Summits - SBCC and C4D
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Summits - SBCC and C4D
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Effect of micronutrients on morbidity and duration of hospital stay in childhood pneumonia

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Wahed, M. A., M. A. Islam, et al. (2008). "Effect of micronutrients on morbidity and duration of hospital stay in childhood pneumonia." Mymensingh Med J 17(2 Suppl): S77-83.

Methods: A cross-sectional and controlled clinical trial was conducted in under-5 children to compare the effects of supplementation of five micronutrients (vitamin-A, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid and zinc) on the morbidity and on the duration of hospital stay in pneumonia. Data were collected from 1150 children. Among them 350 children were excluded for various reasons and finally data from 800 children were analyzed. Among these 800 children 59.00% (475) were male and 41.00% (325) were female. The mean+/-SD age was 6.5+/-5.6 months and 56.25% (450) were infants. The children were divided into two groups-400 in control group and 400 in intervention (case) group. In both the groups, specific treatment was given by ampicillin and gentamycin. In intervention group, five micronutrients were given in 200 children from the day of admission and continued up to discharge. Another 200 children were again divided into 5 sub-groups (40 in each sub-group) and a single micronutrient was given in the same way in each sub-groups. All the subjects were suffering clinically from severe pneumonia and radiologically from bronchopneumonia. Cases and controls were matched by parents' occupation, education level, economic status and family members. All the children were fully vaccinated as per existing EPI schedule of the country, partially breastfed up to six months and after six months weaned by carbohydrate rich diet. All the children were in mild (grade I) PEM according to Gomez's classification. Venous blood was collected for estimation of serum level of five micronutrients from all the samples before starting treatment by standard procedures.

Results: The average blood level of all the micronutrients was low. The average duration of hospital staying was 6.75 days in intervention group and 7.75 days in control group (p<0.01). Chest indrawing and fast breathing disappeared earlier in the intervention group (p<0.01) suggesting that supplementation of micronutrients decrease the morbidity and duration of hospital stay of children suffering from pneumonia.