Yesterday our Research Centre Director Professor Ute Feucht presented some of our results on the influence of various maternal, fetal, neonatal, and infant factors on infant anthropometric and body composition outcomes at 18 months. 

Key findings:
Exposure to maternal HIV infection and an impaired placental function (placental insufficiency) significantly reduced infant length and length-for-age z-scores at 18 months, with potential long-term consequences such as stunting. 
Household food insecurity was associated with a lower infant fat-free mass-for-age z-score at 18 months, showing the impact of both prenatal and postnatal nutrition on infant outcomes.

These findings underscore the profound interplay between early-life conditions and long-term health, paving the way for targeted interventions to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.

#AIDS2024 #Research #Infantgrowth #HIV #Placentalinsufficiency #FGR #Foodsecurity #Infantfeeding #Nutrition

Ute Feucht Helen Mulol Friede Wenhold Sanja Nel