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Background/objectives: Failure to thrive (FTT) is mostly caused by insufficient consumption of nutrient-rich food, recurrent infections like diarrhea and intestinal worms, substandard caregiving practices, and limited availability of health and other vital services. Furthermore, there was a correlation between the educational level of mothers and the occurrence of FTT in children aged 6-12 months. Thus, the objective of the current research is twofold: (i) to investigate other factors related to FTT and (ii) to evaluate the impact of them on FTT in Sub-Saharan African countries and their urban areas., Methods: We used weight entropy and TOPSIS methods to approach the research question. In particular, the entropy-weight method is effective for precisely evaluating the relative significance of the selected criteria for TOPSIS computation. Thus, data were retrieved from the database of UNICEF for the year 2019 for nine Sub-Saharan countries, and based on the methods used, five criteria have been selected for consideration. Those of mothers in higher education were identified as having a higher weight, which means that this can affect positively the ability of mothers to mitigate the situation of FTT and protect their children., Results: The findings of the study highlight the factors of maternal education at a higher level and unhealthy habits as those with the greatest weight and impact on the FTT. Moreover, the results indicate that the association between maternal education, and especially higher education, and FTT is stronger in Ethiopia. Despite the limited amount of research on the specified relationship in Sub-Saharan countries, this study is among the initial ones to examine it., Conclusions: The current study can aid policymakers in devising appropriate policies and implementing effective measures to tackle FTT in Sub-Saharan Africa, like enhancing the number of mothers in these countries to be integrated into the educational system to help both themselves and their children mitigate or avoid the symptoms of FTT.

Over the past decade, microbiome research has significantly expanded in both scope and volume, leading to the development of new models and treatments targeting the gut-brain axis to mitigate the effects of various disorders. Related research suggests that interventions during the critical period from birth to three years old may yield the greatest benefits. Investigating the substantial link between the gut and brain during this crucial developmental phase raises fundamental issues about the role of microorganisms in human health and brain development. This underscores the importance of focusing on the prevention rather than the treatment of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. The present review examines the gut microbiota from birth to age 3, with a particular focus on its potential relationship with neurodevelopment. This review emphasizes the immunological mechanisms underlying this relationship. Additionally, the study investigates the impact of the microbiome on cognitive development and neurobehavioral issues such as anxiety and autism. Importantly, it highlights the need to integrate mechanistic studies of animal models with epidemiological research across diverse cultures to better understand the role of a healthy microbiome in early life and the implications of dysbiosis. Furthermore, this review summarizes factors contributing to the transmission of gut microbiome-targeted therapies and their effects on neurodevelopment. Recent studies on environmental toxins known to impact neurodevelopment are also reviewed, exploring whether the microbiota may mitigate or modulate these effects.