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With research staff from more than 60 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

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researcher spotlight

Samuel Benin

Samuel Benin is the Acting Director for Africa in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit. He conducts research on national strategies and public investment for accelerating food systems transformation in Africa and provides analytical support to the African Union’s CAADP Biennial Review.

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IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

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Taddese Zerfu

Research Fellow

Bio

Taddese Zerfu is a Research Fellow in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit. Taddese’s research focuses on improving understanding about the nexus between agriculture, nutrition, and health (ANH). He is specifically interested in the complex interactions between livestock farming, animal-source food consumption, and maternal and child nutrition. He is also interested in investigating maternal and child health-related issues in low- and middle-income country settings. Prior to his work at IFPRI, he was as a clinician, researcher, and academic for over 18 years in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and the UK. He served as a technical advisor and later a Senior Research Advisor for the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) in Ethiopia.

Taddese completed the Innovative Methods and Metrics for Agriculture and Nutrition Actions (IMMANA) postdoctoral fellowship, Tufts University, and held a Post-Doctoral Research Scientist job at the Nairobi-based African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC). He recently completed the prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship at the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems (GAAFS), University of Edinburgh (UoE). In addition, he has been extensively involved in teaching postgraduate students and supporting a research project for the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), based in Nairobi, Kenya. Taddese is the winner of the 2016 Tore Godal Medal award, the African Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship (ADDRF), and several other research grants. He received his PhD in Food Science and Nutrition from Addis Ababa University (AAU) in 2016 and holds masters in Public Health from Jimma University.

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Publications

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Journal Article

Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022–2050: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

2024GBD 2021 Forecasting Collaborators; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu
Details

Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022–2050: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BACKGROUND Future trends in disease burden and drivers of health are of great interest to policy makers and the public at large. This information can be used for policy and long-term health investment, planning, and prioritisation. We have expanded and improved upon previous forecasts produced as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) and provide a reference forecast (the most likely future), and alternative scenarios assessing disease burden trajectories if selected sets of risk factors were eliminated from current levels by 2050. INTERPRETATION Globally, life expectancy and age-standardised disease burden were forecasted to improve between 2022 and 2050, with the majority of the burden continuing to shift from CMNNs to NCDs. That said, continued progress on reducing the CMNN disease burden will be dependent on maintaining investment in and policy emphasis on CMNN disease prevention and treatment. Mostly due to growth and ageing of populations, the number of deaths and DALYs due to all causes combined will generally increase. By constructing alternative future scenarios wherein certain risk exposures are eliminated by 2050, we have shown that opportunities exist to substantially improve health outcomes in the future through concerted efforts to prevent exposure to well established risk factors and to expand access to key health interventions.

Year published

2024

Authors

GBD 2021 Forecasting Collaborators; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu

Citation

GBD 2021 Forecasting Collaborators. 2024. Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022–2050: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet 403(10440): 2204-2256. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00685-8

Keywords

Diseases; Health; Health Policies; Forecasting; Modelling; Mortality

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(24)00685-8 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Journal Article

Perceptions towards management of acute malnutrition by community health volunteers in northern Kenya

2024
Wambui, Elizabeth; Wilunda, Calistus; Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre; Mwangi, Bonventure; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu; Daniel, Tewoldeberha; Agutu, Olivia; Samburu, Betty; Kavoo, Daniel; Karimurio, Lydia
…more Cuellar, Pilar Charle; Keane, Emily; Schofield, Lilly; Njiru, James; Chabi, Martin; Maina, Lucy Gathigi; Okoth, Peter F.; Raburu, Judith; Gichohi, Grace; Mutua, Alex; Matanda, Charles; Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth
Details

Perceptions towards management of acute malnutrition by community health volunteers in northern Kenya

Child undernutrition is a persistent challenge in arid and semi-arid areas due to low and erratic rainfall, recurrent droughts and food insecurity. In these settings, caregivers face several challenges in accessing health services for sick and/or malnourished children, including long distances to health facilities, harsh terrain, and lack of money to pay for transportation costs to the health facilities, leading to low service coverage and sub-optimal treatment outcomes. To address these challenges and optimize treatment outcomes, the World Health Organization recommends utilizing community health volunteers (CHVs) to manage acute malnutrition in the community. This study explored the perceptions of community members regarding acute malnutrition treatment by CHVs in Turkana and Isiolo counties in Kenya. The study utilized a cross-sectional study design and included a purposive sample of caregivers of children, CHVs, officers who trained and supervised CHVs and community leaders in the intervention area. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used to explore perceptions towards the management of acute malnutrition by CHVs. Generally, caregivers and CHVs perceived the intervention to be beneficial as it readily addressed acute malnutrition treatment needs in the community. The intervention was perceived to be acceptable, effective, and easily accessible. The community health structure provided a platform for commodity supply and management and CHV support supervision. This was a major enabler in implementing the intervention. The intervention faced operational and systemic challenges that should be considered before scale-up.

