Browsing by Author "Lambert, C."

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

Consumption of dark green leafy vegetables predicts vitamin a and iron intake and status among female small-scale farmers in Tanzania
(Nutrients/ MDPI, 2019) Stuetz, W.; Gowele, V.; Kinabo, J.; Bundala, N.; Mbwana, H.; Rybak, C.; Eleraky, L.; Lambert, C.; Biesalski, H. K.
Inadequate consumption of micronutrient-dense foods such as vegetables and meat are an important contributing cause for anemia and deficiencies of iron and vitamin A in rural communities of Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 to examine nutritional and micronutrient status and their associations to the diet of female small-scale farmers in the sub-humid Kilosa (n = 333) and the semi-arid Chamwino (n = 333) districts, in the Morogoro and Dodoma region. An overall higher prevalence of overweight (19.7%) and obesity (7.1%) than of underweight (5.9%) was detected. Significantly more women in the two villages of Kilosa (27–40%) than in the two villages of Chamwino district (19–21%) were overweight/obese, but also more frequently had anemia (34–41% vs. 11–17%), iron deficiency (24–32% vs. 15–17%), and low serum retinol (21–24% vs. 8–9%). Overall, only a small proportion of women reached recommended daily micronutrient intakes: 27% for vitamin A, 17% for iron, 7% for zinc, and 12–38% for B-vitamins. The amount of dark green leafy vegetables (DGLV) consumed was the main determinant of vitamin A and iron intake by women in Chamwino and corresponded to higher hemoglobin, serum retinol and iron status than in the villages of the Kilosa district; in agreement, DGLV consumption also predicted iron and vitamin A intake in Kilosa district. DGLV consumed with wholemeal millet was advantageous in terms of women’s vitamin A and iron intake and status over the predominantly maize-rice-based diet lacking vegetables.
Determinants of household dietary practices in rural Tanzania: Implications for nutrition interventions
(Cogent food & Agriculture, 2016) Mbwana, H. A.; Kinabo, J.; Lambert, C.; Biesalski, H. K.
A household cross-sectional survey of a sample of 120 households to analyze consumption practices and determinants of household dietary diversity in rural areas of differing agro-climatic conditions in Tanzania was conducted in four villages of Morogoro and Dodoma regions. The respondent was the mother/woman or any other person responsible for food preparation and serving in the household. The inclusion criteria were those women who had given consent to participate, those from a rural area and in the age bracket 15 to 49 years. Data were collected using the Food and Agriculture Organization dietary diversity questionnaire with twelve food groups. Two independent multinomial logistic regression models were used to establish relationships between dietary diversity and categorical variables in Morogoro and Dodoma regions. The mean dietary diversity scores were 4.7 and 4.1 for Morogoro and Dodoma, respectively. The Cereals were highly consumed by all households that participated in the study during the past 24 h preceding the survey and that the consumption of animal based protein foods was below 40%. Determinants of household dietary diversity in Morogoro included literacy status of the mother and prior nutrition training/knowledge. In Dodoma, cultivated land size, literacy status of the mother and distance to a water source determined household dietary diversity. It is therefore recommended that nutrition and food security interventions should not only empower rural women but also pay special attention to differences in agro-ecological environments of the areas in determining interventions to address malnutrition and for effective successful implementation and outcomes.
Expert-based ex-ante assessments of potential social, ecological, and economic impacts of upgrading strategies for improving food security in rural Tanzania using the ScalA-FS approach
(Springer Science, 2017) Graef, F.; Uckert, G.; Schindler, J.; König, H. J.; Mbwana, H. A.; Fasse, A.; Mwinuka, L.; Mahoo, H.; Kaburire, L.; Saidia, P.; Yustas, Y. M.; Silayo, V.; Makoko, B.; Kissoly, L.; Lambert, C.; Kimaro, A.; Sieber, S.; Hoffmann, H.; Kahimba, F. C.; Mutabazi, K. D.
Subsistence farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are highly vulnerable to food insecurity given their low adaptive capacity against ecological and socio-economic shocks. Therefore, food security is one of their main challenges. Participatory action research across food value chains (FVCs) can help stabilize and enhance food security by developing upgrading strategies (UPS) that enhance specific aspects of crop production, post-harvest processing, marketing, income generation, and consumption. However, prior to their widespread adoption or upscaling, UPS need holistic understandings of their potential social, ecological, economic, and institutional challenges and opportunities in target areas. This article reports the application of the BScalA-FS^ tool, which assessed the potential success of selected UPS using assessment criteria developed by agricultural scientists and local farmers in a participatory process in Tanzania. This work is embedded in a larger participatory research project conducted in semi-arid and sub-humid ecological settings of the Dodoma and Morogoro regions of Tanzania. Results from the assessment of the potential impact of the UPS differed strongly between the UPS and the social, economic and environmental assessment criteria, but only slightly between semi-arid and sub-humid regions. The positive impacts of food-securing UPS centre on productivity and income generation. Rain water harvesting, fertilizer micro-dosing, optimized weeding, and promotion of kitchen gardens were expected to have the highest impacts after implementation. The ScalA-FS ex-ante assessments provide a knowledge base about potential impacts, as well as the potential bottlenecks to address during the implementation of UPS.
