Seth Adu-Afarwuah
Biographic Data
| ID | 5458031 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Seth Adu-Afarwuah |
| GIVEN NAMES | Seth |
| FAMILY NAME | Adu-Afarwuah |
| SIGNATURE | ADU-AFARWUAH S |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Ghana |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2720-5474 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 27 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 28 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 27 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Haemoglobin concentration thresholds that discriminate functional outcomes among children aged 6–30 months in eight countries: A pooled analysis of individual participant data
Introduction The WHO cut-offs to define anaemia among children (haemoglobin, Hb <105 g/L in 6–23 months and <110 g/L in 24–59 months) are based on the distribution of Hb concentrations in a healthy population. Our objective was to identify Hb values that best discriminate functional outcomes among children aged 6–30 months. Methods We used previously compiled datasets from an individual participant data meta-analysis of effects of small quantity …
Economic, socio-emotional, and food security conditions during Covid-19 pandemic among caregivers of young adolescents aged 10–12 yrs in a semi-urban setting in Ghana
Few studies have described the consequences of the COVID − 19 pandemic among caregivers of young adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to explore the consequences of COVID-19 on economic, socio-emotional, and household food security conditions among caregivers of young adolescents in a semi-urban setting in the Eastern Region of Ghana. In this cross-sectional study, caregivers of young adolescents aged 10-12yrs in the Somanya-Kpong area wer…
Development and psychometric validation of a questionnaire assessing perception and acceptance of micronutrient-fortified bouillon cubes among non-index household members aged ≥ 15 years in northern G…
Micronutrient deficiencies remain a major public health issue in West Africa, contributing to anaemia, impaired cognitive development, and increased infection risk. Bouillon cubes, widely consumed in the region, offer a culturally appropriate means of micronutrient delivery. However, no validated instrument exists to assess the psychosocial and behavioural factors influencing household acceptance of fortified bouillon cubes. This study aimed to d…
Consumption of Selected Healthy and Unhealthy Food Groups and Associations With Nutritional Status Among Children 2–5 Years of Age in Northern Ghana
Poor diet quality may contribute to the multiple forms of malnutrition among children in Ghana. This cross-sectional study (1) described the prevalence and frequency of consumption of fruits, vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), salty snacks and sweet snacks among children 2-5 years in northern Ghana; (2) identified factors associated with consumption; and (3) examined relationships between consumption and nutritional status. Households w…
Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: A pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults
BACKGROUND: Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. METHODS: ). For school-aged children and adolescents, we report thinness (BMI 2 SD above the median). FINDINGS: From 1990 to 20…
Effect of Early‐Life Lipid‐Based Nutrient Supplement and Home Environment on Autonomic Nervous System Regulation at 9–11 Years: A Follow‐Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Nutrition and the home environment contribute to the development of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). However, no study has examined the long-term effects of prenatal and postnatal small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) and home environment on ANS regulation. We investigated the effect of early-life SQ-LNS and home environment on ANS regulation at 9-11 years. Participants were children born to women who participated in a rando…
Prevalence of morbidity symptoms among pregnant and postpartum women receiving different nutrient supplements in Ghana and Malawi: A secondary outcome analysis of two randomised controlled trials
Little is known about the impact of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNSs) on maternal morbidity. This secondary outcome analysis aimed to compare morbidity symptoms among women in two trials evaluating the efficacy of SQ-LNSs. From enrolment (≤20-week gestation) to 6 months postpartum, Ghanaian (n = 1320) and Malawian (n = 1391) women were assigned to consume daily: 60 mg iron and 400 μg folic acid until childbirth and placebo…
Micronutrient deficiencies among preschool-aged children and women of reproductive age worldwide: A pooled analysis of individual-level data from population-representative surveys
BACKGROUND: Micronutrient deficiencies compromise immune systems, hinder child growth and development, and affect human potential worldwide. Yet, to our knowledge, the only existing estimate of the global prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies is from over 30 years ago and is based only on the prevalence of anaemia. We aimed to estimate the global and regional prevalence of deficiency in at least one of three micronutrients among preschool-aged…
Preventive small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements reduce severe wasting and severe stunting among young children: An individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Including SQ-LNSs in preventive interventions to promote healthy child growth and development is likely to reduce rates of severe wasting and stunting. This meta-analysis was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO as CRD42019146592.
