Does Weekly Iron Supplementation Increase Iron Uptake In Pregnant Women And Improve Maternal And Infant Health?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$830,171.00
Summary
Anaemia and iron deficiency are common in pregnant women in developing countries and cause fatigue, prematurity, low birth weight, impaired infant groowth and development. Daily iron is recommended in pregnancy but often not taken because of unpleasant side-effects. Better strategies are needed to maintain iron and haemoglobin during pregnancy. We will compare the effect of weekly and daily iron tablets in 1200 pregnant Vietnamese women on anaemia rates, birthweight, maternal and infant health.
Cash Transfers And Behaviour Change Communications To Reduce Child Undernutrition In Rural Bangladesh: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial To Determine The Most Effective Combination Of Interventions.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,415,801.00
Summary
Under-nutrition of children remains a major global public health problem. Tackling this problem will require more evidence about what combination of nutrition-specific and nutrition sensitive interventions is most effective in reducing child undernutrition. We plan a large scale trial in rural Bangladesh to compare the effects of communications about nutrition with mobile phones and cash transfers in preventing child malnutrition.
Integrated Solutions For Healthy Birth, Growth, And Development: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of A Mixed Nutrition Intervention Package In Reducing Child Undernutrition In Lao People's Democratic Republic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,558,516.00
Summary
The proposed research will provide scientific evidence of the effectiveness of a mixed nutrition intervention package to reduce undernutrition in children aged 18 months or less in Lao PDR. To date there have been no studies that have used robust designs to assess such an approach. The proposal is consistent with the Lao National Nutrition Strategy and National Plan of Action in terms of the elements and the level of the intervention within a rapidly decentralising healh system
Improving The Outcomes Of Mothers And Babies Through Nutritional Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,409.00
Summary
Dr Makrides will undertake extensive investigations to determine optimal levels of a range of nutrients in the diet of pregnant women and preterm and term babies. The period from conception until 2 years after birth, the ‘first 1,000 days’, is designated by the World Health Organisation as the “window of opportunity” that is critical to ensuring a healthy start to life which in turn leads to improved long term health of the population.
Omega 3 Fats To Reduce The Incidence Of Prematurity: The ORIP Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,705,590.00
Summary
The most significant perinatal problem in the world today is early preterm birth with its consequent threat to life and life-long health in survivors. Fish oils have been suggested to overcome this problem. Encouraging results have been obtained from small trials that need substantiation in a large well designed trial. The ORIP trial, involving approximately 5510 women, will provide a definitive answer to the question of whether maternal fish oils supplementation reduces early preterm birth.
Many dietary recommendations are inconsistent and based on inadequate research based on 1970s technologies. As a result, the current recommendations are almost impossible to meet from foods, without nutritional supplements. Using state-of-the-art technology, this research aims to redefine the nutritional requirements omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, iron and iodine, as well as the correct balance of energy producing macronutrients in the diet of mothers and their children.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Iodine Supplementation In Pregnancy To Enhance Neurodevelopment In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,032,008.00
Summary
The mild iodine deficiency common among people living in South Eastern Australia is of sufficient concern for the government to order that all bread be fortified with low dose iodine. This fortification falls well short of the amount health workers think is required by pregnant women and this could prove harmful to their children. This trial will determine if a daily iodine tablet taken during pregnancy improves the development of children.