Maternal Child Health

Nutrition support during pregnancy improves birth outcomes, global study finds

Heather Carroll — Thu, 14 May 2026 15:07:07 +0000

Nutrition support during pregnancy improves birth outcomes, global study finds Heather Carroll Thu, 05/14/2026 - 11:07

91��-led research finds that food-based prenatal supplements improve birth weights across Africa and South Asia.

Dongqing Wang of the 91�� College of Public Health

In parts of the world where daily nutrition is unstable, pregnancy and newborn health are more precarious. A new study led by epidemiologist Dongqing Wang of the 91�� College of Public Health adds to the evidence that improving maternal nutrition during pregnancy may be a key intervention to improve birth outcomes.

Looking across eight clinical trials across Africa and South Asia, the study finds that balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplements—food-based products like beverages or nutrient-dense pastes designed to increase calorie and protein intake—are associated with healthier birth weights and fewer high-risk newborns in low- and middle-income countries. The findings were published in PLOS Medicine.

“In settings where pregnant women can’t access sufficient calories and protein, it is important to act early,” said Wang, an assistant professor of epidemiology in the Department of Global and Community Health. “Improving maternal nutrition can reduce the risk of vulnerable birth outcomes.”

Why this matters

Maternal malnutrition puts infants at higher risk of death, illness, and developmental delays.

Interventions have often focused on micronutrient supplements, but this study shows that food-based approaches to increase calorie and protein intake may better support fetal growth. BEP supplements can also be delivered through existing maternal health programs, making them a practical solution to scale. Wang is also currently conducting further research in Ethiopia that examines the cost-effectiveness of different approaches to BEP supplementation.

Study details

Wang and his colleagues combined individual-level data from randomized controlled trials conducted in Nepal, The Gambia, Pakistan, and several other low- and middle-income settings. The team compared outcomes for pregnant individuals who received BEP supplements with those who did not.

Key findings include:

BEP supplements were associated with higher birth weights and a lower risk of babies being born with low birth weight or small for their gestational age.
The effects were particularly notable for babies small for their gestational age, a group with elevated risk of neonatal mortality.
Benefits appeared stronger among women who began supplementation earlier in pregnancy, particularly before 20 weeks.

Wang worked with a global network of researchers from institutions including Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Aga Khan University and partners across Europe, South Asia, and Africa.

Photo by Nathana Rebouças on Unsplash

In This Story

Dongqing Wang, PhD, MPH

Key Takeaways

• A George Mason–led global study finds that balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplements can improve birth outcomes, especially in regions where maternal nutrition is limited.

• The supplements are linked to higher birth weights and reduced risk of babies being born small or underweight, with the strongest benefits when started early in pregnancy.

• These supplements boost calorie and protein intake and can be delivered through existing maternal health programs, making them a scalable solution.

Topics

Prenatal Care

Global Health

Birth Outcomes

Maternal Child Health

Maternal Nutrition

GCH Research

public health research

CPH research

Research

College of Public Health

In the George

Rupali J. Limaye, PhD, MPH, MA

mthomp7 — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 20:17:51 +0000

Rupali J. Limaye, PhD, MPH, MA mthomp7 Mon, 10/21/2024 - 16:17

Associate Professor, Global and Community Health

Contact Information

Email: rlimaye@gmu.edu

Accepting MS, Global Health students for Fall 2026

Accepting PhD, Public Health students for Fall 2026

CV

Download CV here

Biography

Rupali J. Limaye, PhD, MPH, MA, is an Associate Professor. She is seen as an expert in vaccine behavior and decision-making, including vaccine hesitancy and acceptance. Primarily focusing on infectious diseases, Dr. Limaye is a social and behavioral scientist and health communication scholar. Her mixed-method work examines how various influences affect health behavior and how to leverage those influences to affect positive behavior change. She also studies how health information can best be communicated to individuals in different contexts and through different channels. In her 20 years of working in global health, she has worked in more than 30 countries from both research and implementation perspectives, on topics including immunization, family planning, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, and alcohol, and teaches classes on global disease program and policies, misinformation, health behavior change, and persuasive communication. She received her PhD from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She also holds an MPH in global health, an MA in international affairs, a BA in political science, and a BS in journalism.

Research Interests

Vaccine behavior
Vaccine acceptance
Misinformation
Maternal and child health
Adolescent health

Honors and Awards

Full Tuition Scholarship, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2008-2012)
Top Four Paper Award, Health Communication Division, International Communication Association (2010)
Special Projects Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2010; 2011)
Dean’s Teaching Fellowship, Zanvyl School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University (2010-2011)
Field Research Award, Center for Global Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2010-2011)
Predoctoral Training Grant, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health (2010-2012)
Outstanding Teacher Award Nominee, Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2013-2014)
Outstanding Teacher Award, Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2014-2015)
Excellence in Teaching, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2014-2015)
Lipitz Public Health Policy Faculty Award, Johns Hopkins Institute for Health and Social Policy (2018-2019)
Excellence in Teaching, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2019-2020)
Discovery Award, Johns Hopkins University Office of the Provost (2021)
Excellence in Teaching, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2021-2022)
Excellence in Teaching, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2022-2023)

