Faculty Profiles

Dr. Scott Ickes studies the social and cultural influences of poor diet and health among mothers and children in low-resource contexts, particularly focusing on East Africa. A second aim of his research is to evaluate large-scale and community-based nutrition and agricultural development programs. Previously, Dr. Ickes was a member of the Nutritional Sciences faculty at the University of Washington School of Public Health, where he remains an affiliate professor in Health Services and Global Health. From 2011-2015, he helped to develop and co-directed an interdisciplinary minor in public health at his undergraduate alma mater, the College of William and Mary, where he also directed the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders with colleagues at the Presidential Precinct. He has served as a consultant to UNICEF Uganda and to the World Food Programme in Uganda and is a member of the American Society of Nutrition’s Global Nutrition Council. Dr. Ickes has published work in the areas of dietary assessment, program evaluation, qualitative methods, and social epidemiology. His hobbies include running, gardening, and theater with his wife Jane and 3 children.

Cornell University, Division of Nutritional Sciences
NIH Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Maternal and Child Nutrition, 2011

Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ph.D., Nutrition and Epidemiology, 2010

The College of William and Mary
B.S., Kinesiology and Biology, 2004

• Maternal and child nutrition

• Member, American Society for Nutrition (ASN) 2006-present.

Mixed methods approaches to understanding breastfeeding patterns and the implementation of workplace breastfeeding support policies in Kenya. Kenya Research and Training Center,
University of Washington. March 10, 2021.

Mixed methods approaches to understanding breastfeeding patterns and the implementation of workplace breastfeeding support policies in Kenya. University of Pittsburgh Department of
Behavioral and Community Health Sciences. January 13, 2021.

Lower prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among employed mothers: results from a cross-sectional survey.
Naivasha, Kenya. American Society of Nutrition Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA (virtual due to COVID-19 modification). May 2020

Maternal Employment and Exclusive Breastfeeding.
Kenya Medical Research Institute Center for Clinical Research Seminar. Nairobi, Kenya. October 2019

Influences of exclusive breastfeeding among low-wage, working mothers in Kenya: perspectives from managers, healthcare providers, daycare directors, mothers, and fathers.
American Society of Nutrition Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD. 2019

Challenges to exclusive breastfeeding and opportunities for breastfeeding promotion among employed mothers.
Naivasha, Kenya. Naivasha District Hospital. July 2018

Interdisciplinary research to inform maternal and child nutrition interventions. Washington University in St. Louis Brown School of Social Work and Public Health. February 2018.

Exclusive breastfeeding among agricultural workers in Kenya: exploring risks and opportunities for workplace promotion
UW Kenya Research and Training Center. March 2017

The role of maternal capabilities in infant and young child feeding practices: evidence from Uganda
Kenya Medical Research Council – Wellcome Trust. January 2017

Development of a tool to assess child appetite in low-income countries
University of Washington Pediatric Infectious Disease Group. September 2016

Understanding maternal engagement with nutrition interventions: definitions and opportunities
Nutrition Think Tank Meeting, January 2015

Exploring the links between maternal agency and child growth in low-income countries
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. November 2015

Understanding and addressing maternal capabilities for nutrition in low-income countries
University of Washington. May 2015

Socio-cultural influences of maternal capacities that influence child feeding in Uganda
Experimental Biology, San Diego, CA. April 2014

The role of maternal agency in child nutrition in low-income countries
University of Michigan. January 2014

Mapping Child Malnutrition: The Use of Species Distribution Modeling Techniques to Determine the Major Environmental Factors of Child Stunting
Higher Education Solutions Network Research Consortium. January 2014

Developing a global standard for classifying and tracking nutrition sensitive investments
UNICEF Nutrition Global Finance Tracking in Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. November 2013, (with Rachel Trichler (lead) and Bradley Parks)

Using social science methods to understand nutritional care needs in Uganda
William and Mary-EVMS Research Symposium, 2013

Ickes SB, Craig C, Heidkamp R. Design factors for food supplementation and nutrition education
interventions that limit conclusions about effectiveness for wasting prevention? A scoping review
of peer-reviewed literature. 2021. (Forthcoming, Advances in Nutrition). doi:
10.1093/advances/nmab107

