Campus
- Downtown Toronto (St. George)
Cross-Appointments
Fields of Study
- Evolutionary Anthropology
- Medical Anthropology
- Africa
- North America
- South and Central America
- South Asia
Areas of Interest
Research Keywords: Human nutrition, global health, nutrition ecology, evolutionary anthropology, applied anthropology, childhood, childcare, infant and child feeding practices, food systems, implementation science, nutrition policy, gender transformation of health programs, school food programs, infant nutrition security, public nutrition, health equity, life course, cohort studies, sustainable child nutrition.
Research Region: Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Lesotho), North and Central America (Canada, United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama), South Asia (India,Bangladesh), Europe (England, United Kindgom).
Biography
Professor Sellen’s core interest is understanding how the evolved feeding and care needs of human infants and young children can be met in today’s rapidly changing world. His theoretical work has explored the relevance of concepts and theories in human ecology, evolutionary biology and medical anthropology to global public health efforts to optimize young child feeding and care practices. He currently leads or contributed to several global health research partnerships that apply implementation science techniques to develop and test community-level innovations to protect, support and strengthen nutrition and care of infants, children and vulnerable caregivers, primarily in low income countries. Recently funded projects focus on gender oriented and pro-poor innovation, design, implementation and evaluation of programs aimed at healthy infant and young child feeding, smallholder value chain addition for nutrition security, and mHealth capacitation of maternal, neonatal and child health extension. He has also initiated studies of food insecurity and child nutrition among refugees in Britain, America and Canada.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Theoretical Ecology and International Nutrition, University of California, Davis
Master of Arts (M.A.) Anthropology, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Honours Zoology and Biological Anthropology, University of Oxford
Publications
Ahmed, M., Richardson, A., Riad, J., McPherson, C., Sellen, D. W., & Malik, V. S. (2024). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the adaptability and resiliency of school food programs across Canada. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1296620. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1296620
Quibrantar, Selina & Ahmed, Mavra & Ruggiero, Erica & Sellen, Daniel & Malik, Vasanti. (2023). P24-102-23 Building a Pan-Canadian School Food Program: A Qualitative Study With Caregivers From Diverse Households To Understand Perceptions and Needs. Current Developments in Nutrition. 7. 100388. 10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100388.
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Ambalavanan, A., Chang, L., Choi, J., Zhang, Y., Stickley, S. A., Fang, Z. Y., . . . Duan, Q. (2024). Human milk oligosaccharides are associated with maternal genetics and respiratory health of human milk-fed children. Nature Communications, 15(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-024-51743-6 |
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Cheng, S., Ahmed, M., Lai, T., Quibrantar, S. M., & Sellen, D. (2024). Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing School Food Programs: Perspectives from Private Sector Partners. Current Developments in Nutrition, 8, 102415. doi:10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102415 |
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Caffé, B., Blackwell, A., Fehrenkamp, B. D., Williams, J. E., Pace, R. M., Lackey, K. A., . . . Meehan, C. L. (2023). Human milk immune factors, maternal nutritional status, and infant sex: The INSPIRE study. American Journal of Human Biology, 35(11). doi:10.1002/ajhb.23943 |
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Mildon, A., Francis, J., Stewart, S., Underhill, B., Ng, Y. M., Rousseau, C., . . . Sellen, D. W. (2023). Household food insecurity is prevalent in a cohort of postpartum women who registered in the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program in Toronto. Public Health Nutrition, 26(7), 1468-1477. doi:10.1017/S1368980023000459 |
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Tandoh, A., Aryeetey, R., Agyemang, C., Holdsworth, M., Asiki, G., Zotor, F., . . . Laar, A. (2023). The Africa Food Environment Research Network (FERN): from concept to practice. Global Health Promotion, 30(2), 5-10. doi:10.1177/17579759221126155 |