Consumption of multiple micronutrients or small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements containing iodine at the recommended dose during pregnancy, compared with iron and folic acid, does not affect…
Objectives: Inadequate iodine intake during pregnancy increases the risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate whether prenatal supplements containing iodine affect urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) of pregnant women in Malawi. Design: A randomised controlled trial. Pregnant women ( n 1391) were assigned to consume 60 mg/d Fe and 400 μg/d folic acid (IFA) or 18 vitamins and minerals including 250 μg/d iodine (MMN) or 20 g/d …
Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements for children age 6–24 months: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of effects on developmental outcomes and effect modifier…
Characteristics that modify the effect of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplementation on child growth: An individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Characteristics that modify the effect of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplementation on child anemia and micronutrient status: An individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized contr…
The impact of maternal supplementation during pregnancy and the first 6 months postpartum on the growth status of the next child born after the intervention period: Follow‐up results from Bangladesh a…
Pregnancy and breastfeeding make demands on maternal nutrient stores. The extent of depletion and the degree to which nutrient stores are replenished between pregnancies has implications for a mother's nutritional status at conception of the subsequent child and therefore that child's birth outcomes and growth. Using follow-up data collected several years after a randomized effectiveness trial conducted in rural Bangladesh and a randomized effica…
Risk factors for anaemia among Ghanaian women and children vary by population group and climate zone
Anaemia has serious effects on human health and has multifactorial aetiologies. This study aimed to determine putative risk factors for anaemia in children 6-59 months and 15- to 49-year-old non-pregnant women living in Ghana. Data from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey were analysed for associations between anaemia and various anaemia risk factors. National and stratum-specific multivariable regressions were constructed separate…
Maternal and child factors associated with child body fatness in a Ghanaian cohort
Objective: We aimed to identify factors (child diet, physical activity; maternal BMI) associated with body composition of Ghanaian pre-school children. Design: Longitudinal analysis of the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (iLiNS)-DYAD-Ghana randomized trial, which enrolled 1320 pregnant women at ≤20 weeks’ gestation and followed them and their infants until 6 and 18 months postpartum, respectively. At follow-up, child age 4–6 years,…
The association of early linear growth and haemoglobin concentration with later cognitive, motor, and social–emotional development at preschool age in Ghana
It is important to identify the periods during childhood when exposure to environmental risk factors results in long‐term neurodevelopmental deficits. Stunting and anaemia may be sensitive indicators of exposure to such risks. In a prospective cohort enrolled before birth, we investigated the association of developmental scores at 4–6 years with (a) birth length and linear growth during three postnatal periods and (2) haemoglobin (Hb) concentrati…
Ghanaian parents' perceptions of pre and postnatal nutrient supplements and their effects
Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) have been studied in efficacy and effectiveness trials, but little is known about how parents perceive the products and their effects. In a randomised trial in Ghana, efficacy of SQ-LNS provided to women during pregnancy and the first 6 months postpartum and to their children from 6 to 18 months of age was assessed by comparison with iron-folic acid (IFA) capsules and multiple micronutrient…
Unintended effects of a targeted maternal and child nutrition intervention on household expenditures, labor income, and the nutritional status of non-targeted siblings in Ghana
It is common for health and nutrition interventions to target specific household members and for evaluations of their effects to focus exclusively on those members. However, if a targeted intervention changes a household's utility maximization problem or influences decision-making, households might respond to the intervention in unintended ways with the potential to affect the wellbeing of non-targeted members. Using panel data from a randomized …
Supplementation during pregnancy with small‐quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplements or multiple micronutrients, compared with iron and folic acid, increases women's urinary iodine concentration in s…
There is little information on whether prenatal multiple micronutrient (MMN) supplements containing iodine affect women's iodine status. In the International Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements DYAD-Ghana trial, we aimed to assess women's urinary iodine concentration (UIC, μg/L) during pregnancy, as one of the planned secondary outcomes. Women (n = 1,320) <20 weeks of gestation were randomized to consume 60 mg iron and 400 μg folic acid per day (iro…
Willingness to pay for small‐quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplements for women and children: Evidence from Ghana and Malawi
Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) are designed to enrich maternal and child diets with the objective of preventing undernutrition during the first 1,000 days. Scaling up the delivery of supplements such as SQ-LNS hinges on understanding private demand and creatively leveraging policy-relevant factors that might influence demand. We used longitudinal stated willingness-to-pay (WTP) data from contingent valuation studies that…
Maternal plasma cholesterol and duration of pregnancy: A prospective cohort study in Ghana
Low plasma cholesterol may be associated with preterm birth; however, results are mixed and limited primarily to high-income countries. Our objective was to determine whether maternal plasma lipid concentrations are associated with pregnancy duration. We performed a nested cohort (n = 320) study of pregnant Ghanaian women enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipopr…
Impact of small quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplements on infant and young child feeding practices at 18 months of age: Results from four randomized controlled trials in Africa
Optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices can help ensure nutrient adequacy and support healthy growth and development. Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) have been proposed to help fill nutrient gaps, but little is known about the impact of provision of SQ-LNS on breastfeeding or complementary feeding practices. In the context of four coordinated randomized controlled nutrient supplementation trials in diverse…
Impact of small‐quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplement on hemoglobin, iron status and biomarkers of inflammation in pregnant Ghanaian women
We examined hemoglobin (Hb, g/L), iron status (zinc protoporphyrin, ZPP, μmol/mol heme, and transferrin receptor, TfR, mg/L) and inflammation (C-reactive protein, CRP and alpha-1 glycoprotein, AGP) in pregnant Ghanaian women who participated in a randomized controlled trial. Women (n = 1320) received either 60 mg Fe + 400-μg folic acid (IFA); 18 micronutrients including 20-mg Fe (MMN) or small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS, 11…
Maternal HIV is associated with reduced growth in the first year of life among infants in the E astern region of G hana: The R esearch to I mprove I nfant N utrition and G rowth ( Riing ) P roject
Children of HIV-infected mothers experience poor growth, but not much is understood about the extent to which such children are affected. The Research to Improve Infant Nutrition and Growth (RIING) Project used a longitudinal study design to investigate the association between maternal HIV status and growth among Ghanaian infants in the first year of life. Pregnant women in their third trimester were enrolled into three groups: HIV-negative (HIV-…
Characteristics that modify the effect of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplementation on child growth: An individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Unintended effects of a targeted maternal and child nutrition intervention on household expenditures, labor income, and the nutritional status of non-targeted siblings in Ghana
It is common for health and nutrition interventions to target specific household members and for evaluations of their effects to focus exclusively on those members. However, if a targeted intervention changes a household's utility maximization problem or influences decision-making, households might respond to the intervention in unintended ways with the potential to affect the wellbeing of non-targeted members. Using panel data from a randomized …
Preventive small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements reduce severe wasting and severe stunting among young children: An individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Including SQ-LNSs in preventive interventions to promote healthy child growth and development is likely to reduce rates of severe wasting and stunting. This meta-analysis was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO as CRD42019146592.
Randomized comparison of 3 types of micronutrient supplements for home fortification of complementary foods in Ghana: Effects on growth and motor development
Acceptability of lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) among Ghanaian infants and pregnant or lactating women: Acceptability of lipid-based nutrient supplements
Inadequate micronutrient intake during pregnancy, lactation and infancy is a major problem in many developing countries. Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) can improve micronutrient status, growth and development of infants, and also have potential to improve nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women. The objective of the study was to test the acceptability of LNS designed for infants (LNS-20gM) and pregnant or lactating women (LNS-P…
Maternal HIV is associated with reduced growth in the first year of life among infants in the E astern region of G hana: The R esearch to I mprove I nfant N utrition and G rowth ( Riing ) P roject
Children of HIV-infected mothers experience poor growth, but not much is understood about the extent to which such children are affected. The Research to Improve Infant Nutrition and Growth (RIING) Project used a longitudinal study design to investigate the association between maternal HIV status and growth among Ghanaian infants in the first year of life. Pregnant women in their third trimester were enrolled into three groups: HIV-negative (HIV-…
Maternal plasma cholesterol and duration of pregnancy: A prospective cohort study in Ghana
Low plasma cholesterol may be associated with preterm birth; however, results are mixed and limited primarily to high-income countries. Our objective was to determine whether maternal plasma lipid concentrations are associated with pregnancy duration. We performed a nested cohort (n = 320) study of pregnant Ghanaian women enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipopr…
