PhD defence: Acceptability of supplementary foods for children with moderate acute malnutrition and feeding behaviours during home-based treatment

Ann-Sophie Iuel-Brockdorff

Child from Burkina Faso

PhD thesis

Acceptability of various nutritional products for the treatment of children with moderate acute malnutrition and feeding behaviors during home-based treatment with the products were evaluated in a large randomized controlled trial in Burkina Faso.

The study showed high acceptability of all products, but children receiving a corn-soy blend (CSB) more often had left-overs after meals and a forced feeding style was more frequently applied compared to children receiving a lipid-based peanut paste (lipid-based nutrient supplement, LNS). In addition, CSB was not served as frequently or cooked as recommended. LNS and all products with a high content of milk were generally more appreciated, while taste, smell and texture were not influenced by the amount of milk or the quality of soy in the products. Both CSB and LNS were shared with other children in the household.

These findings substantiate results related to the biological effect of the products, thus contribute to the evidence that can provide the basis for future treatment of the millions of children with moderate acute malnutrition. The study was a collaboration between the University of Copenhagen, Médecins sans Frontiéres-DK and ALIMA.

2017, 146 pages,
ISBN 978 87 7209 040 5.

Time

1 September 2017, 13:00

Place

Auditorium A2-70.04 (Marble Hall), Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1958 Frederiksberg C

Opponents 

Professor Christian Mølgaard (chair), Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Nutrition Scientist Victor Ochieng Owino, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria.

Senior Researcher Ulla Ashorn, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland.

Supervisor

Professor Henrik Friis, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Co-supervisor

Pediatric Consultant Vibeke Brix Christensen, Department of Paediatrics, Righospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Lecturer Tania Åse Dræbel, Department of International Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.