Nutritional Determinants of Diarrheal Morbidity in Haitian Children

Location: Cap Haitien, Haiti

Collaborators: Washington University in St. Louis – Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Justinian Hospital

Description: Childhood malnutrition and diarrheal illness are intertwined in a complex relationship. Together, these maladies account for 2 million deaths and an underappreciated burden of morbidities estimated at 135 million DALY’s. Multiple factors contribute to this morbidity due to malnutrition and diarrhea, including deleterious effects on the developing immune system, perturbations in the microbiome, and damage to the gastro-intestinal system, which are all exacerbated by environmental factors such as food availability, access to clean water, and educational resources. Applying a prospective cohort design, we aim to determine an association between DHA or choline status and diarrheal morbidities among young children in Cap Haitien, Haiti.

Sponsor: Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research