Factors influencing stunting among children in rural Tanzania: an agro-climatic zone perspective
(Springer, 2017-04) Mbwana, H. A.; Kinabo, J.; Lambert, C.; Biesalski, H. K.
This paper analyzed stunting in children in Tanzania and its linkages to agro-climatic conditions and related factors, unraveling the complex interactions of determinants of under-nutrition in two contrasting regions of Tanzania. We used logistic regression models to establish relationships between stunting and multiple variables belonging to different domains. The prevalence of stunting and severe stunting in children was 41% and 21% respectively, while 11% of women had a Body Mass Index of below 18.5. Results also indicate that 17% of children and 16% of women were anaemic. Regression analysis showed that major determinants of child stunting in the semi-arid Dodoma region are cultivated land size, gender and age of the child, duration of breastfeeding, household size, use of iodized salt and the distance to a water source. In sub-humid Morogoro, cultivated land size, a child’s age, duration of breastfeeding, literacy status of the mother and Body Mass Index of the mother predict stunting. We discuss how these factors influence the nutrition status of children in each agro-climatic region. The pooled model provided strong evidence to link agro-climatic zone characteristics to stunting among children. It is recommended that nutrition interventions should be specific to agroclimatic environments. Implementing agro-climatic sensitive interventional actions may help to reduce undernutrition and food insecurity in specific areas.
Harvesting vegetables from the kitchen garden: an educative and sustainable approach to improve dietary practices and nutritional status among rural families in Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2019) Mbwana, H. A.; Kinabo, J.; Lambert, C.; Biesalski, H. K.
Undernutrition continues to inflict significant social, health and economic consequences in developing countries, Tanzania inclusive. The aim of the present study was to implement, monitor and assess the impact of bag gardening and household nutrition education on dietary practices and nutritional status in rural villages in Tanzania. Nutrition education covered various gaps observed in a preceded nutrition survey (baseline). Bag gardening practical demonstrations and hand on implementation skills were carried out to the participating 120 households. McNemar and marginal homogeneity tests were conducted to compare the baseline to endline results for each section of the questionnaire. Results indicated that at baseline only 27% of households had a high Dietary Diversity Score as compared to 52% at endline. Daily and weekly consumption rates increased by 10-50% from baseline to endline periods.There were significant differences in knowledge aspects of factors influencing inclusion of vegetables in a meal, knowledge of bag and cultivation of vegetables in a bag garden, receiving nutrition education before, knowledge of foods that increase intake of fibre, knowledge of food groups and iron deficiency anaemia between the baseline and endline time points with p<0.05.The intervention increased consumption of green leafy vegetables, dietary diversity and nutrition knowledge of participants in the topics covered including general nutrition, nutrition requirements for specific groups, preparation and preservation of foods, improving nutrition through kitchen gardens and tips for improving health. We recommend progressing this type of intervention further by selecting foods containing high vitamin A amounts to be included in bag gardens.
Tackling food and nutrition insecurity in Tanzania: farmers perspectives on kitchen gardening as a sustainable approach
(DITSL GmbH, Witzenhausen, German, Tropentag Conference, 2015-09) Mbwana, H.; Lambert, C.; Kinabo, J.; Konrad, H.
Under nutrition and food insecurity are major problems faced by most of the developing countries including Tanzania. Foods with high nutrient content are difficult to find in the poorer rural areas where most people are dependent on staple foods with little diversity. Kitchen gardens play an important role in fulfiling dietary and nutritional needs. This study sought to investigate the perceptions and practices by farmers on how kitchen gardening can be transformed into a sustainable nutrition and livelihood strategy in order to come up with information not only on socio-economic sustainability but also on the environmental sustainability of kitchen gardens in rural Tanzania. Focus group discussions, key informant interviews, field observations and secondary sources of data were used. The researcher used observation guide to identify some of the issues that could not come out clearly during focus group discussions. The study was undertaken in Idifu village, Chamwino district in Dodoma. A total of 28 farmers were involved. Only 18% of households practised kitchen gardening. It was regarded as the activity of women. About 80% of the respondents did not have indicted budget to buy seeds and inputs for kitchen gardening. About 85% of farmers indicated it has a potential to be a secondary source of income. Water was a limiting factor in 78% of the participants. About 80% of farmers did not posses radios, and 20% possessed radios but sometimes they lacked money to buy batteries. This constraints the spread of kitchen gardening information through media. This study confirms that kitchen gardening can be changed into a sustainable nutrition and livelihood strategy in Chwamino district and other similar environments if the farmers have access to training on the sustainable use of natural resources such as water and land and can afford adequate access to resources.