DOHaD Africa

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High Blood Pressure in Children: Should we be concerned?

Evidence suggests that blood pressure levels in children and adolescents are rising, particularly in the African region. In the absence of other symptoms or illness, and with little clinical guidance available for the African context, the path forward is unclear. This webinar will explore current clinical guidelines for paediatric primary hypertension, recent evidence of change in paediatric blood pressure levels in Africa, the risk factors and longer term impact. In collaboration with the COE-HUMAN, North West University, The George Institute for Global Health, Wits University and the University...

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Research uncovers link between the timing of fetal head growth patterns and subsequent child development

Researchers monitored the growth inside the womb of over 3,500 babies in six countries across the world using serial ultrasound scans throughout pregnancy. The results of the findings of the INTERBIO-21st Fetal Study were published in the journal Nature Medicine, providing strong evidence that development in childhood is influenced by events affecting the mother before and/or during pregnancy. In particular, a critical time period during pregnancy is between 20 to 25 weeks gestation. The growth and development of infants was then monitored until the age of 2 years. The study identified head...

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Human development in the time of Covid-19 – an international webinar series

DOHaD Africa is is delighted to invite you to a series of five webinars where we are partnering with the hosts, the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development (South Africa) and the Global Health Research Institute at the University of Southampton (UK). These webinars will investigate the effect of COVID-19 on human development, and how the virus will shape a new research agenda, with particular emphasis on its disruptions of child development, food security, public health priorities, socio-economic progress, and the environment. Left out of the Conversation Webinar flyer   &nb...

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A conversation with Mary Wlodek, Professor of Physiology at the University of Melbourne

We interviewed Professor Mary Wlodek whose mission is to try and correct the deficits in breastmilk of women who suffer with complicated pregnancies. In Professor Wlodek’s long career in animal-based research, it became clear that many rat pups born small, developed cardiovascular and metabolic health problems, which has intergenerational repercussions. Maternal and placental changes that occur in complicated pregnancies in rats meant that a mother’s breast function was altered, and that their offspring are not able to consume the right amount, and best composition, of breast milk. This is...

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Locally-relevant solutions to Covid-19 in Africa

A Covid19 Conversation and a Jam-Packed Newsletter African scientists, scholars and policymakers respond to Covid-19” At the time of writing, Africa’s confirmed Covid-19 cases stood at 34 924. While this is less than anticipated, the growth curve is on the rise, and the rollout of testing and surveillance has been erratic and inconsistent across the continent. As researchers of the developmental origins of health and disease in Africa, we can posit that the impact of Covid-19 will affect health...

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Interviews with Researchers from DOHaD 2019

In these audio interviews, we get the insight from researchers at the World Congress on the Developmental Origins of Health and Diseases, Australia, 2019. Listeners will learn about topics such as the effects of pollution on early childhood development, the role of fathers in a child’s health, and effective health interventions for adolescents.

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DOHaD Africa Chapter's virtual home is hosted by the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation.

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