Expecting too much from the rural development:a case of the Iringa nutrition project

\ud The Iringa Nutrition Project (INP) supported jointly by the Government of Tanzania and UNICEF was started in 1984 as one way to improve mral livelihood. It was implemented in Jringa region because it was found that despite good food supply in the region, there were still high rates of malnutrition among children. The present study was carried out in Thirty­ nine villages of Ludewa and Iringa districts to evaluate the performance of the INP. Child growth and nutrition status data for the period between 1984 and 1992 were used. Indicators of project outcome included success in lowering the proportion of malnourished children and extent of coverage (number of children reached). In addition, regression analysis was used in identifying the community characteristics that were responsible for determining rate of mal­ nutrition changes in the study area. It was observed that 10 percent of the 39 villages in the project area were able to maintain a downward trend in malnutrition during the period 1984-\ud 86 and 18 percent in 1987-92 period. None of the villages was able to sustain a continuous\ud downward trend for the entire period of nine years (1984 to 1992). The regression ana ysis revealed that malnutrition declined significantly in those wards where the rates of malnutri­ tion were highest at the outset of the project. In addition Dominant cropping system and population size indirectly affected the capability to improve nutrition through their influence on coverage. In conclusion, the lringa Nutrition Project appears to have had only a modest impact on improving the nutritional status of children in lringa. This implies that, while the use o_f projects to combat malnutrition in poor countries may still be inevitable, we should not expect too much from these projects.\u

HEALTH STATUS OF HOSPITALISED ELDERLY IN MOROGORO REGIONAL HOSPITAL

Objective: To assess the elderly's nutritional status, major health and socio-economicproblems.Design: A cross- sectional, descriptive study.Seaing: Hospitalised care, in Morogoro General Hospital, Morogoro, Tanzania.Subjects: One hundred and twenty one elderly patients admitted in the hospital for varioushealth problems between November 1998 and March 1999.Results: Body Mass Index (BMI) ratios indicated that 26% of the subjects were sufferingfrom Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) of varying grades. Fourteen percent had CED gradeI, 10% CED grade I1 and two per cent had CED grade 111. The study ranked cardiovasculardisorders and respiratory tract diseases the most prevalent diseases (30% and 28%respectively). These were followed by malaria (15%). Cardiovascular diseases were moreprevalent among women than men while the respiratory diseases were opposite. The generaltradition that African elderly people do live with and are taken care by their children seemsto hold no longer, as the majority of the subjects (80%) either live alone or with their spousesonly, while 14% lived with their relatives (including their children). The majority of theelderly did not have any regular income, and they depended on other people for their living.Conclusion: As Tanzania undergoes demographic and economic transformations, theelderly are increasing while their welfare decreases. This has more effects on their healthstatus. Old tradition of children living with their elderly is declining due to urbanisation,rural urban migration and the trend towards nuclear families. The government is urged toestablish specific systems of taking care of this vulnerable group

Nutrition research agenda in the context of nutrition problems in Tanzania - a critical review

Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences 2015, Vol. 14(1) : 78-89Historically, preventing undernutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) has proven to be very difficult. Broad, food-based counsel is generally too superficial, and multiple nutrient deficiencies often occur even when food recommendations are followed. Advances in dietary assessment and planning over the past 10 years have enabled more precise estimates of nutrient intake and nutrient need. The recommended nutrient intake (RNI) in areas with high rates of stunting and underweight are now available. However, bioavailability is a major constraint for some nutrients, particularly in plant-based diets when food fortification or the use of nutrient supplements does not occur. Inadequate control of infectious diseases is a major factor limiting nutrient utilization and causing poor development of the immune system in young children. The role of mycotoxins in poor immune system development and poor growth is becoming increasingly apparent, but additional research is needed in this area. A number of key research agendas have been identified, which include the need to identify what nutrients are necessary, other than vitamin A, iodine and iron, which are being consumed in inadequate quantities in Tanzania; to establish a country-specific food composition database; to develop appropriate technologies, which can be easily adopted, for preserving and processing foods; to investigate the effects of exposure to mycotoxins on nutritional status and growth; to identify appropriate complementary foods for Tanzanian children; and to investigate the economics of improving nutritional status by promoting animal-based food products in Tanzania. Others research areas include an investigation into the unique cultural dimensions of dietary intake in Tanzanian society; the nutrient requirements for people who have various common illnesses, such as malaria; and the effects on the nutrient content of foods grown under climate change stresses, e.g., moisture and temperature

Nutritional status and feeding practices of under-five children in Simanjiro District, Tanzania

