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Sandra Huffman

Sandra Huffman

  • Research Nutritionist

slhuffman@ucdavis.edu

Email

Education

  • Sc.D, John Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health
  • B.S. with Honors, Cornell University, Human Nutrition

Research Interests

Dr. Huffman’s interests focus on programs to improve infant and young child feeding and maternal nutritional status in developing countries. Her emphasis is on translation of research into policy, dissemination of recent advancements to enhance programs and policies, testing of indicators to assess infant feeding and child development, technical support to improve program effectiveness, and program evaluation. She is interested in expanding program impact and reach by working with the private sector in developing countries. Of particular concern is the development of guidelines for fortified complementary foods and supplements for infants and young children, expansion of nutrition programs for pregnant and lactating women beyond iron and folic acid supplementation, and linking programs to enhance early child development with nutrition interventions.

Selected Publications

  • Mosley WH, Osteria T, Huffman, SL. Interactions of contraception and breastfeeding in developing countries. Journal of Biosocial Science Supplement 4:93 111, 1977.
  • Chowdhury AKMA., Huffman SL, Curlin GT. Malnutrition, menarche, and marriage in rural Bangladesh. Social Biology 24(4):316 325, 1977.
  • Huffman SL, Determinants of Postpartum Amenorrhea in Rural Bangladesh. Doctoral Thesis, The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1977.
  • Huffman SL, Chowdhury AKMA. and Mosley, WH. Postpartum amenorrhea: how is it influenced by maternal nutritional status? Science 200:1155 1157, 1978.
  • Huffman SL, Chowdhury AKMA, Chakraborty J, Mosley WH. Nutrition and postpartum amenorrhea in rural Bangladesh. Population Studies 32(2):251 260, 1978.
  • Huffman SL, Chowdhury AKMA, Mosley WH. Difference between postpartum and nutritional amenorrhea. Science 203:921 923, 1979.
  • Chen LC, Chowdhury, AKMA, Huffman SL. Interaction of agriculture, dietary practices, and infection on seasonal dimensions of energy malnutrition. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 8:175 187, 1979.
  • Huffman, SL, Chowdhury, AKMA, Sykes,Z. Lactation and fertility in Bangladesh. Population Studies 34(2):337 347, 1980.
  • Huffman SL, Chowdhury AKMA, Chakraborty, J and Simpson, N. Breastfeeding patterns in rural Bangladesh. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 33(1):144 153, 1980.
  • Chen LC, Chowdhury, AKMA, Huffman, SL. Anthropometric assessment of energy protein malnutrition and subsequent risk of mortality among preschool aged children. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 33(8):1836 1845, 1980.
  • Simpson Hebert M. and Huffman SL. The contraceptive effect of breastfeeding. Studies in Family Planning 12(4):125 122, 1981.
  • Chen LC, Huq E. and Huffman SL. Nutritional status and the risk of diarrhea disease among children. American Journal of Epidemiology 114(2):284 292, 1981.
  • Chowdhury, AKMA, Huffman, SL, Chen, LC. Agriculture and nutrition in Matlab Thana, Bangladesh. In: Chambers R, Longhurst R., Pacey A., eds. Seasonal dimensions to rural poverty. London: Printer, 52-4, 1981.
  • Chen, LC, Huq, E., Huffman, SL. A prospective study of the risk of diarrhoeal diseases according to the nutritional status of children. In: Sukhatme, P.V., ed. Newer concepts in nutrition and their implications for policy. Pune. Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation of Science Research Institute, 185-94, 1982.
  • Chen, LC, Chowdhury, AKMA, Huffman, SL. Anthropometric assessment on energy-protein malnutrition and subsequent risk of mortality among preschool aged children. In:
    Sukhatme, P.V., ed. Newer concepts in nutrition and their implications for policy. Pune. Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation of Science Research Institute, 157-84, 1982.
  • Smith JC, Mhango CG, Warren, CW, Rochat, RW, Huffman SL. Trends in the incidence of breastfeeding for Hispanics of Mexican origin and Anglos on the U.S. Mexican border. American Journal of Public Health 72:59 61, 1982.
