Lisanne du Plessis

Stellenbosch University | SUN · Division of Human Nutrition

Background Globally, mothers have identified work as one of the main obstacles to exclusive and continued breastfeeding. The support a woman receives in her workplace in terms of workplace arrangements can be critical to enable women to continue breastfeeding. This study aimed to develop and assess the face validity of a practice model to support e...

Background. The positive deviance approach has been used to identify infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices associated with a reduction in stunting, but this research is limited in South Africa (SA). Objective. To identify strategies among positive deviant (PD) caregivers of non-stunted children aged 6 - 18 months that influence infant and...

Despite important nutrition-related policy and programmatic improvements in South Africa, rates of stunting among young children remain unacceptably high, while rates of overweight and obesity in this same population group are simultaneously on the rise. This study sought to examine the changes in the enabling environment for nutrition aimed at you...

Making contributions to reducing malnutrition entails sharing evidence and approaches among the research and practice communities, including through conferences. But who is involved in these processes, including who pays, matters both in terms of actions and optics. This paper was motivated by observations – in 2022 and historically – that the Inte...

In this paper we report on the development and field-testing of proposed food-based dietary guideline (FBDG) messages among Tanzanian consumers. The messages were tested for cultural appropriateness, consumer understanding, acceptability, and feasibility. In addition, comprehension of the messages was assessed using culturally representative images...

Background: This paper provides an overview of a series of studies undertaken to assess the appropriateness and understanding of the revised, draft South African Paediatric Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (SA-PFBDGs) amongst mothers/caregivers of children aged 0–5 years. Previous exposure to guidelines with similar messages, barriers and enablers to...

Objective To assess the appropriateness and understanding of the revised, draft South African Paediatric Food-Based Dietary (SA-PFBDGs) among mothers/caregivers of children between the ages of 3 and 5 years. Exposure to similar messages, barriers and enablers were also assessed. Design A qualitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study design was f...

Objective: To assess the appropriateness and understanding of the revised, draft South African Paediatric Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (SA-PFBDGs) among mothers/caregivers of children aged 12–36 months. Exposure to guidelines with similar messages, barriers and enablers to following of the guidelines were also assessed. Design: A descriptive cross...

Objectives: To determine the appropriateness and understanding of the revised, draft South African Paediatric Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (SA-PFBDG) among siSwati speaking mothers/caregivers of children aged 0–36 months. Previous exposure to guidelines with similar messages, barriers and enablers to following the guidelines were also assessed. De...

Objectives: To assess the appropriateness and understanding of the revised, draft South African Paediatric Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (SA-PFBDGs) amongst mothers/caregivers of children aged 0–12 months. Exposure to guidelines with similar messages, barriers and enablers to following of the guidelines were also assessed. Design: Qualitative data...

Background: As a low-middle income country, South Africa has seen an upsurge in the double burden of malnutrition (DBM). Owing to the rising costs of obesity on healthcare in South Africa, the National Treasury implemented a fiscal policy for the taxation of SSBs, known as the Health Promotion Levy, in line with the WHO recommendation. Potential n...

Objective This study aimed to determine the knowledge, perceptions and practices of dietitians in South Africa regarding the Regulations Relating to Foodstuffs for Infants and Young Children (R991). Design A mixed methods, cross-sectional design was used. Setting Quantitative data were collected using an online survey ( n 282) and qualitative dat...

Background: Breede Valley is a sub-district of the Cape Winelands district, Western Cape Province, South Africa. The administrative capital of the district is situated in the semi-rural town Worcester. Findings of a baseline survey in Worcester revealed poor infant feeding practices and childhood under- and overnutrition, with particular concern o...

Background. The Road-to-Health booklet (RtHB), a standardised national tool for growth monitoring and the assessment of health among children from birth to five years of age, was introduced in South Africa in February 2011. Objectives. The study assessed the implementation of growth monitoring and promotion, immunisation, vitamin A supplementation,...

Background. Age-specific health promotion messages appear in the Road-to-Health booklet (RtHB), an assessment and monitoring tool for child health in South Africa. Healthcare workers should communicate health promotion messages to caregivers at each clinic visit. This investigation was part of a larger RtHB survey. Objective. To assess the implemen...

This study aimed to assess the maternal anthropometric parameters of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and HIV-uninfected mothers as well as to assess the neonatal anthropometric parameters of premature infants in relation to maternal anthropometric parameters (weight, height and mid-upper-arm circumference), HIV status and anti-retrovira...

Introduction: A key strategy to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to reduce infant morbidity and mortality includes providing the HIV-exposed premature infant with breastmilk accompanied by dual anti-retroviral therapy (ART). The effects of HIV and ART on premature breastmilk composition are largely...

The study was to determine the role of Dietary diversity (DD), household food security (HFS), and agricultural biodiversity (AB) on stunted growth in children. Two cross‐sectional studies were undertaken 6 months apart. Interviews were done with mothers/caregivers and anthropometric measurements of children 24–59 months old. HFS was assessed by hou...

