Nutrition and deaths around birth in Sub‑Saharan Africa
Nutrition, late fetal and neonatal mortality in the African context
This project looks at how mothers' and newborns' nutrition relates to stillbirths and deaths in the first month of life in Sub‑Saharan Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11398825 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient's perspective, researchers will combine and reanalyze birth records, household surveys, and hospital data from countries across Sub‑Saharan Africa to better count and classify stillbirths and early newborn deaths. They will examine links between maternal and newborn nutrition (including low birthweight, preterm birth, and small size for gestational age) and the risk of death around the time of birth. The team will work to correct undercounting and misclassification problems in existing data so estimates are more accurate. Findings will be used to point to nutrition-related prevention opportunities and to improve how deaths are measured for future programs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant women, newborns, and families in Sub‑Saharan Africa—especially pregnancies with preterm birth or low birthweight—are the people whose data or participation would be most relevant.
Not a fit: People living outside Sub‑Saharan Africa or children beyond the neonatal period are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify nutrition-related targets to reduce stillbirths and early newborn deaths and improve how those deaths are tracked.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked poor maternal and newborn nutrition to low birthweight and higher newborn death risk, and some nutrition interventions have reduced those risks, but measurement gaps in Sub‑Saharan Africa mean locally specific data are still needed.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guillot, Michel — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Guillot, Michel
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.