Hokkaido University · Medicine
Professor Taro Yamauchi's research lab focuses on child nutrition, health, and physical activity in low- and middle-income countries, with a particular emphasis on underserved populations in urban slums, peri-urban settlements, and indigenous communities. The lab investigates the interplay between environmental factors—such as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)—nutritional status, and physical activity in shaping child growth and development. Key research directions include assessing malnutrition and its determinants, evaluating lifestyle interventions for obesity prevention, and informing public health policies through community-based studies in Southeast Asia, Africa, and East Asia.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation and hygiene lead to deterioration of the child health condition in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional and health status of children living in an urban slum and to clarify the factors contributing to undernutrition and diarrhea prevalence by focusing on water, sanitation, and hygiene from three viewpoints: household environments, child personal hygiene practices, and knowledge and awareness. The study was conduc
The nutritional status of 75 male and 73female pygmy hunter-gatheres were surveyed as well as the daily physical activity, energy and intake of major nutrients, and total energy expenditure were examined for two married couples of the Baka hunter-gatherers in Cameroon. The average stature was intermediate relative to other Pygmy hunter-gatherers, and the subjects were generally well nourished. Despite the limited sample size and survey duration, the results indicated that the energy intake and e
Accounting for peri-urban sanitation poses a unique challenge due to its high density, unplanned stature, with limited space and funding for conventional sanitation instalment. To better understand users, needs and inform peri-urban sanitation policy, our study used multivariate stepwise logistic regression to assess the factors associated with use of improved (toilet) and unimproved (chamber) sanitation facilities among peri-urban residents. We analysed data from 205 household heads in 1 peri-u
The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether an exercise intervention, nutrition education, or the combination of both were effective in weight reduction and maintenance for rural school children. Two hundred twenty-nine primary school children aged 9 to 12 years determined as overweight/obese were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: exercise intervention, nutrition education, combination of both, and control. Nutrition education and rope-skipping sessions were performed for 2 months. An
Physical activity in childhood is important as it may establish adult behavior. However, few studies on physical activity in children have been conducted, especially in Asian children. We performed anthropometric measurements of 159 school children in two grades (grade 5: 10-11 years old and grade 8: 13-14 years old) from urban areas of Korea (n=79) and China (n=80). The total daily energy expenditure (TEE) was estimated for 7 consecutive days using an accelerometer. The mean height, weight, and
This study was conducted to clarify nutritional status and associated factors in 5-24 month old children in the district of Batouri, Republic of Cameroon. Mothers were interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire, and the child's weight, length, head circumference, and mid-upper arm circumference was collected. The data were compared with child growth standards proposed by the World Health Organization using Z-scores; χ(2) -test, Fisher's exact test, and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to d
Proper handwashing technique and HWWS at appropriate times can reduce faecal contamination. Moreover, it is important that both grade-based and gender-based handwashing education be considered in elementary school education.
A screening tool was developed to predict children at high risk of malnutrition living in Zambia. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the test's validity in detecting future stunting and to investigate the effectiveness of malnutrition treatment.
Abstract Children's faecal waste is a major environmental health issue despite increasing access to sanitation facilities and sanitary products in Indonesia. This cross-sectional study investigated child faecal management practice and disposable diaper usage among under-fives living in an urban slum of Indonesia. Data on household socio-demographics, child characteristics, and child faeces management practices were collected from 184 randomly selected pairs of mothers and children through interv
This research suggests that nursing educators need to understand the barriers faced by male nursing students and provide a gender-neutral learning environment for all students.
Approximately 30% of the children in the study region were underweight, and approximately half of the children exhibited stunting, indicating chronic malnutrition. Commencing complementary feeding at an appropriate time had a positive effect on nutritional status from approximately 2 years of age.
We examined the effects of rural-urban migration on nutritional status, daily activity patterns and physical activity levels for a Papua New Guinea Highland population. A large sample (n = 353) of adult males and females was selected for anthropometry and a smaller sample (n = 56) for behavioral observation in conjunction with heart rate monitoring. Urban migrants had higher body mass index and more body fat than their rural counterparts, particularly the females. The physical exertion index cal
Abstract Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) require adequate sanitary facilities, clean water, product access, privacy and safety, and disposal. MHH can significantly influence girls' health and educational achievements. However, schools in some developing countries lack proper Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) amenities to manage healthy menstruation. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance WASH services to tackle menstrual-related difficulties effectively. Zambian government schools struggle wi
<b>Background:</b> Promoting continued physical activity during winter in snowy-cold regions would be of benefit as a health promotion strategy among elderly individuals. <b>Aim:</b> To evaluate the effect of a lower limb strength training programme for elderly individuals on the daily step counts during the snowy season. <b>Subjects and methods:</b> Fourteen community-dwelling elderly individuals were recruited from a snowy-cold region of northern Japan. <b>Methods:</b> Daily step counts were m
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