scholarly journals Nutritional analysis of selected wild edible vegetables of the Vhembe region, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 855-863
Author(s):  
Mokgaetji Georginah Mokganya ◽  
Milingoni Peter Tshisikhawe ◽  
Lindelani Fhumudzani Mushaphi ◽  
Stephen Amoo ◽  
Martin Potgieter
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Amaranthus Hybridus ◽  
Disease States ◽  
Nutritional Analysis ◽  
Solanum Retroflexum ◽  
Health And Disease

For rural communities, wild edible plants play a paramount role as foods, which improve their nutritional livelihood and combat food insecurity. The prevalence of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Fe, and Zn from eight wild edible vegetables were studied. The micronutrients have the highest deficiency prevalence in human in the Vhembe region of the Limpopo Province, South Africa whereas trace elements studied in this research play indispensable roles in the maintenance of health and disease states of humans and domestic animals. Plant samples (leaves), free of infections, were obtained from street hawkers located between Levubu and Makhado in the province. Analysis of Fe, Zn, b-carotene and quantification of Vitamin C was achieved by following methods which are explained in the methodology section with slight modifications. Amaranthus Hybridus L. contained high amounts of 226±3.06 mg/100g and 15.5+/-3.52 mg/100g of Fe and Zn respectively. Solanum retroflexum was found to have the highest amount of Vitamin A (b-carotene) of 10.91 mg/100g DW , while Amaranthus thunbergii contained the highest (69.11mg/100g DW) amount of Vitamin C. There is a chance of blending wild edible vegetables for consumption. The blending of Solanum retroflexum and Amaranthus thunbergii is therefore recommended as it promotes Vitamin A and Vitamin C contents in the diet of humans.

scholarly journals Improving the Dietary Vitamin A Content of Rural Communities in South Africa by Replacing Non-Biofortified White Maize and Sweet Potato with Biofortified Maize and Sweet Potato in Traditional Dishes

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurencia Govender ◽  
Kirthee Pillay ◽  
Muthulisi Siwela ◽  
Albert Thembinkosi Modi ◽  
Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Sweet Potato ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Nutritional Composition ◽  
Dietary Vitamin ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Isoleucine Leucine ◽  
Lower Protein

Biofortification of staple crops has a potential for addressing micronutrient deficiencies, such as vitamin A deficiency (VAD), which are prevalent in South Africa. The poor acceptability of provitamin A (PVA)-biofortified foods could be improved by combining them with other food items to produce modified traditional dishes. The nutritional composition of the dishes could also be improved by the modification. The study aimed to investigate the effect of replacing white maize and cream-fleshed sweet potato (CFSP)] with PVA-biofortified maize and orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) on the nutritional composition of South African traditional dishes. The protein, fibre, total mineral (ash), lysine, and iron concentrations of the PVA maize phutu (traditional porridge) composite dishes (control), were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from those of white maize phutu composite dishes. However, the PVA concentration of PVA maize phutu composite dishes was higher than that of the white phutu composite dishes (P > 0.05). The OFSP had a significantly lower protein concentration, but a significantly higher (P > 0.05) fibre, ash, lysine, isoleucine, leucine, and PVA concentration, relative to the CFSP. The findings indicate that composite dishes in which white maize is replaced with PVA-biofortified maize, and switching over from CFSP to OFSP, would contribute to combating VAD in South Africa, and in other developing counties.

scholarly journals Climate Change and Food Insecurity Dynamics in the Rural Limpopo Province of South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1(J)) ◽  
pp. 22-32
Author(s):  
Abiodun Olusola Omotayo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Household Heads

In the developing nations of the world, poor gross domestic product growth has shown serious vacuum to be filled in order to achieve the sustainable development goals. In that regard, this research article intends to contribute to the sustainable development goals of the United Nation’s goal by explaining the rural food insecurity in the light of climate change dynamic in some selected rural communities of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The data employed in the study were collected from 120 randomly selected rural household heads. Data were analysed with descriptive (frequency, mean etc.) and inferential statistics (Principal component Analysis (PCA), Tobit and Probit Regression) which were properly fitted (P<0.05) for the set research objectives. Descriptive results indicate that the average age of the respondents was 52 years with 60% of the household heads being married and a mean household size of 5.The study concluded that there is climate change effect and food insecurity in the study area and therefore recommended among others that the government of South Africa should endeavour to implement a more rural focused food securityclimate change policies in order to relieve the intensity of food insecurity situations among these disadvantaged rural dwellers of the province as well as to entrench a policy of long term development of agriculture. Finally, the study emphasized that the rural farming households should be enlightened through proper extension services to carry out climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in alleviating the food insecurity situation in the rural communities of the province. 

scholarly journals Hypertension Prevalence and Determinants among Black South African Adults in Semi-Urban and Rural Areas

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 7463
Author(s):  
Peter M. Mphekgwana ◽  
Nancy Malema ◽  
Kotsedi D. Monyeki ◽  
Tebogo M. Mothiba ◽  
Mpsanyana Makgahlela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Fruit Intake ◽  
Salty Food