Background. Optimal nutrition during the first 1 000 days of life can reap lasting benefits throughout life. Objectives. To assess infant and young child-feeding (IYCF) practices and mother/caregiver-child anthropometry in two vulnerable Breede Valley communities, Western Cape. Methods. Mothers of children aged 0 - 23 months (N=322) were interviewe...

Objective: To describe why and how capacity-building systems for scaling up nutrition programmes should be constructed in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Design: Position paper with task force recommendations based on literature review and joint experience of global nutrition programmes, public health nutrition (PHN) workforce size, org...

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, notably bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. These diseases can be spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another. In this chapter, we will consider some of the most serious infectious diseases: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AID...

Background The Nutrition Therapeutic Programme (NTP) involves the provision of food supplements at primary health clinics (PHCs) to correct nutritional deficiencies in vulnerable groups. Although previous studies have identified problems with implementing the programme at PHCs, assessments of its efficiency have been scarce. Objective To evaluate...

Kenya has a high prevalence of underweight and stunting in children. It is believed that both agricultural biodiversity and seasonal rainfall influences household food security and dietary intake. In the present study we aimed to study the effects of agricultural biodiversity and seasonal rains on dietary adequacy and household food security of pre...

Background: The Nutrition Therapeutic Programme (NTP) involves the provision of food supplements at primary health clinics (PHCs) to correct nutritional deficiencies in vulnerable groups. Although previous studies have identified problems with implementing the programme at PHCs, assessments of its efficiency have been scarce. Objective: To evaluate...

Objective: This cross-sectional study examined the nutritional factors associated with the high levels of stunting in 2-5-year-old children in an impoverished South African setting where liver is frequently eaten and vitamin A deficiency known to be absent. Methods: Children’s dietary intake was assessed by a single 24-hour recall. Heights and wei...

Objectives: The objective of the study was to compare the infant-feeding practices of two subdistricts with different baby-friendly status in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Design: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study with an analytical component. Eighteen fieldworkers assisted with the data collection, utilising two set...

To assess the contribution of liver to the vitamin A intake of 24-59-month-old children from an impoverished South African community where liver is frequently consumed and vitamin A deficiency previously shown to be absent. Cross-sectional. Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Children aged 24-59 months (n 150). Vitamin A intake from liver was ass...

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) tend to have a poor nutritional status. This study aimed to gather information on body composition in patients with RA in private and public health settings in the City of Cape Town, South Africa (SA). This cross-sectional study evaluated adults with RA. Information on demographics, comorbidities and medicati...

This paper aims to summarise current evidence and highlight best practices, in order to propose a paediatric food-based dietary guideline (FBDG) on exclusive breastfeeding for South Africa. A literature search was conducted to profile the current nutritional status of children and breastfeeding practices in South Africa, reflect on the commitment a...

Nutrition during the first 1 000 days of life, i.e. from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday, has been shown to present a golden opportunity for nutrition interventions. 1-3 Therefore, it is critical to improve feeding and care practices during this period to enhance children’s growth, nutritional status, health and development. 1,3

Several nutrition intervention programmes have been implemented to alleviate malnutrition among young children in South Africa. However, both nationwide studies and smaller, region-based reports show that many of these programmes have failed to improve nutritional health among the target groups. This is an overview of the most important nutrition i...

Objectives. Malnutrition among young children is a major health problem in post-apartheid South Africa. Despite implementation of numerous health and nutrition programmes, these extensive efforts to alleviate the situation have not been adequately reviewed. Methods. We provide an overview of various aspects of the current nutritional health status...

In its different forms, malnutrition is said to be one of the greatest, and at the same time, one of the most preventable obstacles in terms of fulfillment of human potential and health status. It also places a significant burden on individuals, households and the national health system, as well as the entire cultural, social and economic make-up o...

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global effort to improve the role of maternity services and to enable mothers to breastfeed their infants, thus ensuring the best start in life for their infants. The foundation for the BFHI is the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (BF). It has been shown, however, that the selective implementat...

Current international breastfeeding guidelines recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, followed by the appropriate and adequate introduction of complementary foods at 6 months, with continued breastfeeding for 2 years and beyond. This guideline is based on evidence to support exclusive and extended breastfeeding as the optimal method of fee...

Objective. To assess the implementation of the vitamin A supplementation programme in primary health care (PHC) clinics in a rural area of the Western Cape Province. Material and methods. A study was conducted at 14 randomly selected PHC clinics. All children aged 6 - 60 months attending on the day of surveying with their mothers/caregivers were se...

Introduction In order to address poor breastfeeding rates, both nationally and internationally, there is a great need for ongoing breastfeeding training for students of health care professions and health care workers (HCWs). Despite the availability of courses, there is a need for new approaches to ensure greater and more effective coverage in brea...