American Journal of Public Health: Nutrition in the First 1,000 Days

American Journal of Public Health: Nutrition in the First 1,000 Days

Our nation has one of the highest infant mortality rates and maternal mortality rates of any wealthy country, with notable disparities along racial and ethnic lines. We also rank among the worst of our peers on key child health metrics: 1 in 10 babies is born too early, 1 in 6 babies is never breastfed, and 1 in 8 toddlers is overweight.

Unfortunately, the medical and public health communities in the United States have been unable to reach consensus about when and which interventions are most critical to support the health and well-being of vulnerable families. This has led to misinformation, confusion, and a lack of a clear, unifying plan for policy, systems, and environmental change to improve nutrition security.

This American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) series with 1,000 Days, an Initiative of FHI Solutions, begins to present the state of the science, research needs, and a policy agenda for optimal maternal and child nutrition in the United States. Never before has a journal series brought together papers on these topics during pregnancy, birth, the postpartum period, and early childhood.

Find the full series and other resources below.
  • Nutrition in the First 1000 Days: The full American Journal of Public Health 1,000-day window special issue.
  • Communications Toolkit: Media assets to help promote the series through your own channels.
  • Press Release: A rundown highlighting key points of the series.
  • Advocacy Agenda: Our priority advocacy agenda for 20212024 is centered on ensuring parents and children have access to the nutrition, supports, and care they need to thrive.

Articles from the Series