HomeCollegesCollegesCollege of Natural and Health SciencesFaculty And StaffProfilesDr. Zainab Taha
Associate Professor

Doctor of Philosophy: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY USA

Master of Science: Human Nutrition, King’s College at London, UK.

Biochemistry & Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Sudan

Bio

Zainab Taha is an Assistant Professor in the College of Natural and Health Sciences. Following her graduation from Cornell University with a PhD in International Nutrition, Zainab worked as an Assistant Professor in the University of Khartoum for several years. For the past 15 years, she has worked as a Nutrition Consultant for the Ministry of Health in the UAE, mainly on issues related to maternal and child nutrition. As a member of the Ministry of Health MCH department, she participated in the preparation of the Ministry of Health guidelines for nutrition during pregnancy, child care, infant and child nutrition and others. Zainab has a key role in the UNICEF and WHO Initiative of Baby Friendly Hospitals in UAE at all stages including the adoption of the Initiative, its implementation and the evaluation of the health facilities that are providing maternity services in the country. She was actively involved in the preparation of the UAE National Nutrition Strategy. Zainab joined ZU last year on the 16th of August, 2015.
 

Google Scholar Profile

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

1996- 2015

Consultant and Head, the Nutrition Division, Ministry of Health, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

1993-1995

Assistant professor, Department of Home Sciences, Faculty of Education, University of Khartoum, Sudan.

 
Office

Abu Dhabi - Khalifa City, FF1-1-018

Phone:

+971 2 599 3756

Email:
Teaching Areas

Maternal nutrition

Infant and child nutrition

Dietary Assessment    

Public Health Nutrition

Research and Professional Activities

My research focuses on micronutrient deficiencies and issues related to infants and young children nutrition. Planning to conduct research on the following areas:

  • A study that aims to investigate and assess the knowledge and practices of ZU mothers with respect to the complementary feeding of infants and young children, and the underlying influencing factors.
  • Health Literacy among UAE College Students.

 

CONSULTANCY & INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE:

Consultancy in the following areas:

Breastfeeding and infants’ nutrition

Evaluation of Baby friendly hospitals and health centers.

Development of UAE National Nutrition Strategy.  

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

  • Taha, Z.; Al Dhaheri, A.I.; Wikkeling-Scott, L.; Ali Hassan, A.; Papandreou, D. Determinants of Delayed Initiation of Breastfeeding: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 9048. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159048

  • Taha, Z.; Wikkeling-Scott, L. Review of Kangaroo Mother Care in the Middle East. Nutrients 2022, 14, 2266. https://doi.org/10.3390/ nu1411226

  • Taha, Z.; Garemo, M.; El Ktaibi, F.; Nanda, J. Breastfeeding Practices in the United Arab Emirates: Prenatal Intentions and Postnatal Outcomes. Nutrients 2022, 14, 806. https://doi.org/10.3390/ nu14040806

  • Zainab Taha. Factors Associated with Not Breastfeeding and Delaying the Early Initiation of Breastfeeding in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Journal of Hunan University（Natural Sciences）Vol. 48 No. 11 November 2021

  • Taha Z, Ali Hassan A, Wikkeling-Scott L, Papandreou D. Factors Associated with Delayed Initiation and Cessation of Breastfeeding Among Working Mothers in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. Int J Womens Health. 2021 Jun 2;13:539-548. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S303041. PMID: 34104003; PMCID: PMC8180278.

  • Taha Z, Abdalhai KA. A Review of the Efficacy of the Dietary Intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Open Access Maced J Med Sci [Internet]. 2021 Mar. 18 [cited 2021 Mar. 24];9(F):88-94. Available from: https://oamjms.eu/index.php/mjms/article/view/5743

  • Taha, Zainab Garemo, Malin, Nanda Joy (2020) Complementary feeding practices among infants and young children in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. BMC Public Health (2020) 20:1308 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09393-y

  • Taha Z, Ali Hassan A, Wikkeling-Scott L, Papandreou D. Factors Associated with Preterm Birth and Low Birth Weight in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Feb 21;17(4):1382. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17041382. PMID: 32098043; PMCID: PMC7068537.

  • Z. Taha, Ali Hassan A, Ludmilla Wikkeling-Scott, Dimitrios Papandreou. Risk Factors Associated with Initiation of Breastfeeding among Mothers with Low Birth Weight Babies: A Cross-sectional Multicenter Study in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Open Access Maced J Med Sci [Internet]. 2020Feb.5 [cited 2020Jul.5];8(B):38-4. Available from: https://idpress.eu/mjms/article/view/oamjms.2019.855

  • Z. Taha, A. Ali Hassan, L. Wikkeling-Scott, R. Eltoum, D. Papandreou. Assessment of Hospital Rooming-in Practice in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Multi-Center Study. Nutrients 2020, 12, 2318; doi:10.3390/nu12082318 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients.

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