{"title":"Is Self-Reported Morbidity Associated with Nutritional Status? A Community-Based Study Among Urban Slum Dwelling Adult Males in West Bengal, India.","authors":"Pradip Hore, Kaushik Bose, Raja Chakraborty","doi":"10.1080/03670244.2026.2671336","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2026.2671336","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Self-reported morbidity (SRM) is used in public health studies to assess community health profile and awareness. SRM was associated with socioeconomic status more sensitively than objective health measures. However, its usefulness was critically questioned for the plausible bias of subjective social experience. The present study assessed whether anthropometric profile, as objective marker of health, significantly varied according to SRM status among urban adult male slum dwellers. This study included 474 adult men. Height, weight, and skinfolds thicknesses were measured and body mass index was computed. Morbidity was recorded as self-reported incidence of any illness during the previous 30 days and also for the previous one year excluding 30 days prior to the study. All the anthropometric measures, except height, had the lowest values in repeated illness group and the highest in the group reporting no illness. The study clearly indicated that SRM was a sensitive indicator of nutritional status.</p>","PeriodicalId":11511,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of Food and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147863624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nutritional Status and Its Effects on Birth Outcomes Among Postpartum Women in Windhoek, Namibia.","authors":"Timea Namutenya Nghwada, Dibaba Gemechu, Samuel Kayode Dominion Bamitale, Kouame Koffi, Yapo Guillaume Aboua","doi":"10.1080/03670244.2026.2663764","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2026.2663764","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maternal nutrition critically influences maternal health and fetal development. Sub-Saharan Africa faces a \"double burden\" of persistent undernutrition and rising obesity; however, Namibia lacks population-level data regarding postpartum nutritional status and birth outcomes. This study evaluated the effects of nutrition on pregnancy outcomes among 229 postpartum women in Windhoek, Namibia. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 28. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including chi-square tests and ANOVA. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results showed that 12.2% of participants were undernourished, 78.6% were normal weight, and 9.2% were obese. Gestational weight gain (GWG) was significantly associated with preterm birth (p = 0.043) and low birth weight (LBW) (p = 0.006). Maternal nutritional status was also significantly linked to LBW (p = 0.046). These findings underscore the importance of maternal nutrition for improving health outcomes for both mothers and newborns.</p>","PeriodicalId":11511,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of Food and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147863630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Whitney Fung Uy, Laura E Balis, Katie Nelson, Emily Shaw, Maryan Isack, Laura Flournoy, Jessie Deelo, Amy L Yaroch
{"title":"Specialty Crop Impacts on the Environment and Health in the U.S. Midwest: A Qualitative Study Guided by the RE-AIM Framework.","authors":"Whitney Fung Uy, Laura E Balis, Katie Nelson, Emily Shaw, Maryan Isack, Laura Flournoy, Jessie Deelo, Amy L Yaroch","doi":"10.1080/03670244.2026.2669920","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2026.2669920","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The agriculture sector contributed to 9.4% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States in 2022. While some agricultural practices may negatively impact both the environment and human health, specialty crop production may offer market benefits to some producers and potentially improve environmental and health outcomes. The study aimed to understand the environmental and health impacts of locally distributed specialty crops in the Midwest, an agricultural region focused on commodity crops. Semi-structured interviews, guided by the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance) framework, were conducted with specialty crop producers (n=11) and food access practitioners (n=15). Producers reported adopting sustainable practices and observing environmental benefits; however, more large-scale, rigorous studies are needed to show measurable impacts. While food access programs showed improved health outcomes, benefits of local food distribution were not evaluated. Findings present an opportunity for greater collaboration among food system partners to increase specialty crop production and distribution.</p>","PeriodicalId":11511,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of Food and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"1-26"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147834092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prevalence and Determinants of Anemia Among Rural Women: A Comprehensive Review.","authors":"Mariam Waheed, Sadia Batool, Hafiz Iftikhar Hussain, Ume-E-Salma Liaqat, Arslan Arshad, Muhammad Muzammil Hasnain, Muhammad Mudassir Riaz, Maham Fatima, Saima Talib","doi":"10.1080/03670244.2025.2580013","DOIUrl":"10.1080/03670244.2025.2580013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anemia is a major public health concern affecting rural women during pregnancy and contributing to maternal and fetal complications. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most prevalent form linked to inadequate diet, repeated pregnancies, and limited access to healthcare. Infections, poverty, low health literacy further increase the risk. According to epidemiological studies, in rural areas, anemia prevalence exceeds 60% with maternal impacts such as fatigue, infections, postpartum depression, and even risk of death for the mother, while restricted growth of fetus in womb, premature birth, and delayed brain development are also linked. Poverty and cultural obstacles make it even harder to diagnose and prevent anemia. Rather, insufficient use of food supplements worsens outcomes. Future efforts should focus on affordable diagnostics and context-specific interventions for addressing anemia.</p>","PeriodicalId":11511,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of Food and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"4-25"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145376635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"From Deficiency to Resilience: Maternal Nutrition Equity, Food Systems, and Biocultural Capital.","authors":"Sunil K Khanna","doi":"10.1080/03670244.2026.2639916","DOIUrl":"10.1080/03670244.2026.2639916","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11511,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of Food and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147344057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Janet Adede Carboo, Liska Robb, Elizabeth Margaretha Jordaan, Jennifer Ngounda, Corinna May Walsh
