ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the nutrient and phytochemical composition of fresh, sun and shade dried okra, bitter, scent, G. latifolium and roselle leaves. The vegetables were purchased from two markets. Okra, bitter, scent and G.latifolium leaves were purchased from Nsukka and roselle leaves were bought from Jos market. All the vegetables were washed, weighed and divided into two equal parts. Each part was sun, or shade dried, pulverized, packed and stored. The fresh samp...
ABSTRACT Background: Childhood undernutrition is prevalent worldwide especially in developing countries. It is associated with impaired physical growth and poor cognitive function among school children. Aim: To quantify the effect of consuming fortified groundnut based snack for four months on the nutritional status and academic performance of children (6-17years) enrolled on the GSFP in the Ashanti region. Design and methods: This was a quasi-experimental design that involved experimental ...
ABSTRACT Fish feed protein ingredients are the most expensive and often unavailable in subSaharan Africa especially in commercial aquaculture systems. The major fish feed protein ingredient in fish farming in Kenya is fishmeal (FM) that is often times expensive and adulterated leading to low productivity of fish farming. This problem has necessitated a need for exploring alternative less expensive and easily available protein sources such as black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). This study aimed...
ABSTRACT There is an increasing prevalence of lifestyle diseases in developing countries. The rise in these diseases reflects a significant change in dietary habits, physical activity levels and socio-economic status among other lifestyle factors. The study aimed at determining the association between selected risk factors for lifestyle diseases and the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes and hypertension among the Swahili community of Old Town and Kisauni districts in Mombasa County. Old Town ...
ABSTRACT An infant’s anthropometry (weight and length) at birth are important public health indicators for its survival and later development. Low birth weight (LBW) and stunting at birth are among the major causes of infant mortality which is still a worldwide problem. Despite the government’s effort to improve healthcare services, LBW is still a problem at the Provincial General Hospital (PGH) maternity, Nakuru. The main objective of this study was therefore to determine the relationshi...
ABSTRACT The causes of malnutrition among women of reproductive age are complex but it is mainly attributed to diets lacking diversity. Agro-biodiversity is widely perceived as a promising strategy to improve dietary diversity and ultimately nutritional status. The main objective of this study was to assess the relationship between agro-biodiversity, dietary diversity and nutritional status of women aged 15-49 years in two different agro-ecological zones (low and high agricultural potential a...
Commercial fermented milks have health benefit potential attributed to pure probiotics used as starter culture. Lactic acid bacteria (LABs) are the probiotics used. LABs promote stabilization of the gastrointestinal microecology of humans by producing secondary metabolites like lactic, acetic and propionic acid, hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocins (bactericidal proteins). These metabolites are health benefiting. Mursik, an indigenous fermented milk product is consumed by many Kenyan commu...
ABSTRACT The incorporation of whole chickpea (Kabuli) flour into sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) wheat composite flour could improve nutritional quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) bread. The aim of the study was to produce bread using sorghum genotype EUS130 and chickpea, compare physical and baking properties, nutrient levels, in vitro protein digestibility, shelf life and sensory acceptability. Randomized Complete Block Design was used to compare different breads. Sorghum-wheat com...
The prevalence of stunting is very high in Africa (33.9%) despite global decline from 32.6 to 22.2% between 2000 and 2017; and over 33% of all stunted children live in Sub Saharan Africa. In Malawi, 37.1% of under-five children are stunted, 12% are underweight and 3% are wasted. Dedza district has very high prevalence of stunting (43%) despite various interventions to improve child nutrition. The most mothers do not follow standard practices of ensuring food safety, hygiene and dietary d...
ABSTRACT Milk is a rich source of proteins and contains all the essential amino acids and other nutrients. However, only 13% of children below five years in Kenya consume milk and milk products. This study aimed at determining the milk consumption patterns and nutritional status of children aged 24-59 months from smallholder dairy households (DHs) and non-dairy households (NDHs) from peri-urban (Bahati) and rural (Olenguruone) areas in Nakuru County, Kenya. A cross-sectional survey was conduc...
ABSTRACT The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Convention on Economic and Social Cultural Rights underpin freedom from hunger and dignified lives for all. The study aimed at developing an innovative methodology for assessment of realization of the right to adequate food at household level and its validation; investigation of realization of the right to adequate food and its influence on food security, perception of rights to adequate food among pastoral and small farm h...
ABSTRACT Dietary deficiencies of iron and zinc are high. Underutilized crops are rich in micronutrients but are cultivated at subsistence level due to high perishability and poor processing of products. These crops are potential sources of iron and zinc but there is no documentation that reveals if they can be processed into safe, acceptable and nutritious food products that can improve their exploitation. An informal experimental study design was used to evaluate preparation of safe, accepta...
ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a major global health problem. Evidence exists on links between nutrition and HIV and AIDS. The Food by Prescription (FBP) in the various Patient Support Centres in Kenya aims at improving nutritional status and drug adherence among people living with HIV and AIDS in poor resource settings. The programme anticipates that within a period of 3-6 months, nutritional status should improve. However, inability to attain the required improveme...
ABSTRACT Iron deficiency, mainly from iron deficient diets, impedes cognitive, psychomotor and physical development, especially of school age children. Flour fortification with iron, an effective intervention for increasing iron intake, is influenced by the amount of fortified food consumed. Intra-household food distribution (IHFD) patterns may influence how much food a child gets, hence amount of iron from fortified flour. However, information on such influence on iron intake of school age c...
ABSTRACT Exposure to television (TV) is reported to be associated with unhealthy dietary behaviours among children. The surge in new television channels on TV sets in Ghana comes with all sort of advertisements. The aim of the current survey was to examine the nature and content of television food advertising and to explore the association between such exposure and children’s food preferences. In a cross-sectional survey with multistage sampling, 400 primary school children (mean age 10 (S...