Reducing Child Malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa: Surveys Find Mixed Progress
Chronic malnutrition has been a persistent problem for young children in sub-Saharan Africa. A high percentage of these children fail to reach the normal international standard height for their age; that is, they are "stunted." The region has now the world's highest rate of stunting among children—43 percent—and has shown little improvement over the past 15 years. This article looks at trends within sub-Saharan Africa and outlines the factors involved. (October 2008).

U.S. Trends in Disability in Late-Life
Today people live longer than they did even 20 years ago. Longer life spans are a sign of great progress, but questions remain about how well the elderly in our population are able to take care of themselves. Linda Martin, a senior fellow at RAND Corporation and adjunct professor of public health at Johns Hopkins University, talked with PRB about her recent work on trends in the health of older people. View a 26-minute webcast interview with Linda Martin. (September 2008)

2008 World Population Data Sheet

  PRB's 2008 World Population Data Sheet contains the latest population estimates, projections, and other key indicators for more than 200 countries, including births, deaths, natural increase, infant mortality, life expectancy, urban population, HIV/AIDS prevalence, contraceptive use, GNI PPP per capita, and population per square kilometer. New for the 2008 Data Sheet are data on percent of population in urban areas of 750,000 or more; lifetime risk of maternal death; percent of population undernourished; number of vehicles per 1,000 population; and percent of population with access to an improved drinking water source. (August 2008) 

World Population Highlights: Key Findings From PRB's 2008 World Population Data Sheet (PDF: 854KB)
This Population Bulletin is the companion report to PRB's 2008 World Population Data Sheet. The Bulletin highlights key findings from the data sheet on: world population trends, nutrition, environment, HIV/AIDS, urbanization, and migration. (BUL63.3, September 2008)

Population's Role in the Current Food Crisis: Focus on East Africa
The prices of agricultural commodities, including staples of many African diets, have risen sharply over the last several years. Since 2005, the prices of maize and wheat have doubled, and the price of rice has now reached unprecedented levels in several East African countries. According to the World Bank, FAO, and USDA, rising prices are likely to persist through 2015. Population plays an important role in the food crisis. In addition to the numbers of people, migration patterns, rising consumption, and HIV/AIDS prevalence affect the demand and supply of food. (August 2008)

New & Noteworthy in Nutrition, June 2008 (PDF: 450KB)
There have been two especially noteworthy nutrition "events" since the last NNN was issued in December 2007. The first was planned—the release of the Lancet series on maternal and child nutrition. An important part of this NNN covers that series and the reactions of a number of actors in global nutrition efforts. The second "event" was not planned—the food crisis that has enveloped much of the world. Given the exceptional importance of what is happening with food prices, the availability of food, and their links with hunger and malnutrition, this edition of NNN also covers the food crisis. (June 2008)

Socioeconomic Status and Health Disparities in Old Age (PDF: 68KB)
This e-newsletter is the 11th in a series funded by the University of Michigan Demography Center. This issue, "Socioeconomic Status and Health Disparities in Old Age," highlights work by National Institute on Aging-supported researchers and others that aims to understand the underlying causes of persistent disparities between socioeconomic status and health. (June 2008)

Obesity Threatens the Health of Older Europeans
Obesity is a risk-factor for many preventable, highly prevalent, and potentially fatal chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. Obese individuals spend about one-third more on health care than similar individuals with normal weight. Obesity has a greater effect on health costs than smoking or problem drinking. The effect of obesity on health in 10 European countries was documented in a recent study from the RAND Corporation using data from the 2004 Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). About one-half of the men and more than one-third of the women ages 50 or older in these countries were overweight or obese. RAND researchers compared the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related health conditions among these older adults in the 10 countries. (June 2008)

PRB in the Field: Women's Edition Meets in Johannesburg
In early April, the Population Reference Bureau assembled a group of eight women journalists from seven developing countries in South Africa to participate in a weeklong seminar on the causes and consequences of rape and other violence against women. The eight journalists are members of PRB's global network called Women's Edition, funded by USAID. Johannesburg was chosen as the venue for a seminar on gender-based violence because it has one of the world's highest rates of rape. (May 2008)

Philippines Conference Energizes Integrated Population, Health, and Environment Approaches
The Philippines PHE Network convened the Third National Population, Health, and Environment Conference in March in Tagaytay City, Philippines. The conference, funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and other partners, brought together more than 300 practitioners, policymakers, advocates, researchers, and journalists from across the Philippines and five continents. Participants explored how to scale up the integrated PHE approach in the Philippines and internationally. (April 2008)