Browsing by Author "Muhimbula, H. S."

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Overweight and obesity among adults in Same District, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2016) Msollo, S. S.; Chivaghula, T. J.; Muhimbula, H. S.; Kinabo, J.; Krawinkel, M.
Overweight and obesity are malnutrition which needs great attention due to their health consequences. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 362 adults aged 25-55 years in 2012 to examine the prevalence of overweight, obesity and risk factors through; assessing nutritional status, dietary intake and physical activities in lowland and highland areas of Same District, Kilimanjaro Region. Demographic, dietary intake and physical activity were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were determined using standard WHO procedures. Data were analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions version 16, excels and NutriSurvey 2007 program. The prevalence of overweight was 23% and obesity 17%. Women were more than 4 times likely to be overweight and obese compared to men (OR 5.53, 95% CI: 3.11 – 9.82). Lowland had high prevalence of overweight and obesity compared to highland areas (OR 2.034, 95% CI: 1.138-2.952). About 33% of lowland subjects had excess energy intake compared to 23% of highland (p=0.050). Positive energy balance was significantly associated with overweight and obesity (OR 1.12, 95% CI: 0.66 – 1.91). The mean Physical Activity Level for highland was 2.2 compared to 1.87 of lowland areas (p<0.05). Overweight and obesity was significantly related to income, sex, residence, education, farming technology, carrying produce, occupation, employment, energy balance and age (P<0.005). The high prevalence of overweight and obesity especially in lowland may be due to physical activities and energy intake which are controllable. These findings will assist health stakeholders to allow design of appropriate interventions to reduce the problems.
Persistent child malnutrition in Tanzania: risks associated with traditional complementary foods (A review)
(2010-11) Muhimbula, H. S.; Issa-Zacharia, A.
Despite numerous nutritional interventions that have taken place in Tanzania, the Country still experiences a high rate of child malnutrition. Millions of children suffer from one or more forms of malnutrition resulting in stunting, underweight, wasting and anemia. The growth of children often declines with the introduction of complementary foods around the age of 6 months and continues to decline up to 24 months that have greater implications for health during adult-hood. Poor breastfeeding and child feeding practices augmented by very early introduction of nutritionally inadequate and contaminated complementary foods are major factors contributing to persistent child malnutrition in Tanzania. These complementary foods comprise mainly cereal-based porridges with little or no vegetables and often lacking animal proteins. The promotion of exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months and appropriate feeding practices has been the integral parts of the intervention processes taking place in Tanzania. Food safety education is a critical prerequisite in the child health programs and is a cost effective intervention with long term positive impacts. This paper reviews the persistent child malnutrition in Tanzania and the causative factors to highlight risks associated with use of complimentary.
A review of microbiological safety of fruits and vegetables and the introduction of electrolyzed water as an alternative to sodium hypochlorite solution
(Academic Journals, 2010) Issa-Zacharia, A.; Kamitani, Y.; Muhimbula, H. S.; Ndabikunze, B. K.
Over the past few years, food safety has become and continues to be the number one public concern. Considerable progress to strengthen food safety systems has been achieved in many countries, highlighting the opportunities to reduce and prevent food-borne disease. However, unacceptable rates of food-borne illness still remain and new hazards continue to enter the food supply chain. Contaminations in food and agricultural products may occur in every stage of the food supply chain, from the field to the table, that is production, harvesting, processing, storage and distribution, calling for proper decontamination and insuring food safety at each of these stages using an effective antimicrobial agent. Several commercial products are available for this purpose, however, most of available products are seriously hindered by a number of work and environmental safety limitations calling for the development of a new product which is both safe for environment and workers. In this accord, the use of acidic electrolyzed water (AEW), a new concept developed in Japan, which is now gaining popularity in other countries has been introduced. The principle behind its sterilizing effect is still explored, but it has shown to have strong and significant bactericidal and virucidal and moderate fungicidal properties. Some studies have been carried out in Japan, China, Korea, Canada, Europe and the USA on its pre- and post-harvest application in the field of food processing. This review provides an overview of microbiological safety of food and agricultural produces, points out the burdens of food borne diseases; highlights the drawbacks of currently employed sanitizers and introduces electrolyzed water as a novel non-thermal food sanitizer with potential of application in agriculture and food industry.