Select Publications

Guillaume, D., Meyer, D., Waheed, D. E. N., Schlieff, M., Muralidharan, K., Chou, V. B., & Limaye, R. (2023). Factors influencing the prioritization of vaccines by policymakers in low-and middle-income countries: a scoping review. Health policy and planning, 38(3), 363-376.
Limaye, R. J., Holroyd, T. A., Blunt, M., Jamison, A. F., Sauer, M., Weeks, R., ... & Gellin, B. (2021). Social media strategies to affect vaccine acceptance: a systematic literature review. Expert review of vaccines, 20(8), 959-973.
Sauer, M. A., Truelove, S., Gerste, A. K., & Limaye, R. J. (2021). A failure to communicate? How public messaging has strained the COVID-19 response in the United States. Health security, 19(1), 65-74.
Limaye, R. J., Sauer, M., Ali, J., Bernstein, J., Wahl, B., Barnhill, A., & Labrique, A. (2020). Building trust while influencing online COVID-19 content in the social media world. The Lancet digital health, 2(6), e277-e278.
Dudley, M. Z., Halsey, N. A., Omer, S. B., Orenstein, W. A., T O'Leary, S., Limaye, R. J., & Salmon, D. A. (2020). The state of vaccine safety science: systematic reviews of the evidence. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 20(5), e80-e89.
Professional Affiliations
Steering Committee, WHO HPV Implementation Research Group
Member, Wellcome Trust TB Vaccine Advisory Group
Committee Member, US National Vaccine Advisory Committee, Subcommittee on Vaccine Safety
National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Societal Experts Action Network
Advisory Council Member, Sabin Vaccine Institute Vaccine Acceptance Research Network

Degrees

PhD, Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
MPH, Global Health, The George Washington University
MA, International Affairs, The George Washington University
BS, Journalism, University of Kansas
BA, Political Science, University of Kansas

George Mason becomes new home for 400,000 biological specimens from Inova Health Systems

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:07:11 +0000

George Mason becomes new home for 400,000 biological specimens from Inova Health Systems Mary Cunningham Tue, 07/16/2024 - 20:07

91��’s College of Public Health is the new home of 400,000 biological specimens through a partnership with Inova Health Systems. This repository of specimens, called a biobank, is an extensive collection of obstetrical and perinatal samples, along with follow-up health information, providing a rare and invaluable asset in public health and in the education of our future health, science, and technology care workforce.

“The biorepository creates opportunities for Mason to expand its collaborations with Inova, biotechnology partners, and other universities in Virginia, as well as unique educational opportunities,” said Melissa Perry, dean of the college.

Larry Maxwell, president of the Women’s Service Line at Inova Health System, said, “The investment by Inova Health System as well as additional support from the Fairfax County Government have created an unprecedented resource of placenta as well as blood specimens from mother, father, and baby [trios] corresponding to over 4,000 families. These biospecimens and corresponding data continue to support scientific research to better understand the obstetrical diseases that contribute to rising rates of maternal morbidity and mortality locally, regionally, and nationally.”

A range of specimens (e.g., saliva, urine, and blood) were collected with consent from an Inova cohort study that followed more than 4,000 women, their partners, and their children from pregnancy into early childhood to examine maternal health, pregnancy outcomes, and children’s growth and development.

Biobank program leads Carolyn Drews-Botsch and Michael S. Bloom. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“The transfer of the biobank from Inova Health System to the College of Public Health serves as a testament to our strong public–private partnership, and underscores George Mason’s dedication to advancing health in pregnancy and early childhood,” said Alison Cuellar, College of Public Health associate dean for research. The biobank is housed at the university’s Science and Technology Campus in Manassas, Virginia.

The biobank offers an unprecedented opportunity for George Mason researchers to engage with and involve Virginia’s undergraduate and graduate students in health and public health science, to expand Virginia’s health, science, and technology workforce pipeline and enhance its diversity.

“The availability of such comprehensive and diverse datasets within a single biobank is rare, making it an attractive asset for collaboration and groundbreaking research endeavors,” said Michael S. Bloom, program lead of the College of Public Health Biobank and George Mason professor.

Space at the SciTech Campus for the biobank was renovated to hold the 11 tanks (called dewars) and freezers full of specimens. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Bloom and co-lead Carolyn Drews-Botsch started the work for the biobank transfer in 2021. Inova chose Bloom and Drews-Botsch after extensive vetting of their prior research experience, including involvement in large cohort studies, such as those from which these specimens are drawn. Space at the SciTech Campus for the biobank was renovated to hold the 11 tanks (called dewars) and freezers full of specimens. The containers are kept between -80 degrees C and -190 degrees C to maintain specimen integrity during long-term storage.

“These specimens will be vital for public health researchers who are looking to identify associations and factors that support healthy pregnancy and child health and ultimately benefit the public’s health,” said Drews-Botsch, a professor in the College of Public Health.