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Bădescu, I., Curteanu, C., Sellen, D. W., Watts, D. P., & Katzenberg, M. A. (2023). Investigating infant feeding development in wild chimpanzees using stable isotopes of naturally shed hair. American Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1002/ajp.23552 |
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Ahmed, M., Richardson, A., Riad, J., McPherson, C., Sellen, D. W., & Malik, V. S. (2023). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the adaptability and resiliency of school food programs across Canada. Frontiers in Public Health, 11. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1296620 |
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Kamau, E., Ngethe, H., & Sellen, D. (2022). Breastfeeding at the Workplace in Kenya. Journal of Nutrition, 152(12), 2638-2639. doi:10.1093/jn/nxac226 |
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Adjei, A. P., Amevinya, G. S., Quarpong, W., Tandoh, A., Aryeetey, R., Holdsworth, M., . . . Laar, A. (2022). Availability of healthy and unhealthy foods in modern retail outlets located in selected districts of Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.922447 |
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Bădescu, I., Watts, D. P., Curteanu, C., Desruelle, K. J., & Sellen, D. W. (2022). Effects of infant age and sex, and maternal parity on the interaction of lactation with infant feeding development in chimpanzees. PLoS ONE, 17(8 August). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0272139 |
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Mildon, A., Francis, J., Stewart, S., Underhill, B., Ng, Y. M., Rousseau, C., . . . Sellen, D. W. (2022). Associations between use of expressed human milk at 2 weeks postpartum and human milk feeding practices to 6 months: a prospective cohort study with vulnerable women in Toronto, Canada. BMJ Open, 12(6). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055830 |
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McAuliffe, C., Upshur, R., Sellen, D., & Di Ruggiero, E. (2022). You can’t report your feelings: The hidden labor of managing threats to safety by women in global public health fieldwork. PLOS Global Public Health, 2(6). doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0000153 |
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Laar, A. K., Addo, P., Aryeetey, R., Agyemang, C., Zotor, F., Asiki, G., . . . Holdsworth, M. (2022). Perspective: Food Environment Research Priorities for Africa - Lessons from the Africa Food Environment Research Network. Advances in Nutrition, 13(3), 739-747. doi:10.1093/advances/nmac019 |
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Norris, S. A., Draper, C. E., Prioreschi, A., Smuts, C. M., Ware, L. J., Dennis, C. L., . . . Lye, S. (2022). Building knowledge, optimising physical and mental health and setting up healthier life trajectories in South African women (Bukhali): A preconception randomised control trial part of the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI). BMJ Open, 12(4). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059914 |
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Prabhu, M. P., Suryanarayana, K. G., Ghattu, K., Adiga, N. T., Joseph, S., Rizwana, A., . . . Fall, C. H. (n.d.). Community engagement and context in setting up a multi-faceted longitudinal intervention in rural India: The Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1476475/v1 |
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Bădescu, I., Watts, D. P., Katzenberg, M. A., & Sellen, D. W. (2022). Maternal lactational investment is higher for sons in chimpanzees. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 76(3). doi:10.1007/s00265-022-03153-1 |
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Baxter, J. A. B., Wasan, Y., Islam, M., Cousens, S., Soofi, S. B., Ahmed, I., . . . Bhutta, Z. A. (2022). Dietary diversity and social determinants of nutrition among late adolescent girls in rural Pakistan. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 18(1). doi:10.1111/mcn.13265 |
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Mildon, A., Francis, J., Stewart, S., Underhill, B., Ng, Y. M., Rousseau, C., . . . Sellen, D. W. (2022). High levels of breastmilk feeding despite a low rate of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months in a cohort of vulnerable women in Toronto, Canada. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 18(1). doi:10.1111/mcn.13260 |