Impact of small quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplements on infant and young child feeding practices at 18 months of age: Results from four randomized controlled trials in Africa
Optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices can help ensure nutrient adequacy and support healthy growth and development. Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) have been proposed to help fill nutrient gaps, but little is known about the impact of provision of SQ-LNS on breastfeeding or complementary feeding practices. In the context of four coordinated randomized controlled nutrient supplementation trials in diverse…
Impact of small‐quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplement on hemoglobin, iron status and biomarkers of inflammation in pregnant Ghanaian women
We examined hemoglobin (Hb, g/L), iron status (zinc protoporphyrin, ZPP, μmol/mol heme, and transferrin receptor, TfR, mg/L) and inflammation (C-reactive protein, CRP and alpha-1 glycoprotein, AGP) in pregnant Ghanaian women who participated in a randomized controlled trial. Women (n = 1320) received either 60 mg Fe + 400-μg folic acid (IFA); 18 micronutrients including 20-mg Fe (MMN) or small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS, 11…
Supplementation during pregnancy with small‐quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplements or multiple micronutrients, compared with iron and folic acid, increases women's urinary iodine concentration in s…
There is little information on whether prenatal multiple micronutrient (MMN) supplements containing iodine affect women's iodine status. In the International Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements DYAD-Ghana trial, we aimed to assess women's urinary iodine concentration (UIC, μg/L) during pregnancy, as one of the planned secondary outcomes. Women (n = 1,320) <20 weeks of gestation were randomized to consume 60 mg iron and 400 μg folic acid per day (iro…
Willingness to pay for small‐quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplements for women and children: Evidence from Ghana and Malawi
Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) are designed to enrich maternal and child diets with the objective of preventing undernutrition during the first 1,000 days. Scaling up the delivery of supplements such as SQ-LNS hinges on understanding private demand and creatively leveraging policy-relevant factors that might influence demand. We used longitudinal stated willingness-to-pay (WTP) data from contingent valuation studies that…
Ghanaian parents' perceptions of pre and postnatal nutrient supplements and their effects
Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) have been studied in efficacy and effectiveness trials, but little is known about how parents perceive the products and their effects. In a randomised trial in Ghana, efficacy of SQ-LNS provided to women during pregnancy and the first 6 months postpartum and to their children from 6 to 18 months of age was assessed by comparison with iron-folic acid (IFA) capsules and multiple micronutrient…
Unintended effects of a targeted maternal and child nutrition intervention on household expenditures, labor income, and the nutritional status of non-targeted siblings in Ghana
It is common for health and nutrition interventions to target specific household members and for evaluations of their effects to focus exclusively on those members. However, if a targeted intervention changes a household's utility maximization problem or influences decision-making, households might respond to the intervention in unintended ways with the potential to affect the wellbeing of non-targeted members. Using panel data from a randomized …
The association of early linear growth and haemoglobin concentration with later cognitive, motor, and social–emotional development at preschool age in Ghana
It is important to identify the periods during childhood when exposure to environmental risk factors results in long‐term neurodevelopmental deficits. Stunting and anaemia may be sensitive indicators of exposure to such risks. In a prospective cohort enrolled before birth, we investigated the association of developmental scores at 4–6 years with (a) birth length and linear growth during three postnatal periods and (2) haemoglobin (Hb) concentrati…
The impact of maternal supplementation during pregnancy and the first 6 months postpartum on the growth status of the next child born after the intervention period: Follow‐up results from Bangladesh a…
Pregnancy and breastfeeding make demands on maternal nutrient stores. The extent of depletion and the degree to which nutrient stores are replenished between pregnancies has implications for a mother's nutritional status at conception of the subsequent child and therefore that child's birth outcomes and growth. Using follow-up data collected several years after a randomized effectiveness trial conducted in rural Bangladesh and a randomized effica…
Risk factors for anaemia among Ghanaian women and children vary by population group and climate zone
Anaemia has serious effects on human health and has multifactorial aetiologies. This study aimed to determine putative risk factors for anaemia in children 6-59 months and 15- to 49-year-old non-pregnant women living in Ghana. Data from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey were analysed for associations between anaemia and various anaemia risk factors. National and stratum-specific multivariable regressions were constructed separate…
Maternal and child factors associated with child body fatness in a Ghanaian cohort
