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Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had large negative effects on countries' economies and individual well-being throughout the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Pandemic-related changes in behavior and government restrictions in Kenya may have negatively affected food supply chains and household food access; however, the empirical evidence is currently limited. Objectives: The study explored changes in informal milk markets, dairy consumption, and food insecurity among low-income households in urban and periurban Nairobi, Kenya, following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Methods: Baseline data on milk sales and consumption were collected in late 2019 from dairy vendors operating in the informal sector and their dairy customers. We conducted 2 longitudinal telephone surveys with the same study participants in July and September--October 2020, respectively. Results: At the first follow-up, the volume of milk sold by informal vendors had dropped by 30% compared with their baseline level, and the volume of milk from informal markets consumed by households decreased by 23%. By the second follow-up, the volume of milk sold and consumed had recovered somewhat but remained lower than the volume observed 1 y prior in the same season. Large reductions in the consumption of other animal--sourced products were also observed. The rate of food insecurity increased by 16 and 11 percentage points in the first and second follow-up periods, respectively, compared with baseline. Conclusions: The evidence, therefore, suggests that the timing of the pandemic and the related restrictions were associated with a decrease in the supply and consumption of milk from informal markets in Nairobi and a decrease in the food security of periurban consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social network plays an important role in delivering welfare services to increase child well-being especially children in institutional care. A study was conducted to explore the sectors involved in the implementation of the practice of child welfare services network located at Sekolah Tunas Bakti (STB) Marang, Terengganu. The study which is qualitative in its approach utilised Grounded Theory to gather data. A set of interview protocol was designed to guide a series of face-to-face and in-depth interviews among 30 respondents that come from 24 different agencies. The study found more than 50 agencies invovled in preparing, supplying and delivering the needs of food and drink; 37 agencies involved in preparing, supplying and delivering the needs of insurance, shelter, clothes, and other needs; and 10 parties involved in health services. As an overall impact, the study provided implications to the concerned parties such as Social Welfare Department to redouble efforts to form an integrated child welfare network services with various parties including the formal sector, informal sector, voluntary sector, private sector and individuals to improve child well-being; particularly children in institutional care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]