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Oosterhoff, A. T., Sellen, D., & Haisma, H. (2022). The Content and Sources of Breastfeeding Knowledge for New Mothers in the Netherlands. Open Nursing Journal, 16(1). doi:10.2174/18744346-v16-e2203220 |
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Begum, K., Kamau, E. W., Owais, A., Hackett, K., Seyian, A., Sarange, C., & Sellen, D. (2021). Enhancing Nutrition Services to Improve Maternal and Child Health in Africa and Asia (ENRICH): Endline Evaluation Report, Kenya. |
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Bleecker, L., Sauveplane-Stirling, V., Di Ruggiero, E., & Sellen, D. (2021). Evaluating the integration of strategic priorities within a complex research-for-development funding program. Evaluation and Program Planning, 89. doi:10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2021.102009 |
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Francis, J., Ismail, S., Mildon, A., Stewart, S., Underhill, B., Tarasuk, V., . . . O'Connor, D. L. (2021). Caractéristiques de femmes vulnérables en lien avec leur participation aux activités d’un centre du Programme canadien de nutrition prénatale à Toronto (Canada). Promotion de la Santé et Prévention des Maladies Chroniques au Canada, 41(12), 454-465. doi:10.24095/hpcdp.41.12.02f |
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Francis, J., Ismail, S., Mildon, A., Stewart, S., Underhill, B., Tarasuk, V., . . . O’Connor, D. L. (2021). Characteristics of vulnerable women and their association with participation in a Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program site in Toronto, Canada. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada, 41(12), 413-422. doi:10.24095/hpcdp.41.12.02 |
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Mildon, A., Francis, J., Stewart, S., Underhill, B., Ng, Y. M., Richards, E., . . . Sellen, D. W. (2021). Effect on breastfeeding practices of providing in-home lactation support to vulnerable women through the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program: protocol for a pre/post intervention study. International Breastfeeding Journal, 16(1). doi:10.1186/s13006-021-00396-y |
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Pelletier, H., Bleecker, L., Sauveplane-Stirling, V., Di Ruggiero, E., & Sellen, D. (2021). Building the field of food systems research: commentary on a research funder’s role. Health Research Policy and Systems, 19(1). doi:10.1186/s12961-021-00745-7 |
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Mildon, A., Francis, J., Stewart, S., Underhill, B., Ng, Y. M., Richards, E., . . . Sellen, D. W. (2021). Correction to: Effect on breastfeeding practices of providing in-home lactation support to vulnerable women through the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program: protocol for a pre/post intervention study (International Breastfeeding Journal, (2021), 16, 1, (49), 10.1186/s13006-021-00396-y). International Breastfeeding Journal, 16(1). doi:10.1186/s13006-021-00404-1 |
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Francis, J., Mildon, A., Stewart, S., Underhill, B., Ismail, S., Di Ruggiero, E., . . . O’Connor, D. L. (2021). Breastfeeding rates are high in a prenatal community support program targeting vulnerable women and offering enhanced postnatal lactation support: a prospective cohort study. International Journal for Equity in Health, 20(1). doi:10.1186/s12939-021-01386-6 |
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Laar, A., Kelly, B., Holdsworth, M., Quarpong, W., Aryeetey, R., Amevinya, G. S., . . . Vandevijvere, S. (2021). Providing Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability, and Leadership Support (MEALS) for Non-communicable Diseases Prevention in Ghana: Project Implementation Protocol. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.644320 |
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Williams, J. E., McGuire, M. K., Meehan, C. L., McGuire, M. A., Brooker, S. L., Kamau-Mbuthia, E. W., . . . Murdoch, B. M. (2021). Key genetic variants associated with variation of milk oligosaccharides from diverse human populations. Genomics, 113(4), 1867-1875. doi:10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.04.004 |
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Pace, R. M., Williams, J. E., Robertson, B., Lackey, K. A., Meehan, C. L., Price, W. J., . . . McGuire, M. K. (2021). Variation in human milk composition is related to differences in milk and infant fecal microbial communities. Microorganisms, 9(6). doi:10.3390/microorganisms9061153 |