The professors expect the biobank to become a leading resource for collaborative projects once a research database is developed, with other researchers analyzing the data to answer important public health questions.

“By actively fostering these partnerships, George Mason can position itself as a leader in research around maternal health and early childhood and contribute to the advancement of public health on a larger scale,” Perry said.

Uncover more research at the College of Public Health

In This Story

Michael S. Bloom, PhD, MS, FACE

Alison Evans Cuellar, PhD, MBA

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS, MBA

Topics

Maternal Child Health

Science and Technology Campus

Panagiota Kitsantas, PhD

admin_alpha — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 23:24:01 +0000

Panagiota Kitsantas, PhD admin_alpha Tue, 10/20/2015 - 19:24

Interim chair, HAP

Contact Information

Email: pkitsant@gmu.edu

Phone: 703-993-1980

CV

Download Panagiota Kitsantas curriculum vitae (CV) here.

Personal Websites

ORCID

Biography

Dr. Kitsantas is a Professor of Biostatistics/Epidemiology in the Department of Health Administration and Policy (HAP). She has also served as the PhD Program Director in Health Services Research at HAP. Previously, she was the Chair of the Department of Population Health at the Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University.

Her research focuses on integrating data science with statistical/epidemiological methods to address health issues in vulnerable populations of women and their children. Dr. Kitsantas is the Principal Investigator of an NIH-funded study examining comorbidities in pregnant Women with prenatal alcohol exposure and adverse birth outcomes. She has also received funding from the Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes Research to study medical cannabis use among pregnant and non-pregnant women of reproductive age. She has authored and co-authored numerous manuscripts on a wide range of topics, including infant feeding practices, childhood obesity, infant mortality, and various other issues related to maternal health.
Dr. Kitsantas teaches courses in health statistics and research methods, with a strong interest in incorporating AI tools into educational practices to enhance student learning.

Research/Scholarship Interests

Substance use and misuse (e.g., e-cigarettes, alcohol, opioids, and cannabis) among pregnant and non-pregnant women of childbearing age and children, particularly among vulnerable populations such as those with disabilities; machine learning applications in population health; artificial intelligence in teaching and learning.

Select Journal Publications

Matarazzo, A.*, Hennekens, C.H., Dunn, J.*, Mejia, M.C., Levine, R.S., & Kitsantas, P. (2025). New clinical and public health challenges: Increasing trends in United States alcohol related mortality. American Journal of Medicine, 138(3), 477-486.

Kitsantas, P., Benson, K.*, Rubenstein, A.*, Mejia, M. C., Levine, R. S., Hennekens, C. H., & Wood, S. K. (2025). Prenatal cannabis use and adverse health outcomes in neonates and early childhood. Pediatrics and neonatology, S1875-9572(24)00229-8. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.11.004

Kitsantas, P., Densley, S.*, Rao, M.*, Sacca, L., Levine, R.S., Hennekens, C.H., & Mejia, M.C. (2024). Increases in drug-related infant mortality in the United States. Journal of Perinatal Medicine, 52(6), 660-664

Kitsantas, P., Aljoudi, S. M.*, & Sacca, L. (2024). Perception of Risk of Harm from Cannabis Use Among Women of Reproductive Age with Disabilities. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 9(6), e1615–e1622. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2023.0199

Yang, J.*, Mejia, M.C., Sacca, L., Hennekens, C.H., Kitsantas, P. (Oct 2024). Trends in marijuana use among adolescents in the United States. Pediatric Reports, 16(4):872-879. doi:10.3390/pediatric16040074

Kitsantas, P., & Pursell, S.R. (2024). Are healthcare providers caring for pregnant and postpartum women ready to confront the perinatal cannabis use challenge? American Journal of Perinatology, 41(S 01):e3249-e3254.

Kitsantas, P., Gimm, G., & Aljoudi, S. M*. (2023). Treatment outcomes among pregnant women with cannabis use disorder. Addictive behaviors, 144, 107723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107723

Honors and Awards

Recipient of the Shirley S. Travis Habit of Excellence Award, 2014
Recipient of the College of Health and Human Services Master Teacher Award, 2014
Recipient of the 91�� Teacher of Distinction Award, 2014

Professional Affiliations/Memberships

Member, American College of Epidemiology
Member, American Public Health Association

Degrees

PhD, Statistics, Florida State University
MS, Statistics, Florida State University
MS, Health Sciences, James Madison University
BA, Biology, Queens College of the City University of New York

Maternal Child Health

Nutrition support during pregnancy improves birth outcomes, global study finds

Why this matters

Study details

In This Story

Key Takeaways

Topics

Rupali J. Limaye, PhD, MPH, MA

Contact Information

CV

Biography

Research Interests

Honors and Awards

Select Publications

Degrees

George Mason becomes new home for 400,000 biological specimens from Inova Health Systems

In This Story

Related News

Topics

Panagiota Kitsantas, PhD

Contact Information

CV

Personal Websites

Biography

Research/Scholarship Interests

Select Journal Publications

Honors and Awards

Professional Affiliations/Memberships

Degrees