scholarly journals Addressing Micronutrient Deficiencies in Zimbabwe: Achievements, Challenges and Future Actions

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antony Kudakwashe Chiromba ◽  
Thokozile Njini Ncube ◽  
Ismael Ngnie Teta ◽  
Tasiana Krispin Nyadzayo
2011 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 238-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred Eggersdorfer ◽  
Paul Walter

Nutrition is important for human health in all stages of life - from conception to old age. Today we know much more about the molecular basis of nutrition. Most importantly, we have learnt that micronutrients, among other factors, interact with genes, and new science is increasingly providing more tools to clarify this interrelation between health and nutrition. Sufficient intake of vitamins is essential to achieve maximum health benefit. It is well established that in developing countries, millions of people still suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. However, it is far less recognized that we face micronutrient insufficiencies also in developed countries.


2014 ◽  
Vol 84 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 244-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Karp ◽  
Gary Wong ◽  
Marguerite Orsi

Abstract. Introduction: Foods dense in micronutrients are generally more expensive than those with higher energy content. These cost-differentials may put low-income families at risk of diminished micronutrient intake. Objectives: We sought to determine differences in the cost for iron, folate, and choline in foods available for purchase in a low-income community when assessed for energy content and serving size. Methods: Sixty-nine foods listed in the menu plans provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for low-income families were considered, in 10 domains. The cost and micronutrient content for-energy and per-serving of these foods were determined for the three micronutrients. Exact Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons of energy costs; Spearman rho tests for comparisons of micronutrient content. Ninety families were interviewed in a pediatric clinic to assess the impact of food cost on food selection. Results: Significant differences between domains were shown for energy density with both cost-for-energy (p < 0.001) and cost-per-serving (p < 0.05) comparisons. All three micronutrient contents were significantly correlated with cost-for-energy (p < 0.01). Both iron and choline contents were significantly correlated with cost-per-serving (p < 0.05). Of the 90 families, 38 (42 %) worried about food costs; 40 (44 %) had chosen foods of high caloric density in response to that fear, and 29 of 40 families experiencing both worry and making such food selection. Conclusion: Adjustments to USDA meal plans using cost-for-energy analysis showed differentials for both energy and micronutrients. These differentials were reduced using cost-per-serving analysis, but were not eliminated. A substantial proportion of low-income families are vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies.


1970 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosani Naim ◽  
Neti Juniarti ◽  
Ahmad Yamin

Periode emas tumbuh kembang seorang anak dimulai sejak anak dalam kandungan hingga berusia dua tahun. Wanita hamil dan anak-anak usia dibawah 5 tahun berada pada risiko tertinggi micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs), masalah pertumbuhan, penurunan intelektual, komplikasi perinatal dan meningkatnya risiko morbiditas dan mortalitas. Oleh karena itu ibu hamil memerlukan program edukasi tentang nutrisi yang tepat untuk kesehatan ibu dan janin. Edukasi berbasis keluarga sesuai program keluarga sehat dapat meningkatkan intensi untuk mengubah perilaku kesehatan. Menurut Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), bahwa intensi untuk mengubah perilaku dipengaruhi oleh sikap, norma subjektif dan persepsi kontrol perilaku. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengidentifikasi pengaruh edukasi berbasis keluarga terhadap intensi ibu hamil untuk optimalisasi nutrisi pada 1000 Hari Pertama Kehidupan di wilayah kerja Puskesmas Neglasari, Kota Bandung. Desain penelitian menggunakan quasi eksperiment, pre-test and posttest with control group design. Pengambilan sampel dengan teknik total sampling seluruh ibu hamil yang terdata di Puskesmas sampai bulan November 2016 berjumlah 44 orang yang kemudian dibagi dalam kelompok intervensi dan kelompok kontrol. Kegiatan edukasi dilaksanakan melalui tiga kali pertemuan kunjungan rumah. Analisis data menggunakan Wilcoxon test dan Mann whitney test. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ada pengaruh yang signifikan antara edukasi berbasis keluarga terhadap intensi ibu hamil untuk optimalisasi nutrisi pada 1000 hari pertama kehidupan (p = 0.00). Program edukasi berbasis keluarga adalah efektif meningkatkan intensi ibu hamil. Dengan demikian, disarankan penerapan edukasi berbasis keluarga dalam intervensi keperawatan untuk meningkatkan kesehatan ibu dan bayi yang dikandungnya.Kata kunci: Edukasi berbasis keluarga, intensi, ibu hamil, nutrisi, 1000 hari pertama kehidupan. Effect Of Family-Based Education Towards Pregnant Mothers’ Intention to Optimize The Nutrition at 1000 First Day Of LifeAbstractChildren “Golden Period” starts since in the womb until two years after birth. Pregnant mothers and children under five (5) years old are at risk to suffer from micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs), growth problems, intellectual impairment, perinatal complications and increase of morbidity and mortality risks. Therefore pregnant mothers need an education program about proper nutrition for mothers’ and the fetus’ health.Family based education can improve intention to change health behavior. According to Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB, behaviour is influenced by attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Intention in order to change the behavior. The study aimed to identified the effect of family-based education towards pregnant mothers’ intention to optimize the nutrition at 1000 First Day of Life in the working area of Puskesmas Neglasari, BandungResearch design was quasi experiment, pre-test and post-test with control group design. A total of 44 pregnant mothers’ were recruited and divided into intervention and control group. Intervention were conducted three times through home visits. The data were analyzed using Wilcoxon test and Mann Whitney testThe findings showed that there was a significant effect between the family-based education towards pregnant mothers’ intention to optimize the nutrition of 1000 first days of life (p = 0.00). Thus, it is recommended to apply family based education in nursing intervention to improve of mothers and fetus health.Keywords : Family based education, intention, pregnant mothers’, nutrition, 1000 first days of life.