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Mildon, A., Francis, J., Stewart, S., Underhill, B., Ng, Y. M., Rousseau, C., . . . Sellen, D. (2021). Use of Expressed Breastmilk at Two Weeks Postpartum Is Associated With Early Cessation and Non-exclusive Breastmilk Feeding for Six Months in a Cohort of Vulnerable Women. Current Developments in Nutrition, 5(Suppl 2), 5140786. doi:10.1093/cdn/nzab046_083 |
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Carducci, B., Oh, C., Roth, D. E., Neufeld, L. M., Frongillo, E. A., L’Abbe, M. R., . . . Bhutta, Z. A. (2021). Gaps and priorities in assessment of food environments for children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. Nature Food, 2(6), 396-403. doi:10.1038/s43016-021-00299-5 |
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Use of Expressed Breastmilk at Two Weeks Postpartum Is Associated With Early Cessation and Non-exclusive Breastmilk Feeding for Six Months in a Cohort of Vulnerable Women (2021). Current developments in nutrition, 5(Suppl 2), 786. |
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Ruiz, L., Alba, C., García-Carral, C., Jiménez, E. A., Lackey, K. A., McGuire, M. K., . . . Rodríguez, J. M. (2021). Comparison of Two Approaches for the Metataxonomic Analysis of the Human Milk Microbiome. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 11. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2021.622550 |
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Ezezika, O., Gong, J., Abdirahman, H., & Sellen, D. (2021). Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of Large-Scale Nutrition Interventions in Africa: A Scoping Review. Global Implementation Research and Applications, 1(1), 38-52. doi:10.1007/s43477-021-00007-2 |
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Kumaran, K., Krishnaveni, G. V., Suryanarayana, K. G., Prasad, M. P., Belavendra, A., Atkinson, S., . . . Matthews, S. G. (2021). Protocol for a cluster randomised trial evaluating a multifaceted intervention starting preconceptionally-Early Interventions to Support Trajectories for Healthy Life in India (EINSTEIN): A Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) Study. BMJ Open, 11(2). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045862 |
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McGuire, M. K., Randall, A. Z., Seppo, A. E., Järvinen, K. M., Meehan, C. L., Gindola, D., . . . Campo, J. J. (2021). Multipathogen Analysis of IgA and IgG Antigen Specificity for Selected Pathogens in Milk Produced by Women From Diverse Geographical Regions: The INSPIRE Study. Frontiers in Immunology, 11. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.614372 |
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Dennis, C. L., Marini, F., Dick, J. A., Atkinson, S., Barrett, J., Bell, R., . . . Birken, C. (2021). Protocol for a randomised trial evaluating a preconception-early childhood telephone-based intervention with tailored e-health resources for women and their partners to optimise growth and development among children in Canada: a Healthy Life Trajectory Initiative (HeLTI Canada). BMJ Open, 11(2). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046311 |
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Laar, A., Kelly, B., Holdsworth, M., Quarpong, W., Aryeetey, R., Amevinya, G., . . . Vandevijvere, S. (n.d.). Providing Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability, and Leadership Support for NCDs Prevention in Ghana: Adapting the INFORMAS Approach. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-99032/v1 |
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Francis, J., Mildon, A., Stewart, S., Underhill, B., Tarasuk, V., Di Ruggiero, E., . . . O'Connor, D. L. (2020). Vulnerable mothers' experiences breastfeeding with an enhanced community lactation support program. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 16(3). doi:10.1111/mcn.12957 |
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Bădescu, I., Sicotte, P., Sandel, A. A., Desruelle, K. J., Curteanu, C., Watts, D. P., & Sellen, D. W. (2020). Premasticated food transfer by wild chimpanzee mothers with their infants: Effects of maternal parity, infant age and sex, and food properties. Journal of Human Evolution, 143. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102794 |
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Beckworth, C., Riddle, A., Sauveplane-Stirling, V., Sellen, D., Welch, V., Rego, D., & Wuehler, S. (2020). Mobilizing Knowledge: A Comprehensive Toolkit for Quality Assured Nutrition Data and Piloting Gender Indicators. Current Developments in Nutrition, 4(Suppl 2), nzaa056_006. doi:10.1093/cdn/nzaa056_006 |
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Beckworth, C., Riddle, A., Sauveplane-Stirling, V., Sellen, D., Welch, V., Rego, D., & Wuehler, S. (2020). Mobilizing Knowledge: A Comprehensive Toolkit for Quality Assured Nutrition Data and Piloting Gender Indicators. Current developments in nutrition, 4(Suppl 2), 1159. |