Year published

2024

Authors

Wambui, Elizabeth; Wilunda, Calistus; Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre; Mwangi, Bonventure; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu; Daniel, Tewoldeberha; Agutu, Olivia; Samburu, Betty; Kavoo, Daniel; Karimurio, Lydia; Cuellar, Pilar Charle; Keane, Emily; Schofield, Lilly; Njiru, James; Chabi, Martin; Maina, Lucy Gathigi; Okoth, Peter F.; Raburu, Judith; Gichohi, Grace; Mutua, Alex; Matanda, Charles; Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth

Citation

Wambui, Elizabeth; Wilunda, Calistus; Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre; Mwangi, Bonventure; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu; et al. 2024. Perceptions towards management of acute malnutrition by community health volunteers in northern Kenya. PLOS Global Public Health 4(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002564

Country/Region

Kenya

Keywords

Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Africa; Malnutrition; Food Security; Health Services; Transport; Children; Child Care

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002564 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Journal Article

Potential effectiveness of integrating human milk banking and lactation support on neonatal outcomes at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, Kenya

2024
Wilunda, Calistus; Israel-Ballard, Kiersten; Wanjohi, Milka; Lang’at, Nelson; Mansen, Kimberly; Waiyego, Mary; Kibore, Minnie; Kamande, Eva; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu; Kithua, Angela
…more Muganda, Rosemarie; Muiruri, Juliana; Maina, Beth; Njuguna, Emily; Njeru, Faith; Kiige, Laura W.; Codjia, Patrick; Samburu, Betty; Mogusu, Esther; Ngwiri, Thomas; Mirie, Waithera; Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth W.
Details

Potential effectiveness of integrating human milk banking and lactation support on neonatal outcomes at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, Kenya

We assessed the potential effectiveness of human milk banking and lactation support on provision of human milk to neonates admitted in the newborn unit (NBU) at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, Kenya. This pre–post intervention study collected data from mothers/caregivers and their vulnerable neonates or term babies who lacked sufficient mother’s milk for several reasons admitted in the NBU. The intervention included establishing a human milk bank and strengthening lactation support. Preintervention data were collected between 5 October 2018 and 11 November 2018, whereas postintervention data were collected between 4 September 2019 and 6 October 2019. Propensity score-matched analysis was performed to assess the effect of the intervention on exclusive use of human milk, use of human milk as the first feed, feeding intolerance and duration of NBU stay. The surveys included 123 and 116 newborns at preintervention and postintervention, respectively, with 160 newborns (80 in each group) being included in propensity score matched analysis. The proportion of neonates who exclusively used human milk during NBU stay increased from 41.3% preintervention to 63.8% postintervention (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31, 5.53) and those whose first feed was human milk increased from 55.0% preintervention to 83.3% postintervention (adjusted OR: 5.09; 95% CI: 2.18, 11.88). The mean duration of NBU stay was 27% (95% CI: 5.8%, 44.0%) lower in the postintervention group than in the preintervention group. The intervention did not affect feeding intolerance. Integrating human milk banking and lactation support may improve exclusive use of human milk among vulnerable neonates in a resource limited setting.

Year published

2024

Authors

Wilunda, Calistus; Israel-Ballard, Kiersten; Wanjohi, Milka; Lang’at, Nelson; Mansen, Kimberly; Waiyego, Mary; Kibore, Minnie; Kamande, Eva; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu; Kithua, Angela; Muganda, Rosemarie; Muiruri, Juliana; Maina, Beth; Njuguna, Emily; Njeru, Faith; Kiige, Laura W.; Codjia, Patrick; Samburu, Betty; Mogusu, Esther; Ngwiri, Thomas; Mirie, Waithera; Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth W.

Citation

Wilunda, Calistus; Israel-Ballard, Kiersten; Wanjohi, Milka; Lang’at, Nelson; Mansen, Kimberly; et al. 2024. Potential effectiveness of integrating human milk banking and lactation support on neonatal outcomes at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, Kenya. Maternal and Child Nutrition 20(1): e13594. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13594

Country/Region

Kenya

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Human Milk; Infant Feeding; Lactation; Prematurity; Surveys

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13594 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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