Health in transition : translating developmental origins of health and disease science to improve future health in Africa / editors: Andrew J. Macnab, Abdallah Daar & Christoff Pauw.
International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease's work at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study -- Ensuring healthier trajectories that start in early life to assist non-communicable disease prevention in Africa, a life-course approach -- The implications of developmental origins of health and disease for Africa, what can be learnt from available data? -- Mapping of developmental origins of health and disease to 'sustainable development goals' and implications for public health in Africa -- Relation between famine and health in future generations, potential knowledge translation to Africa -- The fundamental importance of breastfeeding for health and development -- The challenges of breastfeeding in poor urban areas in sub-Saharan Africa -- How environmental exposures early in life might influence phenotypes of non-communicable diseases in Africa -- Hyperglycaemia in pregnancy -- Diabetes in pregnancy, lessons for developing countries -- Photo-essays, a creative format for effective communication -- The World Health Organization's 'health promoting school' model, a potential for developmental origins of health and disease in Africa -- An approach to reduce the blindness burden in sub-Saharan Africa, special focus on childhood blindness -- School-based initiatives to reduce malaria morbidity and promote academic achievement in children -- Intersectional approaches to health and non-communicable disease prevention in Africa -- Celebrity health promotion messaging, novel opportunities to engage youth in the developmental origins of health and disease.
Summary:
"At STIAS, the 'Health in Transition' theme includes a programme to address the epidemic rise in the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, coronary heart disease and stroke in Africa. The aim is to advance awareness, research capacity and knowledge translation of science related to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) as a means of preventing NCDs in future generations. Application of DOHaD science is a promising avenue for prevention, as this field is identifying how health and nutrition from conception through the first 1 000 days of life can dramatically impact a developing individual's future life course, and specifically predicate whether or not they are programmed in infancy to develop NCDs in later life. Prevention of NCDs is an essential strategy as, if unchecked, the burden of caring for a growing and ageing population with these diseases threatens to consume entire health budgets, as well as negatively impact the quality of life of millions. Africa in particular needs specific, focussed endeavors to realize the maximal preventive potential of DOHaD science, and a means of generating governmental and public awareness about the links between health in infancy and disease in adult life."-- Back cover.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.