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McKerracher, L. J., Nepomnaschy, P., Altman, R. M. K., Sellen, D., & Collard, M. (2020). Breastfeeding Duration and the Social Learning of Infant Feeding Knowledge in Two Maya Communities. Human Nature, 31(1), 43-67. doi:10.1007/s12110-019-09358-0 |
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Lackey, K. A., Williams, J. E., Meehan, C. L., Zachek, J. A., Benda, E. D., Price, W. J., . . . McGuire, M. K. (2020). Corrigendum: What’s Normal? Microbiomes in Human Milk and Infant Feces Are Related to Each Other but Vary Geographically: The INSPIRE Study (Frontiers in Nutrition, (2019), 6, (45), 10.3389/fnut.2019.00045). Frontiers in Nutrition, 7. doi:10.3389/fnut.2020.00012 |
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Sauveplane-Stirling, V., & Sellen, D. (2020). Final Report: Further strengthening the NIMS toolkit. |
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Wuehler, S., Beckworth, C., Sauveplane-Stirling, V., Welch, V., Riddle, A., & Sellen, D. (2020). Canadian Collaborative for Global Health: Final Report from Nutrition International in collaboration with Campbell Collaboration and the University of Toronto. |
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Sauveplane-Stirling, V., Di Ruggiero, E., Benea, C., Nawaz, E., Aimone, A., Richardson, E., & Sellen, D. (2019). External Review of IDRC's Food, Environment, and Health (FEH) Program 2015-2020: final report. Retrieved from https://idl-bnc-idrc.dspacedirect.org/items/5300ec6b-5550-4dad-b62c-24c86630c38e |
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Lane, A. A., McGuire, M. K., McGuire, M. A., Williams, J. E., Lackey, K. A., Hagen, E. H., . . . Meehan, C. L. (2019). Household composition and the infant fecal microbiome: The INSPIRE study. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 169(3), 526-539. doi:10.1002/ajpa.23843 |
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McAuliffe, C., Upshur, R., Sellen, D. W., & Di Ruggiero, E. (2019). Critical Reflections on Mental Well-being for Post-Secondary Students Participating in the Field of Global Health. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 17(3), 542-554. doi:10.1007/s11469-018-0007-5 |
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McAuliffe, C., Upshur, R., Sellen, D. W., & Di Ruggiero, E. (2019). The lived experience of global public health practice: A phenomenological account of women graduate students. Health and Human Rights, 21(1), 115-127. |
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Hackett, K., Kazemi, M., Lafleur, C., Nyella, P., Godfrey, L., & Sellen, D. (2019). It makes you someone who changes with the times': Health worker and client perspectives on a smartphone-based counselling application deployed in rural Tanzania. Health Policy and Planning, 34(4), 307-315. doi:10.1093/heapol/czz036 |
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Begum, K., Soofi, S. B., Owais, A., Channa, M., Hussain, I., & Sellen, D. W. (2019). Enhancing Nutrition Services to Improve Maternal and Child Health in Africa and Asia (ENRICH): Midterm Evaluation Report, Pakistan. |
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Begum, K., Kamau-Mbuthia, E., Owais, A., Sarange, C., Mbugua, S., & Sellen, D. W. (2019). Enhancing Nutrition Services to Improve Maternal and Child Health in Africa and Asia (ENRICH): Midterm Review, Kenya. |
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Begum, K., Sarker, M., Saha, A., & Sellen, D. W. (2019). Enhancing Nutrition Services to Improve Maternal and Child Health in Africa and Asia (ENRICH): Midterm Evaluation Report, Bangladesh. |
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Begum, K., Elisaria, E., Owais, A., Mrema, J., Festo, C., & Sellen, D. W. (2019). Enhancing Nutrition Services to Improve Maternal and Child Health in Africa and Asia (ENRICH): Midterm Evaluation Report, Tanzania. |
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Lackey, K. A., Williams, J. E., Meehan, C. L., Zachek, J. A., Benda, E. D., Price, W. J., . . . McGuire, M. K. (2019). What's normal? Microbiomes in human milk and infant feces are related to each other but vary geographically: The inspire study. Frontiers in Nutrition, 6. doi:10.3389/fnut.2019.00045 |
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Mildon, A., & Sellen, D. (2019). Use of mobile phones for behavior change communication to improve maternal, newborn and child health: A scoping review. Journal of Global Health, 9(2). doi:10.7189/jogh.09.020425 |