Ickes SB, Sanders H, Denno DM, Myhre JA, Kinyua J, Singa B, Lemein HS, Iannotti LL, Farquhar C,
Walson JL, & Nduati R. (2021). Exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers in Kenya:
Perspectives from women, families and employers. Maternal & Child Nutrition, e13194.
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13194

Paul S, Tickell K, Ojee E, Oduo C, Martin S, Singa B, Ickes SB, Denno, D. Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of Kenyan healthcare workers regarding pediatric discharge from hospital. 2021. PlosOne. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249569

Ickes SB, Oddo V, Sanders H, Nduati R, Denno DM, Myhre JA, Kinyua J, Iannotti L, Singa B, Farquhar C, Walson J.  Maternal employment is associated with lower odds of exclusive breastfeeding by 14-weeks post-partum: a cross-sectional survey in Naivasha, Kenya.  2021. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqaa351.

Ickes SB, Craig C, Heidkamp R. How do nutrition professionals working in low-income countries perceive and prioritize actions to prevent wasting? A mixed-methods qualitative study." 2020. Maternal and Child Nutrition. doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13035

Ickes SB. Supportive evidence for program impact pathways: food-assisted maternal and child health and nutrition programs can produce sustained dietary improvements. 2020. Journal of Nutrition. doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa056

Teller K, Abbey-Lambertz MA, Sharma N, Waite A, Ickes SB, Mendoza J. Parent Perceptions on a Walking School Bus Program among low-income families in Seattle, WA: A qualitative study. 2019. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. doi:10.1123/jpah.2018-0637.

Nahar B, Hossain M, Ickes  SB, Naila N, Mahfuz M, Hossain D, Denno D, Walson J, Ahmed T.  Development and validation of a tool to assess child appetite in low-income settings. 2019. Appetite. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2018.12.032.

Oddo V, Ickes SB. Reply to correspondence regarding comment on “Maternal employment in low- and middle-income countries is associated with improved infant and young child feeding. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2018 doi: doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqy231

Ritter G, Walkinshaw L, Quinn E, Ickes SB, Johnson DJ. An assessment of perceived barriers to farmer’s market access. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2018; doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2018.07.020

Ickes SB, Hossain M, Ritter G, Lazarus M, Reynolds, K, Walson J, Ahmed T, Denno D. Systematic review of tools to assess child appetite in low and middle-income countries. Advances in Nutrition, 2018; doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmy042.

Oddo VM, Ickes SB. Associations with employment among mothers and Infant and Young Child Feeding patterns in children 0 to 23 months: Evidence from Low and middle-income countries. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2018; doi:1093/ajcn/nqy001.

Hossain M*, Ickes SB*, Rice LR, Ritter G, Naila N, Zia T, Nahar B, Mahfuz M, Denno D, Ahmed T, Walson J. Maternal perceptions of child growth: findings from focus groups in younger and older mothers in Bangladesh. Public Health Nutrition, 2018; doi:10.1017/S136898001700427X

Ickes SB, Mandel M, Roberts AC, Wu, M. Associations between Social support, Psychological Wellbeing, Decision-making, Empowerment and Infant and Young Child Feeding and nutritional status in Ugandan children ages 0 to 24 months. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 2017; e12483. doi: 10.1111/mcn.12483

Nahar B, Hossain M, Naila N, Lazarus M, Walson J, Denno D, Ickes SB. Those who care much understand much.”  Maternal perceptions of children’s appetite: perspectives from urban and rural caregivers of diverse parenting experience in Bangladesh. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 2017;e12473. doi: 10.1111/12473.

Ickes SB, Baguma C, Brahe CA, Myhre JA, Bentley ME, Adair LS, Ammerman AS. (2017) Maternal participation in a nutrition education program in Uganda is associated with improved infant and young child feeding practices and feeding knowledge: a post-program comparison study. BMC Nutrition, 2017; 3(32), doi: 10.1186/s40795-017-0140-8.