This study was undertaken to assess the nutritional status and feeding practices of <5 year children among the pastoral communities of Simanjiro district, northern Tanzania.. Face-to-face interviews with the sampled mothers were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements using weight-for-age criterion were employed to assess the nutritional status. The study showed that 31% of the children were undernourished, some (6%) of them severely. Children 2 - 3 years old were the most affected. Breastfeeding duration of more than one year was common among the mothers. Fifty-four percent of the mothers weaned their children as early as two months after birth. The most common type of weaning food was maize porridge (gruel) mixed with cow's milk (46%). Generally, 87% of households were facing some degree of food insecurity where some of them either experienced food shortage for 3-4 months (40%) or reported to eat less than three meals per day (75%). An educated mother was less likely to have an undernourished child, while a child from a teenage mother was more likely to be undernourished. Small size of a household was in favour of nutrition status. There is a great need to undertake interventions through community education to rescue the situation in Simanjiro district. Efforts should also be undertaken to mobilize the community members to adopt practices that favour good nutrition of children

PREVALENCE AND AWARENESS OF OBESITY AMONG PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN MOROGORO, TANZANIA

ABSTRACTObjective: To determine the prevalence rates and level of awareness of obesity amongpeople of different age groups in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania.Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive study.Subjects: One hundred adults aged 19-50 years old and 40 pupils aged 14-18 yearsold.Setting: Four educational institutions in Morogoro Municipality were included in thestudy. The four institutions included a primary and a secondary school, a teacher'straining college and a university.Results: The prevalence of obesity among the sampled subjects in Morogoro Municipalitywas 25 %, whereby 15.7% had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 25 and 30, and9.3% had a BMI of more than 30. Age and occupation of all the subjects, togetherwith marital status of adult subjects, were significantly related with obesity status.Prevalence of obesity increased with the increased age whereby subjects in the 41-50years had the highest rate (45.4%). Employed subjects had higher rate of obesity (22.2%)than pupils or students. Similarly, married adults had higher rate of obesity (27.8%)than the single ones (4.7%). Unlike the old age group (41-50 years), 70% of the youngestsubjects were not aware about the harmful effects of obesity. On the other hand, morethan two thirds of all the subjects could not associate excess body weight with chronicnon-communicable diseases such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure andbreathing problems.Conclusion: Results of the current study indicate that obesity is increasingly becominga public health problem in Morogoro Municipality, and probably in many other placesin Tanzania. There is need for more public awareness on the effect of obesity on people'shealth through information, education and communication. It would be of greatimportance if such interventions were introduced at early age of life, for example byinclusion in school curricula

Prevalence and awareness of obesity among people of different age groups in educational institutions in Morogoro, Tanzania

Objective:To determine the prevalence rates and level of awareness of obesity among people of different age groups in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania. Design:A cross-sectional, descriptive study. Subjects:One hundred adults aged 19-50 years old and 40 pupils aged 14-18 years old. Setting:Four educational institutions in Morogoro Municipality were included in the study. The four institutions included a primary and a secondary school, a teacher's training college and a university. Results: The prevalence of obesity among the sampled subjects in Morogoro Municipality was 25 %, whereby 15.7% had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 25 and 30, and 9.3% had a BMI of more than 30. Age and occupation of all the subjects, together with marital status of adult subjects, were significantly related with obesity status. Prevalence of obesity increased with the increased age whereby subjects in the 41-50 years had the highest rate (45.4%). Employed subjects had higher rate of obesity (22.2%) than pupils or students. Similarly, married adults had higher rate of obesity (27.8%) than the single ones (4.7%). Unlike the old age group (41-50 years), 70% of the youngest subjects were not aware about the harmful effects of obesity. On the other hand, more than two thirds of all the subjects could not associate excess body weight with chronic non-communicable diseases such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and breathing problems. Conclusion:Results of the current study indicate that obesity is increasingly becoming a public health problem in Morogoro Municipality, and probably in many other places in Tanzania. There is need for more public awareness on the effect of obesity on people's health through information, education and communication. It would be of great importance if such interventions were introduced at early age of life, for example by inclusion in school curricula. (East African Medical Journal: 2003 80(2): 68-72

Nutritional vulnerability of older persons living in urban areas of Lake Victoria Basin in East Africa: a cross sectional survey.

DOI: 10.1080/21551197.2012.647562The aim of this study was to (1) determine the prevalence of malnutrition and (2) investigate factors affecting nutritional status of older persons living in urban areas of Lake Victoria Basin. The prevalence of underweight was 16.5%, with men (24.1%) being significantly more likely to be underweight (P < 0.05) than women (12.3%). Overall, 61.2% had normal body mass indices, 13.2% were overweight, and 9.1% were obese. Energy intake was low (1596.3-1630.5 Kcal), with only 22% and 38% of men and women, respectively, meeting their daily requirements. Protein intake was adequate in more than half of men and women. Vitamin A, iron, and zinc intakes were moderate, while calcium intake was low (P < 0.05). Inadequate food access, poor health, living arrangements, and poor eating patterns were the main nutritional risk factors. There is a need to plan nutrition programs that can improve living conditions, health, and nutritional status of older adults in these urban areas of the Lake Victoria Basin