Improving infant health with COSMED PEA POD | UFS Research Initiative in South Africa
In a major advancement for maternal and child health in the Free State, the University of the Free State (UFS) and Universitas Academic Hospital, in collaboration with the Free State Department of Health, have launched a state-of-the-art Research Room dedicated to assessing and improving newborn health outcomes.
At the heart of this initiative is the COSMED PEA POD® Infant Body Composition System, a non-invasive, air displacement plethysmography device that provides highly accurate measurements of fat mass, fat-free mass, and overall body composition in newborns.
This technology offers a much more complete view of infant health compared to traditional weight and length measurements. Strategically located adjacent to the hospital’s maternity and neonatal wards, the Research Room allows for rapid, safe assessments shortly after birth.
Two full-time MSc Dietetics students have been trained to perform the PEA POD assessments, supporting both clinical practice and ongoing academic research.
This initiative is aligned with South Africa’s national health priorities,and also lays the foundation for a comprehensive infant body composition database, which will serve as a critical resource for research, patient care, and health policy development.
As noted by Prof. Corinna Walsh, Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, this is a true example of multidisciplinary collaboration—bringing together experts from Paediatrics, Obstetrics, Nutrition and Dietetics—to improve outcomes for the province’s most vulnerable patients.
COSMED is proud to support this visionary project, enabling data-driven, compassionate care through advanced technology.
Discover more about COSMED PEA POD
[ Video credits: SABC News YouTube Official Channel ]