Objective: We aimed to identify factors (child diet, physical activity; maternal BMI) associated with body composition of Ghanaian pre-school children. Design: Longitudinal analysis of the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (iLiNS)-DYAD-Ghana randomized trial, which enrolled 1320 pregnant women at ≤20 weeks’ gestation and followed them and their infants until 6 and 18 months postpartum, respectively. At follow-up, child age 4–6 years,…
Consumption of multiple micronutrients or small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements containing iodine at the recommended dose during pregnancy, compared with iron and folic acid, does not affect…
Objectives: Inadequate iodine intake during pregnancy increases the risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate whether prenatal supplements containing iodine affect urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) of pregnant women in Malawi. Design: A randomised controlled trial. Pregnant women ( n 1391) were assigned to consume 60 mg/d Fe and 400 μg/d folic acid (IFA) or 18 vitamins and minerals including 250 μg/d iodine (MMN) or 20 g/d …
Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements for children age 6–24 months: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of effects on developmental outcomes and effect modifier…
Characteristics that modify the effect of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplementation on child growth: An individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Characteristics that modify the effect of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplementation on child anemia and micronutrient status: An individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized contr…
Micronutrient deficiencies among preschool-aged children and women of reproductive age worldwide: A pooled analysis of individual-level data from population-representative surveys
BACKGROUND: Micronutrient deficiencies compromise immune systems, hinder child growth and development, and affect human potential worldwide. Yet, to our knowledge, the only existing estimate of the global prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies is from over 30 years ago and is based only on the prevalence of anaemia. We aimed to estimate the global and regional prevalence of deficiency in at least one of three micronutrients among preschool-aged…
Preventive small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements reduce severe wasting and severe stunting among young children: An individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Including SQ-LNSs in preventive interventions to promote healthy child growth and development is likely to reduce rates of severe wasting and stunting. This meta-analysis was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO as CRD42019146592.
Prevalence of morbidity symptoms among pregnant and postpartum women receiving different nutrient supplements in Ghana and Malawi: A secondary outcome analysis of two randomised controlled trials
Little is known about the impact of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNSs) on maternal morbidity. This secondary outcome analysis aimed to compare morbidity symptoms among women in two trials evaluating the efficacy of SQ-LNSs. From enrolment (≤20-week gestation) to 6 months postpartum, Ghanaian (n = 1320) and Malawian (n = 1391) women were assigned to consume daily: 60 mg iron and 400 μg folic acid until childbirth and placebo…
Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: A pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults
BACKGROUND: Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. METHODS: ). For school-aged children and adolescents, we report thinness (BMI 2 SD above the median). FINDINGS: From 1990 to 20…
Effect of Early‐Life Lipid‐Based Nutrient Supplement and Home Environment on Autonomic Nervous System Regulation at 9–11 Years: A Follow‐Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Nutrition and the home environment contribute to the development of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). However, no study has examined the long-term effects of prenatal and postnatal small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) and home environment on ANS regulation. We investigated the effect of early-life SQ-LNS and home environment on ANS regulation at 9-11 years. Participants were children born to women who participated in a rando…
Consumption of Selected Healthy and Unhealthy Food Groups and Associations With Nutritional Status Among Children 2–5 Years of Age in Northern Ghana
Poor diet quality may contribute to the multiple forms of malnutrition among children in Ghana. This cross-sectional study (1) described the prevalence and frequency of consumption of fruits, vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), salty snacks and sweet snacks among children 2-5 years in northern Ghana; (2) identified factors associated with consumption; and (3) examined relationships between consumption and nutritional status. Households w…
Haemoglobin concentration thresholds that discriminate functional outcomes among children aged 6–30 months in eight countries: A pooled analysis of individual participant data
Introduction The WHO cut-offs to define anaemia among children (haemoglobin, Hb <105 g/L in 6–23 months and <110 g/L in 24–59 months) are based on the distribution of Hb concentrations in a healthy population. Our objective was to identify Hb values that best discriminate functional outcomes among children aged 6–30 months. Methods We used previously compiled datasets from an individual participant data meta-analysis of effects of small quantity …
Medicine (20 works) · Child Nutrition and Water Access (18 works) · Internal Medicine (12 works) · Environmental health (11 works) · Micronutrient (11 works) · Iron Metabolism and Disorders (10 works) · Pregnancy (10 works) · Pediatrics (9 works) · Population (9 works) · Demography (7 works)