  • Huffman, SL. Maternal and child nutrition status: association with the risk of pregnancy. Social Science and Medicine 17(20):1529 1540, 1983.
  • Huffman, SL. Determinants of breastfeeding in developing countries: overview and policy implications. Studies in Family Planning 15(4):170 183, 1984.
  • Huffman, SL and Lamphere, B. Breastfeeding performance and child survival. In: Child Survival Strategies and Research (Mosley W. and Chen C., eds.) Population and Development Review 10(Suppl.):93 116, 1984.
  • Pebley, AR, Huffman SL, Chowdhury, AKMA, Stupp, PW. Intrauterine mortality and maternal nutritional status in rural Bangladesh. Population Studies 39:425 440, 1985.
  • Wawer, M, Huffman, SL, Cebula, D, Osborn R. (eds.). Health and Family Planning in Community Based Distribution Programs. Westview Press:Boulder, Colorado, 1985.
  • Huffman SL, Wolff, M. and Lowell, S. Nutrition and Fertility in Bangladesh: I. Nutritional status of non pregnant women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 42(4):725 738, 1985.
  • Huffman, SL. Nutrition activities in community based projects. In: Wawer, M, Huffman SL, Cebula, D, Osborn, R. eds. Health and Family Planning in Community Based Distribution Programs. Westview Press: Boulder, Colorado, 1985.
  • Huffman, SL. Women's activities and impacts on child nutrition. In: Gittinger, JP, Leslie, J, Hoisington, C. eds. Food Policy: Integrating Supply, Distribution Consumption. Economic Development Institute, World Bank:Washington, D.C., 1986.
  • Huffman, S and Krasovec, K. Maternal nutrition risk assessment in Bangladesh. In: Taylor, T.G., Jenkins, N.K., eds. Proceedings of the XIII International Congress of Nutrition, International Union of Nutritional Sciences, Brighton, 18-23 Aug, 1985. London: John Libbey, 1986:100-3.
  • Huffman, SL, Chowdhury, AKMA., Allen, H, Nahar, L. Suckling patterns and postpartum amenorrhea in Bangladesh. Journal of Biosocial Science 19:171-179, 1987.
  • Huffman, SL, Ford, K, Allen, H, Streble, P. Nutrition and Fertility in Bangladesh: Breastfeeding and Postpartum Amenorrhea. Population Studies 41(3):447-462, 1987.
  • Bentley, MA, Pelto, GH, Straus, WL, Schumann, DA, Adegbola, C., de la Pena, E, Oni, G., Brown, KH, Huffman, SL. Rapid ethnographic assessment: application in a diarrhea management program. Social Science and Medicine 27(1):1107-116, 1988.
  • Ford, K. and Huffman, SL. Nutrition, infant feeding and post partum amenorrhoea in rural Bangladesh. Journal of Biosocial Science 20:461-469, 1988.
  • Riley, AP, Huffman, SL, Chowdhury, AKMA. Age at menarche and postmenarcheal growth in rural Bangladeshi females. Annals of Human Biology, 16(4):347-359, 1989.
  • Huffman, SL. Breastfeeding promotion: the right start. Dialogue on Diarrhoea, 38:6, 1989.
  • Kumanyika, S, Huffman, SL, Bradshaw, ME, Waller, H, Ross, A., Serdula, M., Paige, D. Stature and weight status of children in an urban kindergarten population. Pediatrics 85(5):783-790, 1990.
  • Huffman, SL. The role of breastfeeding in the prevention and treatment of diarrhoea. Journal of Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 8(3):68-81. 1990.
  • Huffman, SL, Lopez de Romana, G, Madrid, S, Brown, KH, Bentley, MA., Black RE. Do child feeding practices change due to diarrhoea in the Central Peruvian Highlands. Journal of Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 9(4):295-300, 1991.
  • Huffman, SL. "Breastfeeding Policies in the US: What Can We Learn From Developing Countries". Mechanisms Regulating Lactation and Infant Nutrient Utilization. M.Picciano and B.Lonnerdal (eds). New York, John Wiley & Sons. 1992.
  • Huffman, SL, and Martin, L. "Child nutrition, birth spacing and child mortality". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Human Reproductive Ecology: Interactions of Environment, Fertility, and Behavior, 709:236-248, 1994.
  • Huffman, SL and Steel, A. "Do child survival interventions reduce malnutrition?: The dark side of child survival". Beyond Child Survival: Enhancing Child Growth and Nutrition in Developing Countries. Pinstrup-Anderson, Pelletier & Alderman, eds. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. 1994.
  • Huffman, SL. "Maternal Malnutrition and Breastfeeding: Is there really a choice for policy makers?", J. of Tropical Pediatrics Vol. 37: Supplement. Oct. 1991
