Selected factors related to calcium intake and change in calcium intake resulting from a Health Belief Model and health locus of control-based intervention among 45-54 year old women

The objective of this study was to investigate selected factors related to calcium intake and change in calcium intake after an intervention among a sample of 45-54 year old women. The theoretical bases for the research were the Health Belief Model and the health locus of control;A total of 167 women met the criteria and participated in the pre-intervention study. Prior to the intervention, participants completed a five-part questionnaire that provided information on estimates of dietary and supplemental calcium intakes, demographic and lifestyle characteristics, health locus of control, and health beliefs. Immediately following the initial data collection, two-hour informational meetings were held in seven locations in Iowa during Fall, 1995. Approximately six weeks after the intervention, a four-part post-test questionnaire was mailed to the participants. A total of 152 (91% return rate) completed and returned usable questionnaires;All but three participants were white, and all were well educated. According to the multidimensional health locus of control results, this group of participants had relatively high scores for internal locus of control compared to external or chance locus of control. Similarly, the participants\u27 attitudes related to the Health Belief Model were highly positive. Prior to the intervention participants had a mean total calcium intake of 1,423 mg/day that increased to 1,614 mg/day after the intervention. The health belief attitudes significantly predicted supplemental calcium intake both pre- and post-intervention. Chance locus of control was a significant predictor of dietary calcium intake post-intervention. College graduate education level in comparison to the high school graduate level, external locus of control, chance locus of control, and age interacted with peri-menopausal status significantly predicted change in calcium intake pre- to post-intervention. Based on these findings, it is reasonable to conclude that in this study the educational intervention was likely to have been responsible for changing some of the participants\u27 dietary and lifestyle behaviors

Attitudes and Adoption of Rainwater Harvesting: Influence of Gender, Awareness, and Social Status

Inadequate potable water often leads to hygiene-related infections while general lack of water for agriculture is a precursor to malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa. There is a widespread low adoption of rooftop rainwater harvesting in Kenya. Attitudes influence the level of farmers’ participation in water harvesting. Literature on the influence of gender, level of education, and socioeconomic status (SES) on attitudes toward rainwater harvesting among smallholder farmers is inadequate. This study was conducted to fill that knowledge gap. The study was conducted in four sub-counties in Kenya. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Level of significance was set at α = .05. Effect size was calculated and presented as Cohen’s d for the independent t-tests and as omega squared (ω2) for the one-way ANOVA. Post hoc tests were conducted using Gabriel’s procedure. Results indicated that women had statistically significant better attitudes toward rainwater harvesting than men. Level of formal education among smallholder farmers did not indicate a statistically significant difference in attitudes. Comparisons across SES levels indicated a statistically significant difference in attitudes toward rainwater harvesting. Attitudes were determined to be a statistically significant predictor of adoption of rainwater harvesting. The researchers envision that these findings will be helpful to program planners, policy makers, agricultural educators, and curriculum designers in Kenya. The study expounded on knowledge on demographic-related attitudinal barriers to prioritization and adoption of rainwater harvesting. Recommendations to policy makers and educators on enhanced extension and outreach programs were proposed. Involvement of women as change agents was recommended. Further research on suitable and relevant extension methods was recommende

Selected factors related to calcium intake and change in calcium intake resulting from a Health Belief Model and health locus of control-based intervention among 45-54 year old women

The objective of this study was to investigate selected factors related to calcium intake and change in calcium intake after an intervention among a sample of 45-54 year old women. The theoretical bases for the research were the Health Belief Model and the health locus of control;A total of 167 women met the criteria and participated in the pre-intervention study. Prior to the intervention, participants completed a five-part questionnaire that provided information on estimates of dietary and supplemental calcium intakes, demographic and lifestyle characteristics, health locus of control, and health beliefs. Immediately following the initial data collection, two-hour informational meetings were held in seven locations in Iowa during Fall, 1995. Approximately six weeks after the intervention, a four-part post-test questionnaire was mailed to the participants. A total of 152 (91% return rate) completed and returned usable questionnaires;All but three participants were white, and all were well educated. According to the multidimensional health locus of control results, this group of participants had relatively high scores for internal locus of control compared to external or chance locus of control. Similarly, the participants' attitudes related to the Health Belief Model were highly positive. Prior to the intervention participants had a mean total calcium intake of 1,423 mg/day that increased to 1,614 mg/day after the intervention. The health belief attitudes significantly predicted supplemental calcium intake both pre- and post-intervention. Chance locus of control was a significant predictor of dietary calcium intake post-intervention. College graduate education level in comparison to the high school graduate level, external locus of control, chance locus of control, and age interacted with peri-menopausal status significantly predicted change in calcium intake pre- to post-intervention. Based on these findings, it is reasonable to conclude that in this study the educational intervention was likely to have been responsible for changing some of the participants' dietary and lifestyle behaviors.</p

Fragile Trust

After a viewing of Samantha Gran

Methodology To Evaluate Outcomes of the Team Nutrition Initiative in Schools

This project develops a data collection methodology to evaluate outcomes of Team Nutrition, a voluntary USDA school-based initiative to promote nutrition education, healthy eating, and physical activity. The project uses information technology to collect high-quality data while decreasing respondent and investigator burden and lowering costs of collecting and analyzing evaluation data. Seven data collection instruments were developed: Five collect information from school personnel, one collects information from students, and the seventh is an on-site observation of the school environment. The instruments are being pilot-tested in one State, but because Team Nutrition is a national initiative, the methodology could be useful to other States

Microbial Quality and Growth Dynamics in Shameta: A Traditional Ethiopian Cereal-Based Fermented Porridge

Shameta is a traditional, Ethiopian, cereal-based fermented porridge exclusively prepared for lactating mothers. The aim of this study was to determine the microbial quality of Shameta samples collected from households of lactating mothers and to determine microbial dynamics and physicochemical changes during laboratory fermentation of Shameta. Isolation and characterization of the dominant microbes and analysis of the physicochemical properties of samples were done following standard microbiological methods and analytical techniques. Results of this study showed that the highest mean count of lactic acid bacteria (8.33 log cfu/g) was recorded in a sample from laboratory-fermented barley-based Shameta, and the lowest (5.88 log cfu/g) in Shameta made from a mixture of barley and maize (BMS). In both barley-based and maize-based laboratory-prepared Shameta, the microflora were dominated by LAB, followed by yeasts. The dominant LAB were the genus Lactobacillus (74.85%), followed by Enterococcus (15.79%). It could be concluded that Shameta collected from households of lactating mothers are fairly safe for consumption, as the stringent physicochemical conditions of the final product could inhibit the growth of pathogens. However, as Shameta is a traditional fermented porridge fed to lactating mothers, we call for a further improvement to the fermentation process by using defined starter cultures