Jeffery Sauer1, Lea Berrang-Ford2, Kaitlin Patterson3, Blanaid Donnelly4, Shuaib Lwasa5, Didas Namanya6, Carol Zavaleta7, James Ford8, Sherilee Harper9. 1. Geography Department, McGill University, Burnside Hall Building, Room 705, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, H3A0B9, Canada. Electronic address: jeffery.sauer@mail.mcgill.ca. 2. Priestly International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom. 3. Population Medicine and International Development, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada. 4. Geography Department, McGill University, Burnside Hall Building, Room 705, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, H3A0B9, Canada. 5. Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Climatic Sciences, School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, CAES, Makerere University, P.O Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team (IHACC(1)), Partners from Canada, Peru, Uganda. 6. Ugandan Ministry of Health, Department of Community Health, Plot 6, Lourdel Road, Nakasero, P.O Box 7272, Kampala, Uganda; Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team (IHACC(1)), Partners from Canada, Peru, Uganda. 7. Geography Department, McGill University, Burnside Hall Building, Room 705, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, H3A0B9, Canada; Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team (IHACC(1)), Partners from Canada, Peru, Uganda. 8. Priestly International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom; Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team (IHACC(1)), Partners from Canada, Peru, Uganda. 9. Population Medicine and International Development, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team (IHACC(1)), Partners from Canada, Peru, Uganda.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition is a persistent health concern throughout the world. Globally, Indigenous peoples experience poorer health outcomes compared to their non-Indigenous neighbours. Despite this, malnutrition among Indigenous populations is poorly understood. This analysis estimated the prevalence, and modeled possible determinants of, moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) for Indigenous Batwa and non-Indigenous Bakiga of Kanungu District in Southwestern Uganda. We then characterize possible mechanisms driving differences in malnutrition. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional surveys were administered to 10 Batwa communities and 10 matched Bakiga Local Councils during April of 2014 (n = 1167). Individuals were classified as MAM and SAM based on middle upper-arm circumference (MUAC) for their age-sex strata. Mixed-effects regression models quantified the variation in malnutrition occurrence, considering individual, household, and community-ethnicity level effects. Models controlled for age, sex, number of dependents, education, and relative wealth. RESULTS: Malnutrition is high among Batwa children and adults, with nearly half of Batwa adults (45.34%, 95% CI 34.82 to 55.86 for males; 45.86%, 95% CI 37.39 to 54.33 for females) and nearly a quarter of Batwa children (20.31%, 95% CI 13.07 to 26.93 for males; 25.81%, 95% CI 17.56 to 32.84 for females) meeting MAM criteria. SAM prevalence is lower than MAM prevalence, with SAM highest among adult Batwa males (11.60%, 95% CI 4.83 to 18.37) and adult Batwa females (3.00%, 95% CI 0.10 to 5.90). SAM prevalence among children was higher for Batwa males (7.03%, 95% CI 1.36 to 12.70) compared to Bakiga males (0.57%, 95% CI 0 to 1.69). Models that incorporated community ethnicity explained the greatest variance (>60%) in MUAC values. CONCLUSION: This research demonstrates a malnutrition inequality between the Indigenous Batwa and non-Indigenous Bakiga of Kanungu District, Uganda, with model results suggesting further investigation into the role of ethnicity as an upstream social determinant of health.
OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition is a persistent health concern throughout the world. Globally, Indigenous peoples experience poorer health outcomes compared to their non-Indigenous neighbours. Despite this, malnutrition among Indigenous populations is poorly understood. This analysis estimated the prevalence, and modeled possible determinants of, moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) for Indigenous Batwa and non-Indigenous Bakiga of Kanungu District in Southwestern Uganda. We then characterize possible mechanisms driving differences in malnutrition. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional surveys were administered to 10 Batwa communities and 10 matched Bakiga Local Councils during April of 2014 (n = 1167). Individuals were classified as MAM and SAM based on middle upper-arm circumference (MUAC) for their age-sex strata. Mixed-effects regression models quantified the variation in malnutrition occurrence, considering individual, household, and community-ethnicity level effects. Models controlled for age, sex, number of dependents, education, and relative wealth. RESULTS: Malnutrition is high among Batwa children and adults, with nearly half of Batwa adults (45.34%, 95% CI 34.82 to 55.86 for males; 45.86%, 95% CI 37.39 to 54.33 for females) and nearly a quarter of Batwa children (20.31%, 95% CI 13.07 to 26.93 for males; 25.81%, 95% CI 17.56 to 32.84 for females) meeting MAM criteria. SAM prevalence is lower than MAM prevalence, with SAM highest among adult Batwa males (11.60%, 95% CI 4.83 to 18.37) and adult Batwa females (3.00%, 95% CI 0.10 to 5.90). SAM prevalence among children was higher for Batwa males (7.03%, 95% CI 1.36 to 12.70) compared to Bakiga males (0.57%, 95% CI 0 to 1.69). Models that incorporated community ethnicity explained the greatest variance (>60%) in MUAC values. CONCLUSION: This research demonstrates a malnutrition inequality between the Indigenous Batwa and non-Indigenous Bakiga of Kanungu District, Uganda, with model results suggesting further investigation into the role of ethnicity as an upstream social determinant of health.
Authors: Julia M Bryson; Kaitlin Patterson; Lea Berrang-Ford; Shuaib Lwasa; Didacus B Namanya; Sabastian Twesigomwe; Charity Kesande; James D Ford; Sherilee L Harper Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-03-24 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Tebogo T Leepile; Kaelo Mokomo; Maitseo M M Bolaane; Andrew D Jones; Akira Takada; Jennifer L Black; Eduardo Jovel; Crystal D Karakochuk Journal: Nutrients Date: 2021-03-28 Impact factor: 5.717