OBJECTIVE: To examine sex differences in nutritional status in relation to feeding practices over time in a cohort of HIV-exposed children participating in a complementary feeding programme in Rwanda. METHODS: We applied a longitudinal design with three measurements 2-3 months apart among infants participating in a complementary feeding programme who were 6-12 months old at baseline. Using early feeding practices and a composite infant and child feeding index (ICFI) as indicators of dietary patterns, we conducted a multivariate analysis using a cross-sectional time series to assess sex differences in nutritional status and to determine whether there was a link to discrepancies in dietary patterns. RESULTS: Among 222 boys and 258 girls, the mean (±SD) Z-score of stunting, wasting and underweight was -2.01 (±1.59), -0.15 (±1.46), -1.19 (±1.29) for boys; for girls they were -1.46 (±1.56), 0.22 (±1.29), -0.63 (±1.19); all sex differences in all three indicators were statistically significant (P < 0.001). However, there were only minor differences in early feeding practices and none in the ICFI by sex. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-exposed male children may be at higher risk of malnutrition in low-resource setting countries than their female counterparts. However, at least in a setting where complementary foods are being provided, explanations may lie outside the sphere of dietary patterns.
OBJECTIVE: To examine sex differences in nutritional status in relation to feeding practices over time in a cohort of HIV-exposed children participating in a complementary feeding programme in Rwanda. METHODS: We applied a longitudinal design with three measurements 2-3 months apart among infants participating in a complementary feeding programme who were 6-12 months old at baseline. Using early feeding practices and a composite infant and child feeding index (ICFI) as indicators of dietary patterns, we conducted a multivariate analysis using a cross-sectional time series to assess sex differences in nutritional status and to determine whether there was a link to discrepancies in dietary patterns. RESULTS: Among 222 boys and 258 girls, the mean (±SD) Z-score of stunting, wasting and underweight was -2.01 (±1.59), -0.15 (±1.46), -1.19 (±1.29) for boys; for girls they were -1.46 (±1.56), 0.22 (±1.29), -0.63 (±1.19); all sex differences in all three indicators were statistically significant (P < 0.001). However, there were only minor differences in early feeding practices and none in the ICFI by sex. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-exposed male children may be at higher risk of malnutrition in low-resource setting countries than their female counterparts. However, at least in a setting where complementary foods are being provided, explanations may lie outside the sphere of dietary patterns.
Keywords:
HIV; Ruanda; Rwanda; VIH; children; diferencias relacionadas con el sexo; différence entre les sexes; enfants; estatus nutricional; niños; nutritional status; sex difference; état nutritionnel
Authors: Neza Guillaine; Wilberforce Mwizerwa; Jackline Odhiambo; Bethany L Hedt-Gauthier; Lisa R Hirschhorn; Placidie Mugwaneza; Jean Paul Umugisha; Felix Rwabukwisi Cyamatare; Christine Mutaganzwa; Neil Gupta Journal: Int J MCH AIDS Date: 2017
Authors: Susan Thurstans; Charles Opondo; Andrew Seal; Jonathan Wells; Tanya Khara; Carmel Dolan; André Briend; Mark Myatt; Michel Garenne; Rebecca Sear; Marko Kerac Journal: BMJ Glob Health Date: 2020-12
Authors: Elizabeth T Rogawski McQuade; Stephen Clark; Eliwaza Bayo; Rebecca J Scharf; Mark D DeBoer; Crystal L Patil; Jean C Gratz; Eric R Houpt; Erling Svensen; Estomih R Mduma; James A Platts-Mills Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2019-03 Impact factor: 2.345