Browsing by Author "Mwanri, Akwilina"

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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.
FoodLAND data Mother Child pair rural, Mvomero Tanzania
(SUA, 2025-01-28) Mwanri, Akwilina
In-vitro bioavailability of selected minerals in dry and green shelled beans
(African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2016) Mamiro, Peter; Mwanri, Akwilina; Mamiro, Delphina; Nyagaya, Martha; Ntwenya, Julius
Mineral deficiency especially that of iron and zinc has continuously emerged as a public health issue in developing countries, probably due to the over dependence on plant food sources, which contain more than enough minerals to meet the daily requirement but have a low bioavailability for physiological purposes. Experiments on in-vitro bioavailability were carried out on dry and green shelled beans. Invitro bioavailability of iron and zinc in bean samples was determined by HCl-pepsin (HCl-P) and pepsinpancreatin (P-P) method. The amount of the proxy bioavailable minerals were obtained by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In both minerals there was a small but significant (P=0.009) and (P=0.0003) increase in in-vitro bioavailability after cooking. The average increase for all the varieties was 3.2 to 3.4% for iron and 1.3 to 1.6% for zinc. The two minerals were more available in cooked green shelled beans compared to dry ones. The highest difference for iron bioavailability was observed in Maharagi soja (12.9%) while lowest was in TY 3396-12 (1.4%). The highest observed for zinc was 3% in G59/1-2. Vulnerable groups who suffer from iron and zinc deficiency should be encouraged to consume green shelled beans more often in comparison to dry beans to improve their mineral uptake.
Increased climate variability and sedentarization in Tanzania: health and nutrition implications on pastoral communities of Mvomero and Handeni districts, Tanzania
(Elsevier Ltd, 2021) Ripkey, Carrie; Little, Peter D.; Dominguez-Salas, Paula; Kinabo, Joyce; Mwanri, Akwilina; Girard, Amy Webb
African pastoralists are undergoing significant changes in livelihood strategies, from predominantly mobile pastoralism to agro-pastoralism in which both livestock raising and cultivation of crops are practiced, to agro- pastoralism combined with wage labor and petty trade. These changes often result in fixed settlements or a process known as sedentarization. Previous research indicates that sedentarization and increased climate vari ability are prominent forces shaping livelihood opportunities and constraints in East Africa, but the effects of these co-occurring processes have yet to be investigated. This paper develops theory, using qualitative data collected in Morogoro and Tanga Regions of Tanzania, explaining the relationships between climate variability, pastoral sedentarization, livelihood outcomes, and resulting nutritional status. We observed that the co-occurring processes of increased climate variability and sedentarization among pastoralists in these regions have dramatic impacts on communities’ economic prosperity, health status, and nutritional outcomes. Due to risks associated with climate and sedentarization, land tenure policies that allow continued practice of highly mobile livelihood strategies, namely, legal recognition of collective land rights, should be adopted.
Low leptin levels are associated with elevated physical activity among lean school children in rural Tanzania
(BMC Public Health, 2022) Ludwig, Christine; Knoll‐Pientka, Nadja; Mwanri, Akwilina; Erfle, Celina; Onywera, Vincent; Tremblay, Mark S.; Bühlmeier, Judith; Luzak, Agnes; Ferland, Maike; Schulz, Holger; Libuda, Lars; Hebebrand, Johannes
Background: In Sub-Saharan African countries, rapid urbanization and increasing socio-economic status are associ‐ ated with a transition to decreased physical activity (PA). A more sedentary lifestyle is linked to increased body fat leading to increments in leptin levels. Since rodent and human studies in high-income countries have shown that starvation-induced hypoleptinemia triggers high PA, efforts are warranted to pursue the hypothesis that low leptin levels in lean children of low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are also associated with high PA. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we assessed seven-day PA with triaxial accelerometry (ActiGraph GT3X) among 223 primary school children (9 to 12 years of age) in rural Tanzania. Moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and total accelerometer counts per day were outcome variables. Leptin was determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay tests from dried blood spots. Anthropometric assessments were conducted and food insecurity and socio- demographic data were gathered using semi-structured interviews. Results: In this sample of school children in rural Tanzania, leptin concentrations (median: 0.91 ng/mL, P25: 0.55, P75: 1.69), body mass index z-scores (median: -1.35, P25: -1.93, P75: -0.82), and height-for-age-z-scores (median: -1.16, P25: -1.96, P75: -0.61) were low. In contrast, PA levels were high with a median MVPA time of 119 min/day. Linear regression confirmed that leptin levels were negatively associated with MVPA (beta: -18.1; 95%CI: -29.7; -6.5; p = 0.002) and total accelerometer counts (beta: -90,256; 95%CI: -154,146; -26,365; p = 0.006). Children residing in areas with better infra‐ structure had lower MVPA levels (p < 0.001) and tended to have higher leptin levels (p = 0.062) than children residing in areas only reachable via dirt roads. Conclusion: Our cross-sectional field study is the first that supports the hypothesis of low leptin levels as a potential endocrine trigger of high PA in lean children of a LMIC. We observed early signs of a PA transition towards a less active lifestyle in a subgroup residing in areas with better infrastructure that concomitantly tended to have higher leptin concentrations. Considering that area-dependent PA differences were more pronounced among girls than boys, whereas differences in leptin levels were less pronounced, not only biological, but also external factors explain PA transition.
