Contribution of local Foods to vitamin A intake of children aged 12-71 months: a Comparative study of two divisions in Butere-Mumias District

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was carried out In Butere-Mumias district from December 2003 to February 2()()4, The study compared the potentia] contribution of local roods to the dietary intake olvitamin !\. by children agcd 1J.-71 months in the two divisions olthc district as based Oil l lelen Keller (II K I) method. Butere division had nutrition intervention project to promote African leafy vegetables. while the other division (Khwisero) did not have. (iroup discussions. key informant interviews. observations and market surveys were carried out to determine the vitamin A rich roods commonly consumed in the area. A sample size of 830 households. with children aged 12-71 montlix in the two divisions. was selected from 16 village-clusters: eight 1'1'0111 each division based Oil the sampling requirements ( HKI method). \ structured questionnaire \\ClS used lu col lcct d.ua on demography. rood production and consumption frequency of vitamin A rich roods. Thc study found that average frequency ol consumption or African dark green leafy vegetables L J)CiI.Vs) was (5.9 days) for Khwisero and (4.6 davs) lor Butere. Mangoes and eggs, which are priority vitamin A rich foods in the study area. were consumed 011 average once per day. I'hL' percentage oJ' children. who had COIISl1111Cd at least once. yellow/orange-fleshed sweet pouuocs. one week prior to the stud). were SISlli ticuntly more in Butere than Khwisero (P < (),OS). The children who consumed. black nightshade (Solanum nigrutn) (ADGLVs), ripe \V mangoes. eggs. margarme fortified with vitamin /\ and carrots. at least one week prior to the stud:-' were signi Iicantlv more In Khwisero than Hutere (P < 0.(5) Similarly. the children in Khwiscro had signi ficantly higher mean consumption frequency or cod liver oil and scoots cmulxion. than Khwiscro (P < O,OS), nul Chi ldrcn in Khwisero had significantly higher' consumption lrequency or ADGLVs. yellow/orange fleshed- sweet potatoes. fish, pumpkin, and margnrinc torrified with vitamin A than the children in Butere (P < a,OS), or the 16 communities surveyed. consumption 01' vitamin A was insufficient in six of the eight communities in Buterc. and three or the eight communities. surveyed in Khwisero. The IICLlul'lll" o l conxumptiun 01' vitamin /\-rich l(lOLis ill these surveyed communities was below the threshold values or the IIKI Food lrcqucncy Method. Due to this inadequate consumption or viUII11in/\ rich loods. vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in the two divisions. ()u~ditati'l' asseSSlllent .uul intorm.uion c()lleclL'Li Oil household production or vitamin A-rich I()(}c\sindicate th.u the\ are both avai lahlc and allordablc year-round in Butere and Khwisero ,lI't:as. yet their consumption is inadequate. 'litis study therefore, recommends that a program to control vitamin /\ deficiency should he put in place, The program should focus on nutrition education and extension work in agriculture, to promote awareness and improve on consumption and production or vitamin A rich roods where possible. interventions should be integrated into current health ur agriculture activities, XVI