Department of Biociences

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Browsing Department of Biociences by Author "Anitha, Seetha"

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    Improved household nutrition through home-grown produce and consumption of nutritious and healthy products
    (Sustainable Agricultural Intensification, 2022) Anitha, Seetha; Sefa, Victor Afari; Kalumikiza, Zione; Mhango, Khumbo; Mosha, Inviolate; Muzanila, Yasinta; Mwangwela, Agnes; Ochieng, Justus; Okori, Patrick; Tsusaka, Takuji W
    Undernutrition causes stunting, underweight, and wasting, and these are major health issues throughout Africa, adversely affecting the phys- ical and mental growth and development of chil- dren. High rates of stunting are seen throughout East and Southern Africa (ESA), with rates of 34% and 26% in the Africa RISING project coun- tries of Malawi and Tanzania (MoHCDGEC et al., 2016; NSO and ICF, 2017). Micronutrient defi- ciencies (e.g., iron, zinc, and calcium), described as hidden hunger, remain rife in both countries, especially among women of reproductive age, in- fants, and young children. These deficiencies have significant consequences for maternal and child health, mortality, the global burden of dis- ease, and economic development. In Malawi, for example, it is estimated that child undernutrition resulted in economic losses equivalent to 10.3% of gross domestic product in 2012. To this end, the Government of Malawi has reviewed its nutrition policy to redirect the national focus on nutrition programming and align its goals with the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy III (Government of Malawi, 2018). Tanzania has also shown commitment to addressing undernu- trition by articulation of the National Nutrition Strategy (United Republic of Tanzania, 2016). Both national policies recognize the need for multi-sectoral approaches to address malnutri- tion by promoting dietary diversity. A dietary approach needs to target the key growth window of opportunity in children, par- ticularly between 6 and 23 months of age, when growth is rapid and at risk of faltering when nu- trition is lacking (Ferguson et al., 2015). This co- incides with the weaning period and is an ideal time to introduce affordable, acceptable, and nutrient-rich foods. Dietary diversity can be improved through both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions. Nutrition-specific interventions address the immediate causes of undernutrition, i.e., inadequate diets and ill- nesses caused by nutrient deficiency. Nutrition- sensitive interventions incorporate nutrition objectives in wider disciplines; for example, ad- vice on producing crops and varieties that are rich in nutrients, and improved post-harvest processing and storage to minimize loss and im- prove quality and nutritional composition.
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    Reducing child undernutrition through dietary diversification, reduced aflatoxin exposure, and improved hygiene practices: the immediate impacts in central Tanzania
    (Routledge Taylor and Francis Group, 2020) Anitha, Seetha; Muzanila, Yasinta; Tsusaka, Takuji W.; Kachulu, Lizzie; Kumwenda, Nelson; Musoke, Mike; Swai, Elirehema; Shija, Jackson; Siambi, Moses; Bekunda, Mateete; Okori, Patrick; Monyo, Emmanuel S.
    The study aimed to quantify the immediate effects of dietary diversification, food safety, and hygiene interventions on child undernutrition in four rural villages in Kongwa district of cen- tral Tanzania. One hundred mothers with their children of less than 24 months old were recruited for this study. The differ- ence-in-difference (DID) method was used to assess the effects of intensive intervention through a learning-by-doing process on the topic of aflatoxin free diversified food utilization and improved hygiene practices. Periodic anthropometric measure- ments were conducted on the 0th, 7th, 14th, and 21st days, and DID estimator showed the significant and positive average marginal effects of the intervention on Z-Scores being 0.459, 0.252, and 0.493 for wasting, stunting, and underweight, respectively. Notably, at the end of the study, the mean aflatoxin M 1 level in urine samples decreased by 64% in the intervention group, while it decreased by 11% in the control group. The study provides quantitative evidence on intensive 21-day training for mothers incorporating integrated technol- ogies yielded positive impacts on their children’s nutritional outcomes.
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    Reducing child undernutrition through dietary diversification, reduced aflatoxin exposure, and improved hygiene practices: the immediate impacts in central Tanzania
    (Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, LLC., 2019) Anitha, Seetha; Muzanila, Yasinta; Tsusaka, Takuji W; Kachulu, Lizzie; Kumwenda, Nelson; Musoke, Mike; Swai, Elirehema; Shija, Jackson; Siambi, Moses; Monyo, Emmanuel S; Bekunda, Mateete; Okori, Patrick
    The study aimed to quantify the immediate effects of dietary diversification, food safety, and hygiene interventions on child undernutrition in four rural villages in Kongwa district of cen- tral Tanzania. One hundred mothers with their children of less than 24 months old were recruited for this study. The differ- ence-in-difference (DID) method was used to assess the effects of intensive intervention through a learning-by-doing process on the topic of aflatoxin free diversified food utilization and improved hygiene practices. Periodic anthropometric measure- ments were conducted on the 0th, 7th, 14th, and 21st days, and DID estimator showed the significant and positive average marginal effects of the intervention on Z-Scores being 0.459, 0.252, and 0.493 for wasting, stunting, and underweight, respectively. Notably, at the end of the study, the mean aflatoxin M 1 level in urine samples decreased by 64% in the intervention group, while it decreased by 11% in the control group. The study provides quantitative evidence on intensive 21-day training for mothers incorporating integrated technol- ogies yielded positive impacts on their children’s nutritional outcomes.