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The ANU BEN program of research is a 4 year research program funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural research (ACIAR). The BEN study aims to understand the relationship between foodborne gastrointestinal infections and environmental risk factors in Timorese infants that may lead to subsequent child malnutrition and stunting.

Timor-Leste (marked in black). Image:AdobeStock

Timor-Leste (marked in black). Image:AdobeStock

The study will collect stool samples from children, and from their environments including water, soil and samples from household animals. This will help researchers understand zoonotic (germs that spread between animals and people) risks, including environmental exposures in infants and children in Timor-Leste that are associated with growth rates.

In addition, the BEN study will have multiple embedded research projects that will focus on national priorities or knowledge gaps in nutrition, food safety and food security. All projects will provide research capacity strengthening opportunities to Timorese working in health, to design and implement research that helps inform policy and practice taking a One Health approach.

The first research project is led jointly by Dr Samantha Colquhoun (NCEPH) and Mr Salvador Amaral (Menzies School of Health Research Timor-Leste). The Joint research Managers are Dr Haribondu Sarma (NCEPH) and Dr Lesy Atok (Menzies), supported by Kathryn Bright (NCEPH) as the Senior Clinical trials Research Manager.

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Dr Samantha Colquhoun (second from the right, front row) and Mr Salvador Amaral (first on the left, back row) jointly lead the BEN study. Image: supplied

Menzies School of Health Research have been engaged as the operational partner in Timor-Leste. The BEN Timorese team includes a medical officer, senior laboratory technical, and four research nurses. Inclusion of Timorese as Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators is important for all research being conducted in Timor-Leste to ensure it meets the needs and priorities of the Government and collaborative partners. Over the last 18 months the research studies have been co-designed with investigators and collaborators from the Ministry of Health (MoH), and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Fisheries (MALFF), and other One Health partners.

The 2020 Timor-Leste Food and Nutrition survey found nearly half (47.1%) of the children under 5 years of age were demonstrably stunted. In 2019 – 2021, the ANU team with the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Food and Fisheries conducted the ACIAR funded Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) pilot study.

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A home visit during the SAM study. Image:supplied

The SAM study found that infants and children in Dili have a high enteric (related to or affecting the intestines) pathogen load, with signs of stunting from early in life, pointing to multiple contributing factors including household setting, poor food safety, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and mixed feeding regimens from an early age.

The BEN study will use results from the SAM study to assist with the design of the BEN program of research.

Partnerships

In partnership with Menzies School of Health Research.