Ickes SB, Heymsfield G, & Wright TW, Charles BC. “Generally the young mom suffers much:” Socio-cultural factors and life events that shape maternal and child nutrition decisions in western Uganda. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 2016; doi: 10.1111/mcn.12365

Ickes SB, Dolan CB, Roberts AC. Parental support of a school-based physical activity and nutrition promotion program: a qualitative study among low-income families in eastern Virginia. Health Promotion Practice, 2016; 17 (2): 285-296. doi:10.1177/1524839915616363

Ickes SB, Flax V, Hurst TE. Maternal literacy, facility birth, and education are positively associated with better infant and young child feeding practices and nutritional status among Ugandan children. Journal of Nutrition, 2015; 145(11):2578-86.

Ickes SB, Trichler RT*, Parks BC. Building a Stronger System for tracking nutrition-sensitive spending: a methodology and estimate of global spending for nutrition-sensitive foreign aid. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 2015; 36(4):520-533.

Ickes SB, Lea A. Development and pilot testing of the Maternal Opportunities for Making Change (MOM-C) Screening Tool. Emergency Nutrition Network Field Exchange. August 2015.

Hsieh JC, Liu L, Zeilani M, Ickes SB, Trehan I, Maleta K, Craig C, Thakwalakwa C, Singh L, Brenna JT, Manary MJ. High oleic ready-to-use therapeutic food maintains docosahexaenoic acid status in severe acute malnutrition: A randomized, Blinded Trial. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 2015; 61(1):138-143.

Ickes SB, Adair LS, Brahe CA, Thirumurthy H, Charles B, Myhre JA, Bentley ME, Ammerman AS. Impact of Lipid-Based Nutrient (LNS) supplementation on children’s diet adequacy in western Uganda. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 2015; Suppl 4: 163-178

Jones A, Mbuya MN, Ickes SB, Heidkamp RA, Smith LE. Chasekwa B, Menon P, Zongrone AA, Stoltzfus RJ. Reply to correspondence: is the strength of association between indicators of dietary quality and the nutritional status of children being underestimated? Maternal and Child Nutrition, 2014;10:161-162.

Jones A, Ickes SB, Smith LE, Mbuya MN, Chasekwa B, Heidkamp RA, Menon P, Zongrone AA, Stoltzfus RJ. World Health Organization infant and young child feeding indicators and their associations with child growth: a synthesis of recent findings. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 2014; 10:1-17.

Leone LA, Beth D, Ickes SB, MacGuire K, Nelson E, Andrew-Smith R, Tate DF, Ammerman AS. Attitudes towards Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Farmers’ Market Usage among Low-income North Carolinians. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 2012; 7: 64-76.

Ickes SB, Jilcott SB, Adair LS, Bentley ME, Thirumurthy H, Myhre JA, Ammerman AS. Examination of barriers and facilitators to home-based supplemental feeding with ready-to-use-food for underweight children in western Uganda. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 2012; 8:115-129.

Jilcott SB, Ickes SB, Myhre JA, Ammerman AS. Iterative design, implementation, and evaluation of a supplemental feeding program for underweight children ages 6 -59 months in western Uganda. Maternal and Child Health, 2010;14: 299-306.

Ammerman AS, Farrely MA, Cavallo D, Ickes SB, Hoerger T. Health Economics in Public Health. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2009; 36:273-275.

Yeh MC, Ickes SB, Lowenstein LM, Shuval K, Ammerman AS, Farris R, Katz D. Understanding barriers and facilitators of fruit and vegetable consumption among a diverse multi-ethnic population in the United States. Health Promotion International. 2008; (1):42-51.

Jilcott SB, Masso KA, Ickes SB, Myhre SD, Myhre JA. Surviving but Not Quite Thriving: Anthropometric Survey of Children Aged 6 to 59 Months in a Rural Western Ugandan District. Journal of the American Dietetic Assoc, 2007; 107: 1983-1988.

Gaskins ND, Sloane PD, Mitchell CM, Ammerman AS, Ickes SB, Williams CS. Poor Nutritional Habits: A Modifiable Predecessor of Chronic Illness? A North Carolina Family Medicine Research Network Study. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 2007; 20:124-134.