Objective: To conduct a secondary analysis of dietary variety consumed by individuals of African-origin in two countries with differing stages of economic development. Our overall aim is to determine the relationships of two different dietary variety scores developed previously in our laboratory with reported energy intake (rEI), ER (which will be a more accurate reflection of true EI) and BMI in the total sample and the plausibly reporting subsample. Methods: Data for this analysis were collected as part of METS between January 2010 to September 2011, whose purpose was to elucidate the associations of physical activity and diet with body weight, diabetes, and risk of cardiovascular disease. Five communities of African-origin and in different countries were selected based on their different levels of economic development, as measured using the UN Human Development Index. A subsample of 141 (Ghana, n=70 and U.S., n=71) men and women with an average age of 35.1±0.5 years and an average BMI of 27.5±0.6 kg/m2 were randomly selected to have their total energy expenditure (TEE) measured by the doubly labeled water (DLW) method. Participants were interviewed using the multiple-pass method designed by the Medical Research Council of South Africa to estimate their dietary intake the day after consumption. Data was transferred to Nutrient Data System for Research (NDSR) ver. 2011 and dietary variety scores (DVS) were calculated for combination and ingredient varieties. Combination variety was defined as the total number of unique foods and beverages consumed in a day. Ingredient variety was the total number of unique ingredients consumed in a day. Implausibility of rEI was controlled for by calculating rEI as a percentage of TEE. Associations of dietary variety scores with total energy intake and BMI were assessed for both the total sample and plausible subsample using SPSS version 22 through univariate analyses of variance and correlations. Results: Both combination and ingredient variety were positively associated with rEI in both countries when implausible reporting was not controlled, but no significant association was observed in both countries when implausible reporting was controlled. Ingredient variety was negatively associated with TEE when implausible reporting was both controlled and uncontrolled in the U.S. (p= 0.029), but no association was observed in Ghana. Ingredient and combination variety were also negatively associated with log BMI, percent body fat, and weight in U.S. when implausible reporting was not controlled but not in Ghana’s. However, in Ghana, combination variety was positively associated with percent body fat (p=0.041) and log BMI (p= 0.027) when plausible reporting was controlled but was not significant when implausible reporting was uncontrolled. Conclusion: Dietary variety was positively associated with rEI in both countries when implausible reporting was not controlled and with obesity markers in Ghana when plausible reporting was controlled.

Despite their peacekeeping role in the management of internal armed conflicts, some military peacekeepers have sexually exploited local populations in host countries, resulting in dire social and health consequences and threats to the success of international peace operations. Although researchers have examined sexual violence committed by peacekeepers, few researchers, if any, have used routine activities theory to examine sex offending by peacekeepers. The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which situational opportunities influenced international military peacekeepers' engagement in the sexual exploitation of civilians in the Central African Republic, a peacekeeping host country. Data were collected from face-to-face interviews with 15 research participants, including local witnesses, military officers, representatives of civil society organizations, and United Nations policy makers, and from public records obtained from online sources. Data were coded using an inductive coding strategy and then analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated that both the local and peacekeeping conditions, including lack of deterrence and accountability mechanisms, heightened the vulnerability of local populations to sex predation and motivated peacekeeper sex offenders to engage in sex offending. Local community leaders, civil society organizations, peacekeepers, and policy makers could use study findings to promote educational programs on the institutional responsibility to protect vulnerable civilians as well as shape policies to prevent the commission of sexual exploitation by peacekeepers. These actions may also help susceptible civilians, especially women and girls, to be aware of the risks linked to their vulnerability and empower them to seek legal redress.