Total body fat is associated with increased risk for pre-diabetes and hypertension among secondary school adolescents in Morogoro Region, Tanzania
(Iomcworld, 2022) Makbel, Khadija; Mwanri, Akwilina; Ramaiya, Kaushik
Aims: We aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension among adolescents in Morogoro region, Tanzania. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, which involved 384 adolescent students. Standard procedures were used to measure weight, height, body fat percentage, blood pressure and random blood glucose levels. Hyperglycemia was diagnosed using American Diabetes Association criteria and hypertension diagnosed using American Heart Association Guidelines for childhood hypertension. Dietary assessment was done using a validated dietary diversity questionnaire. Physical activities were assessed using a self-administered 7-day recall physical activity questionnaire for adolescents. Statistical analyses was done using IBM SPSS version 21. The Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were used to determine determinants for diabetes and hypertension. Results: Prevalence of pre-diabetes was more than twice as much (7.3%) in the urban compared to the rural areas (3.1%). Determinants of pre-diabetes were overweight/obesity (OR 5.64; 95% CI 2.82–11.31), school type (OR 1.99; 95% CI 1.04–3.84) and elevated body fat (EBF) (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.03 – 1.09). Likewise, prevalence of hypertension was much higher among urban adolescents (17.2%) compared to their peers (5.7%). Determinants of hypertension were location (OR 1.85; 95% CI 1.11 – 3.07), overweight/ obese (OR 5.89; 95% CI 3.19 – 10.89), elevated body fat (EBF) (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.09 – 1.19) and low physical activities (OR 1.58; 95% CI (1.35 – 3.48). Conclusion: High prevalence of pre-diabetes and hypertension among adolescents is alarming. Total body fat and increased BMI are associated with increased risk for pre-diabetes and hypertension. Promotion of healthy lifestyle should start at a younger age to prevent development of diet related non-communicable diseases.
Understanding the drivers of diet change and food choice among Tanzanian pastoralists to inform policy and practice
(Drivers of Food Choice, 2020) Girard, Amy Webb; Little, Peter; Yount, Kathryn; Dominguez-Salas, Paula; Kinabo, Joyce; Mwanri, Akwilina
Overall, diet patterns have changed dramatically for traditionally pastoral communities in rural Tanzania, with younger and more sedentary communities experiencing the most significant changes. While social and environmental changes underlie the altered food choice behaviors, proximal factors such as cost and availability of foods dictated decisions at the point of purchase and appeared to accelerate pattern shifts. For example, cereals, refined grains and processed foods were the most affordable and accessible food items in the markets while traditional fruits and vegetables have declined substantially in availability over the past several decades. Participants expressed concern regarding these dietary shifts and implications for both social identity and long-term health, with expressed concerns around childhood malnutrition due to reduced milk supply, pregnancy/postpartum complications due to declining blood consumption, and increased chronic diseases related to increased consumption of cereals, fats and oils, and soft drinks. Participants exhibited a strong desire for enhanced land tenure policies to ensure access to quality grazing lands and water sources. A high value on children’s health was expressed by participants who emphasized a need for more inclusive nutrition and health education pertaining to balanced diets.