Browsing by Author "Msuya, John"

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Adequacy of macro and micronutrients in infants and young children’s diets in Zanzibar, Tanzania
(African Health Sciences, 2019) Kinabo, Joyce; Mamiro, Peter; Mwanri, Akwilina; Bundala, Nyamizi; Kulwa, Kissa; Picado, Janeth; Ntwenya, Julius; Nombo, Aneth; Mzimbiri, Rehema; Ally, Fatma; Salmini, Asha; Juma, Abuu; Macha, Elizabeth; Cheung, Edith; Msuya, John
Background: A study was conducted in Zanzibar using ProPAN software to assess nutrient adequacy of foods given to infants and children aged 6-23 months old in Zanzibar. Methodology: The 24-hr dietary recall method embedded in ProPAN software was used to determine the adequacy of energy, protein, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamin A in foods consumed by children. Sample of 200 mothers/caretakers with children aged 6-23 months were interviewed. Results: Most frequent foods given to infants and children were tea, bread, white rice and fish. Key nutrients such as iron, zinc and vitamin A were below the recommended levels except for vitamin C from the diets consumed by children aged 11-23 months. Energy and protein were considered to be adequate as more than 90% of the children received enough of these nutri- ents. Mean age of introduction of complementary foods was four months. Conclusion: Children diets were limited in fruits and vegetables that caused micronutrients of nutritional importance such as iron, zinc and vitamin A to be supplied below recommended level. Equally, fat intake was below recommended level. Nutrition education on appropriate complementary foods should be given to caregivers. Promotion of consumption of diversified diets and locally available nutrient dense foods should be emphasized so as to achieve adequate intake of nutrients to infants and young children.
Drivers of millet consumption among school aged children in central Tanzania
(Frontiers, 2021) Chande, Monica; Muhimbula, Happiness; Mremi, Ruth; Muzanila, Yasinta C; Kumwenda, Nelson C; Msuya, John; Msere, Harry; Bekunda, Mateete; Okori, Patrick; Gichohi-Wainaina, Wanjiku N
Background: Iron and zinc deficiency are common public health problems in low-income countries largely due to poor consumption of iron and zinc rich foods. It has previously been observed that 57% of school aged children (SAC) in Tanzania suffer from anemia. In addition, estimates indicate that over 25% of the population have inadequate zinc intake. Pearl millet is an example of a nutrient dense, resilient cereal crop, that can be promoted to diversify diets and combat iron and zinc deficiency. This study overall aim was to increase pearl millet consumption among school aged (5 – 12 years) children. As part of the study, we investigated, the drivers of food choice relating to pearl millet consumption. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study of randomly selected households in Kongwa district, Dodoma region of Tanzania. In total, 128 women of reproductive age (20 – 49 years) were randomly selected for the study. A study questionnaire consisting of 66 items, was developed and validated. The constructs in the questionnaire were categorized in two groups: internal and external factors. Respondents were asked to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with statements read to them by interviewers. The scores on intention and behavior constructs were based on the number of times caregivers intended to, or had fed their school going children with pearl millet in the referent month. Intention was considered high if it was higher than the median intention score of the group, and low if it was equal to or lower than the median scores. Correlations and multiple linear regressions were performed to measure association between constructs and to identify predictive constructs. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for score comparison. Results: There was a significant difference between intention and behavior among those who did not consume pearl millet (P = 0.003), and those who consumed pearl millet two or more times a week, in the same month (P = 0.01). Knowledge was significantly correlated with behavior identity (ρ = 0.58, P = 0.001), while health behavior identity was significantly correlated with intention (ρ = 0.31, P = 0.001). Intention of caregivers was significantly and positively correlated (ρ = 0.44, P = 0.001) with and predicted consumption of pearl millet (ρ = 0.87, P = 0.067).