of bacteria

ISBS 2018 AUCKLAND CONFERENCE PROGRAMME FINAL

This document contains the final programme for the ISBS 2018 Auckland Conference

AN INVESTIGATION OF FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO ALL BUT DISSERTATION STATUS: DOCTOR OF EDUCATION STUDENTS

Literature regarding advanced degree completion illustrates multiple factors attributing to completion or abandonment of dissertation research. Contributing factors are typically linked to the environment associated with the institution in which a doctoral candidate is enrolled, or personality characteristics held by individual candidates. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to gather data from current doctoral candidates regarding factors that inhibited their completion of the doctor of education degree. Initial responses from participants appeared to confirm findings from similar research studies exploring dissertation non-completers. Most participants noted personal factors for non-completion, while a few mentioned institutional factors. In order to improve the success rate of doctoral degree completion, it is important to explore further the factors influencing non-completion among candidates, including specifically examining the transition from coursework to independent research and by seeking input from all parties involved in the process