  • Huffman, SL and Labbok, M. "Breastfeeding in family planning programs: A help or a hinderance?" International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics Supplement. S23-S32, 1994.
  • Huffman, SL and Martin, L. "First foods: Optimal feeding of infants and toddlers". Progress in Nutrition Research, 14(1):127-159, 1994.
  • Caulfield, L, Huffman, SL, Piwoz, EG. Interventions to improve complementary food intakes of 6-12 month old infants in developing countries: What have we been able to accomplish? Food and Nutrition Bulletin 20(2): 183-200. 1999.
  • Huffman, SL, Baker, J, Shumann, J, Zehner, ER. The case for promoting multiple vitamin mineral supplements to women of reproductive age in developing countries. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 20(4):379-394. 1999
  • Huffman, SL, Oniango, R, Quinn, V. Improving young child feeding with processed complementary cereals and behavior change in urban Kenya. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 21(1):75-80. 2000.
  • Huffman, SL, Zehner, ER, Victora, C. Can improvements in breastfeeding practices reduce neonatal mortality in developing countries? Midwifery, 17: 80-92. 2000.
  • Piwoz., EG, Huffman, SL, Lusk, D, Zehner, ER, O’Gara,C. Issues, Risks, and Challenges of Early Breastfeeding Cessation to Reduce Postnatal Transmission of HIV in Africa Academy for Educational Development. Washington, D.C 2001.
  • Caulfield, L., Piwoz, EG, Huffman, SL. Improved child diet and growth: efficacy and effectiveness studies. In Martorell, R. and Haschke, F.. Nutrition and Growth. Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series Pediatric Program, Volume 47. p. 375-394. 2001
  • Piwoz, EG, Huffman, SL, Quinn, V.. Promotion and advocacy for improving complementary feeding. Can we apply the methods used for breastfeeding? Food and Nutrition Bulletin 24(1): 29-44. 2003.
  • Warnick, E, Dearden, K, Slater, S, Butrón, B, Lanata, C, Huffman, SL. Social Marketing Improved the Use of Multivitamin and Mineral Supplements Among Resource-Poor Women in Bolivia. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Nov-Dec;36 (6)290-297. 2004.
  • Huffman, SL, Habicht, JP, Scrimshaw, N. Micronutrient supplementation. Lancet 366(9502):2001. 2005.
  • Ramakrishnan, U and Huffman, SL. Multiple micronutrient malnutrition: What can be done? in Nutrition and Health in Developing Countries. R. Semba and M. Bloem, Humana Press, p. 365-392. 2001, 2008 (revised)
  • The Ten Year Strategy to Reduce Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies, Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition Working Group-Subgroup on Formulation guidelines. Formulations for fortified complementary foods and supplements: Review of successful products for improving nutritional status of infants and young children. Food and Nutrition Bulletin:. 30(2): S239-255. 2009.
  • Dewey, KG and Huffman, SL. Introduction: Maternal, infant, and young child nutrition: Combining efforts to maximize impacts on child growth and micronutrient status. Maternal, infant and young child nutrition: combining efforts to maximize impacts on child growth and micronutrient status. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. 30(2):S 187-198. 2009.
  • Shrimpton, R, Huffman, SL, Zehner, ER, Darnton-Hill, I, Dalmiya, N. Multiple micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy in developing country settings: policy and programme implications of the results of a meta-analysis. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 30(4):S556-573. 2009.
  • Huffman, SL, Dewey, KG, Schofield, D. Introduction. Moving ahead with maternal, infant, and young child nutrition: Need to integrate actions. . Food and Nutrition Bulletin 31(2): 2010.
  • Engle, P, and Huffman, SL. Growing children’s bodies and minds: Maximizing child nutrition and development. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 31(2): 2010.
  • Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition Working Group: Sub-Group on Integration of Breastfeeding and Other Guiding Principles of Young Child Feeding with Fortified Complementary Food. Using the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes to guide the marketing of complementary foods and supplements in order to protect optimal infant feeding practices. GAIN working paper series 3. March, 2010. Geneva.