{"title":"Dietary Diversity and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in Central South Africa: The NuEMI Study.","authors":"Janet Adede Carboo, Liska Robb, Elizabeth Margaretha Jordaan, Jennifer Ngounda, Corinna May Walsh","doi":"10.1080/03670244.2026.2626874","DOIUrl":"10.1080/03670244.2026.2626874","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Poor dietary diversity (DD) in pregnancy can lead to nutritional deficiencies, resulting in poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. This cross-sectional study assessed the DD of 681 pregnant women in a tertiary hospital in South Africa. DD, household food insecurity and sociodemographic status were assessed using the MDD-W indicator, HFIAS and a questionnaire. 99.4% of participants consumed starchy staples, while only 7.9%, 10.6% and 13.5% consumed pulses; nuts and seeds; and dark green leafy vegetables, respectively. Only 32.9% achieved the MDD-W. Unemployment, having only primary education, severe food insecurity, as well as monthly income of 100-1000 ZAR and 1001-3000 ZAR were associated with 69% (<i>p</i> < .001), 72% (<i>p</i> = .010), 43% (<i>p</i> = .024), 82% (<i>p</i> < .001) and 50% (<i>p</i> = .003) decreased odds of achieving MDD-W, respectively. The findings indicate low DD and likely micronutrient inadequacy among this population of pregnant women. Lower monthly income, lower educational level, unemployment and severe household food insecurity were associated with inadequate DD. Addressing structural barriers, including poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity, is essential to support a more diverse diet during pregnancy.</p>","PeriodicalId":11511,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of Food and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"26-43"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146112348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anne C Bellows, Sudha Raj, Marguerite Leek, Stewart A W Diemont, Matthew R Potteiger, Arcènia Notilija Vilanculo, Katherine Korba
{"title":"Foraging and Biocultural Capital: Toward Nutritional and Intergenerational Resilience in Community Food Systems.","authors":"Anne C Bellows, Sudha Raj, Marguerite Leek, Stewart A W Diemont, Matthew R Potteiger, Arcènia Notilija Vilanculo, Katherine Korba","doi":"10.1080/03670244.2026.2632633","DOIUrl":"10.1080/03670244.2026.2632633","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Extrapolating from Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital, this paper introduces biocultural capital as capacity and asset to steward land, food, and knowledge in public commons for present and future generations. At the nexus of nutrition, planetary health and cultural well-being, foraging can support community-based biocultural capital in developing local self-determination and dignity with regard to local food sovereignty and nutrition security. A case study in Syracuse, New York, USA, investigates how community partners and interested residents identify strategies to build biocultural capital through community-based foraging knowledge, networks, and practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":11511,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of Food and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"44-76"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147347676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Between Two Worlds: Challenges Measuring Food Insecurity with a Standardized Scale in a Multiethnic Peri-Urban Indigenous Community in the Brazilian Amazon.","authors":"Harold M Wright, Barbara A Piperata","doi":"10.1080/03670244.2025.2539524","DOIUrl":"10.1080/03670244.2025.2539524","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Globally, household food security is commonly measured using standardized instruments emphasizing food access. Many such instruments, including the one used in Brazil (E<i>scala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar</i> - EBIA), are derived from the US Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). However, the use of such instruments among non-Western populations has been questioned. Our goal was to understand how Indigenous residents of <i>Parque das Tribos</i>, a multiethnic community in Manaus, Brazil, perceived the EBIA's ability to capture their food security experiences. To achieve this, we conducted focus group discussions (FGDs). Results indicate frustration with the instrument's language which impeded understanding and generated feelings of inadequacy and distrust. Participants indicated the EBIA did not adequately capture their challenges accessing food and, thus, miscalculated community food insecurity. These findings support previous research arguing for adapting standardized food security instruments to local contexts while preserving the ability to compare findings across settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":11511,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of Food and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"311-338"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144728690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Gender Inequality in Nutritional Status among Indian Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Shatasree Mazumdar, Subho Roy","doi":"10.1080/03670244.2025.2602593","DOIUrl":"10.1080/03670244.2025.2602593","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we examined how gender inequality influences undernutrition among Indian children across varying social structures. Studies on rural and urban patrilineal and matrilineal communities reporting the prevalence of undernutrition in children were included, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We conducted three random-effects meta-analyses to estimate the relative risk (RR) of undernutrition, with boys as the control and girls as the intervention group. In total, 58 articles (73,910 children) were analyzed and classified into three categories, i.e., urban tribal and non-tribal (n = 11), rural non-tribal (n = 13), and rural tribal (n = 34). We found that gender disparity in undernutrition is locale- and population-specific, with girls from rural tribal communities experiencing a higher risk (RR 1.062) than their rural non-tribal and urban counterparts.</p>","PeriodicalId":11511,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of Food and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"373-394"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145767479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bunga A Paramashanti, Michael J Dibley, Tanvir M Huda, Christiana R Titaley, Neeloy Ashraful Alam
{"title":"Understanding Complementary Feeding Practices and Their Influencing Factors in Rural and Urban Indonesia: A Qualitative Study.","authors":"Bunga A Paramashanti, Michael J Dibley, Tanvir M Huda, Christiana R Titaley, Neeloy Ashraful Alam","doi":"10.1080/03670244.2025.2599747","DOIUrl":"10.1080/03670244.2025.2599747","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examines caregivers' practices and factors affecting solid food introduction, meal frequency, and dietary diversity in rural and urban Indonesia. Interviews with 46 caregivers, 2 health professionals, and 10 community health workers in Central Java, Indonesia, were analyzed thematically. Findings reveal that most children began complementary feeding at six months, with rural caregivers occasionally delaying solids based on perceived readiness. While meal frequency was similar, rural diets lacked diversity compared to urban ones, especially in animal-sourced foods, fruit, and pulses. Social, environmental, and individual factors shaped feeding practices, highlighting the need for tailored nutrition education and a multisectoral approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":11511,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of Food and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"356-372"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145699852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}