Author(s):  
Jessica Fanzo

A major challenge for society today is how to secure and provide plentiful, healthy, and nutritious food for all in an environmentally sustainable and safe manner, while also addressing the multiple burdens of undernutrition, overweight and obesity, stunting and wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies, particularly for the most vulnerable. There are considerable ethical questions and trade-offs that arise when attempting to address this challenge, centered around integrating nutrition into the food security paradigm. This chapter attempts to highlight three key ethical challenges: the prioritization of key actions to address the multiple burdens of malnutrition, intergenerational justice issues of nutrition-impacted epigenetics, and the consequences of people’s diet choices, not only for humanity but also for the planet.


Author(s):  
Lorcan McGrogan ◽  
Mary Mackinder ◽  
Fiona Stefanowicz ◽  
Maria Aroutiounova ◽  
Anthony Catchpole ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh ◽  
Mandy Taktouk ◽  
Radhouene Doggui ◽  
Zahra Abdollahi ◽  
Baseer Achakzai ◽  
...  

Anemia is a multifactorial condition, with a complex etiology that involves nutritional and non-nutritional factors. The misconception that iron deficiency is equivalent to anemia may mask the need to address other potential causative factors. This review paper aims to (1) assess the burden of anemia vs. iron deficiency anemia (IDA) amongst women of reproductive age (WRA), pregnant women (PW), and children under five years old (underfive children, U5C) in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR); (2) evaluate trends in anemia prevalence and whether countries are on track towards meeting the World Health Assembly (WHA) target for 2025; and (3) characterize anemia reduction efforts and provide a road map for future programs. A search of pertinent literature and databases was conducted. Anemia prevalence in the EMR ranged between 22.6% and 63% amongst PW, 27% and 69.6% amongst WRA, and 23.8% and 83.5% amongst U5C. Data showed that the EMR is not on course towards meeting the WHA target. The contribution of IDA to anemia was found to be less than half. Other potential contributors to anemia in the region were identified, including micronutrient deficiencies, parasitic infestations, and poor sanitation. A framework of action was proposed as a roadmap to meet the targets set by the WHA.


2021 ◽  
pp. 037957212110254
Author(s):  
Sylvester O. Ojwang ◽  
David J. Otieno ◽  
Julius J. Okello ◽  
Penina Muoki ◽  
Rose A. Nyikal

Background: Biofortified staples have been promoted widely in sub-Saharan Africa to combat micronutrient deficiencies. Contemporary projects are increasingly using elementary schools to target households with these foods. Objective: This study assessed the effects of integrated nutrition education approaches, targeting preschoolers and their caregivers, on retention of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) on farms in the second season after lapse of free vine dissemination initiatives. Methods: Rural farming households, with preschoolers and no prior engagement with OFSP, were targeted. A multistage sample of 431 preschooler–caregiver pairs was recruited for a cluster-randomized controlled trial. After issuing routine OFSP promotion activities, 15 village-level clusters of the pairs were randomized into 1 control group (3 villages) and 3 treatment arms (4 villages each) for the interventions. Baseline and follow-up household-level survey data were collected from the caregivers. The interventions included: (1) OFSP-branded exercise books, posters, and a poem to preschoolers only; (2) OFSP-oriented mobile phone-mediated text messages to caregivers only; and (3) both 1 and 2 provided to individual households concurrently. Interventions 1 and 2 were single-channeled, while 3 was multichanneled. We estimated the intention-to-treat (ITT) and treatment-on-the-treated (TOT) effects using a binary logit model and a special regressor method, respectively. Results: Only the multichanneled nutrition education approach had significant effects (ITT = 0.167, P = .001; TOT = .243, P = .007) on the caregivers’ likelihood to retain OFSP on their farms. Conclusions: The finding implies that multichanneled agriculture-nutrition education interventions through Early Childhood Development institutions can be effective in ensuring sustainable adoption of OFSP.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-154
Author(s):  
Joanne E. Arsenault ◽  
Deanna K. Olney

Background: Rwanda’s commitment to reducing malnutrition is evident in their multisectoral nutrition policy and wide array of nutrition partners. However, the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies and the suitability of current strategies to address existing deficiencies is unclear. Objective: To review the available evidence related to the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies across the life cycle and strategies in place to address them. Methods: We reviewed scientific and grey literature on nutritional problems in Rwanda, emphasizing micronutrient deficiencies and anemia, and current strategies to address micronutrient malnutrition. Results: Overall, there is scant evidence related to the types and prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies among populations across the life cycle in Rwanda. Existing evidence is primarily limited to outdated or small regional surveys focusing on iron or vitamin A among women and young children. Surveys have assessed the prevalence of anemia and indicate that anemia is very high among young children and moderately high among other age-groups. However, there are limited data on the context-specific causes of anemia in Rwanda across population groups. Current nutrition strategies mainly target women and young children and are primarily designed to reduce vitamin A deficiency and/or anemia caused by micronutrient deficiencies. Conclusions: Rwanda has many nutrition programs in place that address micronutrient deficiencies in young children and a few for women of reproductive age. However, gaps exist in knowledge of the extent of different types of micronutrient deficiencies among all populations across the life cycle and whether the delivery of nutrients through current programs is meeting actual needs.


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