ABSTRACTHigh or raised blood pressure (HBP) is a global public health issue and a major cardiovascular risk factor. While the Kenya StepWise survey of 2015 confirmed that more than half (56%) of Kenyans have never been screened for BP, renewed interests in hypertension in children and adolescents has resulted from the recognition that its presence in adults often has its roots at a younger age. It is also still controversial whether mild thyroid dysfunction affects BP. To understand if iodine...
This study was aimed at assessing the iron, zinc and anthropometric indices of pre-school children aged 2 – 5 years in Ozubulu. A total of two hundred and forty (240) preschool children were randomly selected. Questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, biochemical analysis and 3–day weighed food intake were used for data collection. Two hundred and forty (240) questionnaires were distributed to mothers and caregivers of the selected children. Out of the 240 samples, sub samples of ...
ABSTRACT Nutrition plays a critical role in promoting the health of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Nutritional problems strongly predict illness or death among PLWHA. However, the knowledge, attitude and practices relating to adequate nutrition by this group of people have not been adequately explored in Nigeria. This study was therefore carried out to determine the knowledge, attitude and nutritional practices among PLWHA who were attending Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinics in...
ABSTRACTThe assessment of iron, vitamin A and anthropometric status of pregnant women inurban and rural communities in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State,Nigeria was undertaken. Selection of the respondents was by random samplingmethod. The respondents comprised of 129 pregnant women resident in Nsukkaurban and 257 pregnant women resident in Ede-Oballa and Okpuje (rural)communities. Instruments used for data collection were questionnaire, anthropometricmeasurements, biochemica...
ABSTRACT Undernutrition is a big challenge in the world though the rate of stunting has been decreasing in the past two decades. Most of undernourished children are in developing countries, comprising about one quarter of all stunted children in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of child care practices on the nutritional status of under five children in Ileje district, Songwe region, Tanzania. A cross sectional study involving of 365 children aged 0 - 59 ...
ABSTRACT Most of the complementary foods in Tanzania have been reported to be poorly prepared, low energy and nutrient density and low nutrients’ bioavailability. This study was carried out in Rombo district with the aim to assess feeding practices, nutrient content of the frequently used complementary foods, identify nutrient gaps and then develop more nutritious recipes that may either fill or narrow the gaps. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three ra ndomly selected village...
ABSTRACTThis study was conducted to determine the effects of different traditional cookingmethods on the nature of starch in some Nigerian starchy staples. The staples used were yam(Dioscorea spp), cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta spp), cassava (Manihot esculentacrantz),and plantain (Musa paradisiaca spp). Yam and plantain were cooked into boiled androasted forms. Cocoyam was prepared as cocoyam chips, while cassava was used to producecassava dough, tapioca, and cassava foo foo and gari pas...
ABSTRACT Nutrient contents of foods widely grown and commonly consumed in Morogoro Municipality were determined, aiming at establishing nutrient composition databases of foods in the study area. Data was collected in dry (July to September) and wet (January to March) seasons. A total of 144 respondents were selected from eight wards using simple random technique. Selected nutrient contents of raw and cooked foods were analyzed according to the Association of Official Analytical Chemists...
ABSTRACT Dietary inadequacy and malnutrition among pregnant women has a direct impact on pregnancy outcome. The causes of maternal malnutrition include inadequate food intake, poor nutritional quality of diets, frequent infections and short inter-pregnancy intervals. Tanzania is faced with high maternal malnutrition especially in the rural areas. The aim of this study was to assess the dietary intake and determine the nutritional status of pregnant women in rural Tanzania. Although preg...
ABSTRACT Currently, there is a growing trend towards gathering children at orphanage centres (OCs) due to societal changes. This leaves many unanswered questions related to the quality of care offered to children living in OCs. This study aimed to examine care practices and support provided to children living in orphanage centers in Morogoro and Dar es Salaam regions. A cross sectional study design using a questionnaire, observations, anthropometric and biochemical measurements was used...
ABSTRACT Lack of dietary diversity is a serious health problem in developing countries because diets are dominantly starchy staples. This study aimed at assessing healthy eating behaviors and dietary diversity among people living in Morogoro urban, rural and Mvomero districts. A cross sectional study was conducted to assess eating behaviors and dietary diversity in 150 households. Dietary diversity was assessed by using un-quantified validated 24 hours recall method. Anthropometric meas...
ABSTRACT Consumption of vegetables is the most sustainable way of reducing and controlling micronutrient deficiencies in resource-poor communities. However, not much has been documented about standard recipes that are of high nutritional quality in terms of minerals and vitamins. The aim of this study was to modify traditional cowpea leaf vegetable preparation methods to enhance carotenoid retention and iron bioavailability. Modification principles included reducing cooking time, additi...
ABSTRACT Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and iron deficiency (ID) are global public health problems affecting developing countries with major consequences on human health as well as social and economic development. PEM at early childhood has serious long-term consequences because it impedes motor, sensory, cognitive, social and emotional development. Food-based strategies such as food production, dietary diversification and bio-fortification are the most sustainable and best approache...
ABSTRACT Proper complementation for children under the age of five years is important for optimal health. More than a quarter of under-five children in Tanzania are malnourished with prevalence rates of stunting (29%), underweight (11.8%) and wasting (4.7%) in the Singida region. A longitudinal survey was conducted to determine the effect of complementary feeding on the growth patterns of under-five children in Majiri ward, Manyoni District, Singida Region. Three hundred and sixteen mot...
ABSTRACT Feeding of infants is determined by many things which including the nature of work done by the mother. Sex worker outreach Programme (SWOP) is a clinic that caters for medical needs of the women selling sex in Kenya. The legal standing of sex work in Kenya means that sex workers are often marginalized and unable to make a meaningful income from the same. Consequently, they often have little resources available to them as savings. This means they often engage in sex work when pr...