Meeting reports and presentations

April 2011

Members of the LNS Research Network met on 8th April in Washington DC. About 115 people attended, representing over half of our Network.

Download the meeting report here

Meeting objectives

To share information and updates on new, current, and recent research on the potential of lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) to contribute to prevention of undernutrition in vulnerable groups.
To facilitate exchanges between researchers and practitioners who share a common interest in this topic.

The meeting handouts, including the program and abstracts for oral and poster presentations are available here. Some presentations are also available. Network members also shared two-page descriptions of new ongoing and planned research, and methods/tools.

Handouts

Presentations

Potential benefits of a preventive distribution: results of an observational cohort study during the hunger gap in Niger, 2010 – presented by Sandra Cohuet, Epicentre
Does a lipid-based-nutrient supplement + infant feeding education improve growth outcomes among HIV-exposed infants in Haiti? – presented by Rebecca Heidkamp, Cornell University and GHESKIO (Haiti)
Preventing Malnutrition: Operational Research Using Two Blanket Distribution Approaches in Two Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps of South Darfur, Sudan – presented by Erin Boyd, UNICEF and Leisel Talley, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Operational Guidance on the use of special nutrition products including LNS in refugee contexts – presented by Sarah Style (ENN) and Caroline Wilkinson (UNHCR). Also available: Executive summary of the draft UNHCR Operational Guidance [pdf]
Caregiver and child behaviors in rural Malawi differ during LNS and usual complementary feeding episodes – presented by Valerie Flax, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Intra-household use and acceptability of Ready to Use Supplemental Foods distributed in Niger between July and December 2010 – presented by Sandra Cohuet, Epicentre
Formative research for the development of a market-based home fortification program for young children in Niger – Presented by Katie Tripp, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Willingness-to-pay for a new maternal nutrient supplement: Preliminary results -- Presented by Steve Vosti, University of California, Davis
Tapping the Codex Alimentarius process to improve the nutrition of older infants and young children – Presented by Anna Lartey, University of Ghana
Complementary foods: Creating the space for their ethical marketing – Presented by Jane Badham, JB Consultancy
Complementary foods: Challenges and opportunities within the regulatory landscape – Presented by Lara Sweet, JB Consultancy
Global assessment of home fortification interventions -- Presented by Laura Irizarry, UNICEF

Information sharing: ongoing and new research

Information sharing on methods, tools

October 2010

At the 4th Africa Nutritional Epidemiology Conference (ANEC IV) in Nairobi, the iLiNS Project sponsored and facilitated a symposium on the use of lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) in the treatment and prevention of childhood malnutrition.