Overestimation of Vitamin a Supplementation Coverage from District Tally Sheets Demonstrates Importance of Population-Based Surveys for Program Improvement: Lessons from Tanzania.

Tanzania has conducted a national twice-yearly Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) campaign since 2001. Administrative coverage rates based on tally sheets consistently report >90% coverage; however the accuracy of these rates are uncertain due to potential errors in tally sheets and their aggregation, incomplete or inaccurate reporting from distribution sites, and underestimating the target population. The post event coverage survey in Mainland Tanzania sought to validate tally-sheet based national coverage estimates of VAS and deworming for the June 2010 mass distribution round, and to characterize children missed by the national campaign. WHO/EPI randomized cross-sectional cluster sampling methodology was adapted for this study, using 30 clusters by 40 individuals (n = 1200), in addition to key informant interviews. Households with children 6-59 months of age were included in the study (12-59 months for deworming analysis). Chi-squared tests and logistic regression analysis were used to test differences between children reached and not reached by VAS. Data was collected within six weeks of the June 2010 round. A total of 1203 children, 58 health workers, 30 village leaders and 45 community health workers were sampled. Preschool VAS coverage was 65% (95% CI: 62.7-68.1), approximately 30% lower than tally-sheet coverage estimates. Factors associated with not receiving VAS were urban residence [OR = 3.31; p = 0.01], caretakers who did not hear about the campaign [OR = 48.7; p<0.001], and Muslim households [OR<3.25; p<0.01]. There were no significant differences in VAS coverage by child sex or age, or maternal age or education. Coverage estimation for vitamin A supplementation programs is one of most powerful indicators of program success. National VAS coverage based on a tally-sheet system overestimated VAS coverage by ∼30%. There is a need for representative population-based coverage surveys to complement and validate tally-sheet estimates

Early Childhood Nutrition Knowledge of Caregivers in Tanzania

Childhood stunting is a pressing health issue in Tanzania and results from chronic infections and inadequate nutrition. Educating caregivers on the nutritional determinants, their consequences, and appropriate solutions may improve nutrition-related practices among caregivers in Tanzania. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with Tanzanian caregivers’ knowledge of childhood nutrition practices. Data for this study came from a cross-sectional survey of 4,095 caregivers of children under 24 months living in the Geita, Kagera, Kigoma, Mwanza, and Shinyanga regions of Tanzania. Complete responses relating to demographic and socioeconomic factors, media exposure, and early childhood nutrition knowledge were analyzed using multiple linear regression modeling techniques. Caregivers’ knowledge concerning proper early childhood nutrition practices was found to be significantly related to using a mobile banking account (p&lt;.0001), owning a working radio with batteries (p&lt;.0001), having watched television recently (p&lt;.0001), residing in a southern lake region (p&lt;.0001), affiliating with a Christian faith (p=0.0027), having more children under the age of 5 (p=0.0005), having received advice on maternal nutrition before pregnancy (p&lt;.0001) and having received advice from a community health worker (p=0.0184). Living in a rural environment (p&lt;.0001) and speaking a non-mainstream language (p&lt;0.05) were significantly associated with decreased knowledge. The influences of media and technology, socio-demographic factors and traditional health education may be important in the development of accurate childhood nutrition knowledge among caregivers. These factors may be targeted for future community health worker efforts with vulnerable populations in Tanzania to prevent stunting

Influence of environment and crop age on beta-carotene content of promising orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties in Uganda

PRISI; IFPRI3PHN

Content and In Vitro Accessibility of Provitamin. A Carotenoids in Some Tanzanian Vegetables and Fruits Effects of Traditional Processing and Preparation, and Influence on Vitamin A Status

Vitamin A deficiency is among the major nutritional problems in Tanzania as in many developing countries. It mainly affects children and pregnant and lactating women. The basic cause of this problem is related to the diet, which contains little preformed vitamin A and plant foods with a low content and bioavailability of provitamin A carotenoids. This thesis reports studies conducted to evaluate the content and bioavailability of provitamin A carotenoids in selected fruits and vegetables from Tanzania and to elucidate the effects of different processing and preparation methods. The vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoid status in pregnant women was assessed in relation to the dietary intake pattern of provitamin A carotenoids and after supplementation with cooking oil. Results showed that leafy vegetables contain high but variable amounts of all-trans-β-carotene (399-914 \ub5g/g dry weight) and minor amounts of α-carotene, 9-cis- and 13-cis-β-carotene. Fruits contain variable amounts of all-trans-β-carotene (191-5502 \ub5g/100g fresh weight) and some fruits have minor amounts of β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene. Open sun dried leafy vegetables had significantly (

Content and In Vitro Accessibility of Provitamin. A Carotenoids in Some Tanzanian Vegetables and Fruits Effects of Traditional Processing and Preparation, and Influence on Vitamin A Status

Vitamin A deficiency is among the major nutritional problems in Tanzania as in many developing countries. It mainly affects children and pregnant and lactating women. The basic cause of this problem is related to the diet, which contains little preformed vitamin A and plant foods with a low content and bioavailability of provitamin A carotenoids. This thesis reports studies conducted to evaluate the content and bioavailability of provitamin A carotenoids in selected fruits and vegetables from Tanzania and to elucidate the effects of different processing and preparation methods. The vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoid status in pregnant women was assessed in relation to the dietary intake pattern of provitamin A carotenoids and after supplementation with cooking oil. Results showed that leafy vegetables contain high but variable amounts of all-trans-β-carotene (399-914 \ub5g/g dry weight) and minor amounts of α-carotene, 9-cis- and 13-cis-β-carotene. Fruits contain variable amounts of all-trans-β-carotene (191-5502 \ub5g/100g fresh weight) and some fruits have minor amounts of β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene. Open sun dried leafy vegetables had significantly (