Anaemia and underweight or overweight/obesity are major public health problems driving maternal and child mortality in low- and middle-income countries. While the burden of these conditions is recognised, the evidence for the co-occurrence of these conditions is fragmented and mixed, especially at the individual level....
Since 2002, a range of South African policies have attempted to address the disproportionate burden of food and nutrition insecurity on the population. Yet malnutrition among the poor has worsened. This study reviewed policies to examine their implications for food security and the treatment of malnutrition. Policies e...
Background: Poor communities in low and middle income countries are reported to experience a higher burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and nutrition-related NCDs. Interventions that build on lay perspectives of risk are recommended. The objective of this study was to examine lay understanding of healthy...
Background: Food systems are sophisticated human-made structures that have evolved through social, cultural, economic, and technological changes. Food systems on the African continent are diversified. However, this diversity is quickly disappearing, primarily because of agriculture and urbanization. This study seeks to...
Background: The food environment represents the range of foods that can be accessed in the context where people live and can enable or restrict healthy dietary choices. This includes the availability, affordability, convenience, and desirability of food, as well as the sustainability properties of food and beverages. U...
Background: Food hygiene plays a critical role in safeguarding public health, particularly in school environments where students are reliant on food vendors for daily meals. In Ghana, lapses in hygiene among food vendors have been linked to foodborne illnesses and outbreaks, emphasizing the need for targeted interventi...
Background: Street food is a vital source of nutrition and income, especially in developing countries, where it feeds millions daily. However, despite its importance, it poses significant food safety risks. Globally, unsafe food causes over 600 million illnesses and 420,000 deaths each year. In Africa, issues like poor...
Adolescence represents a crucial phase of human development, characterized by heightened nutritional requirements that support optimal physical growth and mental development. In rapidly urbanizing environments such as Ashaiman, adolescents often encounter dietary difficulties arising from socioeconomic disparities, foo...
Background: Malnutrition remains a significant public health challenge, particularly among children under five years of age in developing regions. In the Tongor Sub-District of South Dayi District, Volta Region, Ghana, various factors contribute to the prevalence of malnutrition, adversely affecting child health and de...
Globally, the informal food sector has been the recipient of exclusionary urban policies, despite its dominant role in urban life. This study examined the contributions of the informal food sector to food flows during the COVID-19 lockdown in Cape Town, South Africa. An ethnographic research method consisting of in-dep...
Despite the crucial role played by informalmarkets in food distribution globally, the sector is ignored and marginalized. This study examined vegetable traders, the trading infrastructure available to them in the market, and how they conduct their businesses to explain the high food safety challenges in the sector. Thi...
Introduction: Iron is found in every living cell and is involved in various metabolic activities, including oxygen transport and storage. The adolescent age is a particularly unique period in life because of its responsibility in contributing to intense physical, psychosocial, and cognitive development. UNICEF rep...
Background: With more than 890 million people living with obesity and 2 to 5 billion adults expected to be overweight in 2022, OBS (obesity) is becoming one of the main health determinants in the world. This shows a significant increase since 1990, although there are regional variations in prevalence rates. Few studies...
Food insecurity and diet-related diseases do not only have detrimental effects to human health, but are also underpinned by food systems that are environmentally unsustainable and culturally disconnected. Ensuring access to a healthy, affordable, and sustainable diet is one of the greatest challenges facing many low- a...