The burden of hypertension is reported to be on the rise in developing countries, such as South Africa, despite increased efforts to address it. Using a cross-sectional study design, we assessed and compared the prevalence of and risk factors associated with hypertension amongst adults aged ≥18 years in semi-urban and rural communities (1187 semi-urban and 1106 rural). Trained community health workers administered the INTERHEART Risk Score tool and performed blood pressure assessments using the MEDIC Pharmacists Choice Blood Pressure Monitor. Hypertension was defined to be a systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140 mmHg and diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify factors and determine their relationship with hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension amongst semi-urban and rural communities was 21% with no gender difference. In the semi-urban area, physical activity, family history, fruit intake, salty food, and eating meat were significantly associated with the odds of hypertension among women, whereas only the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), diabetic status, and salty food were the predictors for rural women. Factors such as fried food and low fruit intake were significantly associated with the odds of hypertension among men in the semi-urban area, whereas only the WHR was significant among men in the rural area. Hypertension was found to be prevalent among semi-urban and rural adults in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

scholarly journals Factors influencing the uptake of contraception services by Vatsonga adolescents in rural communities of Vhembe District in Limpopo Province, South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel T. Lebese ◽  
Sonto M. Maputle ◽  
Dorah U. Ramathuba ◽  
Lunic B. Khoza
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Comprehensive Knowledge ◽  
Data Saturation ◽  
Open Coding ◽  
Vhembe District

The aim of the study was to determine the factors that influence the uptake of contraception services by adolescents in the Vhembe district of Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative research method which is explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature was used to investigate the phenomenon from the adolescents’ perspective. The target population comprised of adolescents residing in one of the six villages of Vhembe District. Data was collected through six focus group discussions until data saturation was achieved. Data was analysed using an open coding method. The findings revealed that adolescents are aware of the availability of contraceptive services. However, they lack a comprehensive knowledge about contraception and contraceptives, which led to negative attitudes towards using the services. Cultural health beliefs and attitudes were also identified as a barrier to the uptake and use of contraceptives. Recommendations were made on interventions to increase the uptake of contraception services amongst adolescents.Die doel met die studie was om te bepaal watter faktore beïnvloed adolessente in die Vembe distrik van Limpopo Provinsie, Suid Afrika se besluit om voorbehoedmiddels te gebruik. ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode wat eksploratief, beskrywend en kontekstueel van aard is, is gebruik om die fenomeen vanuit die perspektief van die adolessent te ondersoek. Data is ingewin deur ses fokusgroepbesprekings todat ’n punt van dataversadiging bereik is. Data is met behulp van oop kodeering geanaliseer. Bevindinge het getoon dat die adolessente wel bewus is van die beskikbaarheid van voorbehoeddienste, alhoewel hulle kennis van voorbehoeding en voorbehoedmiddels gebrekkig is, en dit het tot ’n negatiewe houding jeens die gebruik van die dienste gelei. Kulturele en kulturele gesondheidsgelowe gelowe en houdings is ook geidentifiseer as ’n hindernis tot die gebruik van voorbehoedmiddels. Aanbevelings is gemaak ten opsigte van intervensies om die gebruik van voorbehoeddienste onder adolessente te bevorder.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Diversity of Rotavirus Strains in Children with Acute Diarrhea from Rural Communities in the Limpopo Province, South Africa, from 1998 to 2000

2010 ◽  
Vol 202 (S1) ◽  
pp. S148-S155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Potgieter ◽  
Mariet C. de Beer ◽  
Maureen B. Taylor ◽  
A. Duncan Steele
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Acute Diarrhea ◽  
Limpopo Province

scholarly journals Survey of Community Livelihoods and Landscape Change along the Nzhelele and Levuvhu River Catchments in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Musakwa ◽  
Shuai Wang ◽  
Fangli Wei ◽  
Olgah Lerato Malapane ◽  
Masala Makumule Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Satellite Imagery ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Landscape Change ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Sustainable Livelihoods ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Landscape Changes ◽  
River Catchments

Landscape-change studies have attracted increasing interest because of their importance to land management and the sustainable livelihoods of rural communities. However, empirical studies on landscape change and its drivers are often poorly understood, particularly, in small rural communities in developing countries such as South Africa. The present study surveyed local community livelihoods and perceptions of landscape change in the Nzhelele and Levuvhu river catchments in Limpopo Province, South Africa. These areas have experienced land reform and are also characterized by environmental degradation, poverty, inequality and environmental justice concerns among other issues. Land-cover maps derived from Landsat satellite imagery were used for purposes of correlating and validating the survey data findings and results. The survey results showed that education levels, working status and marital status have statistically significant effects on community livelihoods (indicated by levels of income, p < 0.05). Maize, fruits and vegetables are the main cultivated crop varieties in the study area, and these crops are mainly used for subsistence to meet household self-consumption requirements. Moreover, local community members and stakeholders argue that the landscape has changed over the past 20 years mainly as a result of urban expansion, deforestation, agricultural diversification and forestry intensification. These landscape changes were largely confirmed by the land-cover change maps derived from satellite imagery. Soil erosion as a result of landscape changes was identified as a major threat and hazard in the study area. Political, natural, economic and cultural factors have been identified as the major underlying drivers for the observed landscape changes. These results have implications for understanding landscape change, coupled with human–nature relationships as well as informing government policy with respect to advancing land management and further promotion of the sustainable livelihoods of rural communities. Overall, the study proposes a multiple stakeholders’ approach and ecosystem-based approach to promote the sustainable management of landscapes in rural areas.

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