Gathering data on early-life nutritional exposures in communities undergoing transition — a platform on which to formulate or evaluate nutrition policy decisions

Abstract

South Africa and many of its neighbours on the African continent may be characterised as countries undergoing rapid epidemiological and nutritional transition. An important aspect of this transition is the coexistence of communicable and non-communicable diseases, many of which may be prevented, or the adverse sequelae of which may be attenuated, through the implementation of various nutritional and lifestyle interventions. In this context, issues concerning measurement of both nutritional status and various environmental, demographic and even intergenerational exposures become increasingly significant