Browsing by Author "Pacific, Renatha"

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Contribution of fish in improving micronutrients content in complementary foods for children aged 6 to 23 months in Lindi Rural District
(Academic Journals, 2021) Masanja, Hope; Jumbe, Theresia; Pacific, Renatha
Lindi region has high stunting prevalence of about 35%, and one of the factors that cause stunting is inadequate intake of micronutrients for children under 2 years old. This study aimed at assessing contribution of fish in improving micronutrients, specifically vitamin A, zinc and iron contents in complementary foods for children aged 6 to 23 months old children in Lindi Rural District. A cross- sectional study was done; interviews were conducted on 212 caregivers with children aged 6 to 23 months at Mchinga Ward. Information collected includes demographic information and commonly consumed complementary foods for targeted children through the use of 24 h dietary recall. Also, laboratory analysis for zinc, iron, vitamin A contents and proximate composition were done for commonly consumed foods. About 89.2% of children were given fish-based complementary foods. On average, fish-based complementary foods had higher vitamin A concentrations (279 μg RE/100 g serving) compared to non-fish-based complementary foods (4 μg RE/100 g serving), but low in iron and zinc concentrations (0.66 and 0.067 mg/100 g serving, respectively) than non-fish-based complementary foods (0.74 and 0.074 mg/100 g serving respectively). Furthermore, fish-based complementary foods had higher proximate composition (except for % moisture content) compared to non-fish-based complementary foods.
Contribution of home and school environment in children’s food choice and overweight/obesity prevalence in African context: evidence for creating enabling healthful food environment
(DovePress, 2020) Pacific, Renatha; Martin, Haikael D.; Kulwa, Kissa; Petrucka, Pammla
Abstract: This review aimed primarily to investigate the current trends of overweight and obesity in school children in the African context, secondly to explore the contribution of home and school environments on the children’s food choices and lastly suggesting measures for creating a healthier food environment. Despite the increase in overweight and obesity among school children, empirical evidence on their determinants in the African context is scarce, thus calls for consideration of home and school environments. A literature search was conducted between October and December 2018 using Medline (PubMed), Directory of Open Access Journals, Google Scholar, manual search and “grey” literature. This review included articles published between the 1st January 2008 and 30th June 2018. Out of 343 articles, 49 were included for the full text reading after meeting the inclusion criteria. Five reports from grey literature were also included. Results show that the prevalence of over- weight and obesity among school children in Africa is increasing and ranges from <5% to >40% in the 10-year period in which the review was taken. High socio-economic status, urban residence and female gender predicted higher prevalence of overweight/obesity. Few reviewed articles on the contribution of home and school environments on children’s food choices showed a shred of evidence, thus calls for further research to address this gap. This review found an increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in school children in Africa. Therefore, further investigation of home and school environment is imperative to curb the increase in the magnitude of overweight and obesity.
Implementation status of Tanzania's national school feeding guideline: a case study of Morogoro Municipality
(European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety, 2026) Haneul, Go; Mosha, Theobald; Pacific, Renatha; Kandonga, Agness
Aims: In the context of Tanzania’s National School Feeding and Nutrition Services Guideline (2020), this study aimed to assess its implementation in primary schools, focusing on meal provision and parental contributions as key operational components. Methodology: A cross-sectional study design combining quantitative and qualitative methods was conducted in primary schools in Morogoro Municipality between June and August 2025.Data were collected from 10 primary schools (six public and four private). Quantitative data were obtained through structured surveys administered to 381 pupils in grades 5–7. Qualitative data were collected through key informant interviews with 10 head teachers and focus group discussions with 25 school food committee members. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and independent-samples t-tests, while qualitative data were analysed thematically to explore school-level practices related to meal provision and parental contributions. Results: School meals comprised 3.55 food groups, with private schools providing significantly more diverse meals than public schools (p < .001). Most public schools relied on simple and repetitive meals, primarily cereals and legumes, reflecting limited and irregular parental contributions and constrained storage facilities. Qualitative findings indicated that head teachers and teachers played a central role in menu planning and programme management, with decisions largely shaped by resource availability rather than full adherence to guideline standards. Parental contributions were the primary source of financing across all schools, though contributions were often insufficient to support diversified meal provision. Conclusion: The findings suggest a gap between national school feeding policy expectations and school-level implementation capacity. Differences in meal diversity and financing arrangements appeared to reflect variation in household economic capacity and school-level resources. Strengthening school-level technical support for menu planning, together with improved communication and reporting mechanisms, may improve adherence to guideline standards. In addition, clearer operational guidance, standardized reporting mechanisms, and stronger mechanisms for parent involvement may support more consistent and equitable implementation of school feeding programmes.
Nutritional status and dietary habits of urban and peri-urban primary school children (10-13 years) in Tanzania: A comparative study between public and private schools
(INNSPUB, 2021) Pacific, Renatha; Martin, Haikael D.; Kulwa, Kissa; Petrucka, Pammla
This study determined overweight and obesity prevalence and its association with dietary habits in primary school children in Ilala and Mkuranga Districts, Tanzania. A comparative cross-sectional survey was carried out among 406 school children (10- 13 years). Indices such as weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference, and body composition were measured. Body Mass Index-for-age-related Z-scores were computed using the World Health Organization's AnthroPlusTM software to classify children's nutrition status according to the defined cut-off values. A structured questionnaire collected dietary habits data. Descriptive, non-parametric methods and regression were used for analysis. A combined prevalence of overweight and obesity was 22.6%, significantly higher in private than in public schools (32.4% vs. 14.8%, p<0.001). Prevalence of thinness was 3.9% and stunting was 10.1%. It is clear that medians for body mass index for age (p=0.002), percentage body fat (p<0.001), and mid-upper arm circumference (p<0.001) were significantly higher in private schools than in public schools. Girls also had higher median BMI-for-age (p=0.021), percentage body fat (p<0.001), and mid-upper arm circumference (0.006) than boys. Consumption of fruits, vegetables, and milk was relatively low in all participants. Intake of cereal foods and sugary snacks among boys and low preference for fruit among girls was associated with high median BMI-for-age (p<0.05). The prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children is high. Median BMI-for-age was associated with selected dietary habits. Context-specific school-based interventions are fundamental in reducing the prevalence of overweight/obesity and modifying the dietary habits of school children after formulating policy options.
Physical activity and sedentary behaviors associated with overweight and obesity among primary school children in Tanzania: a case-control study
(Emerald, 2021) Pacific, Renatha; Kulwa, Kissa; Martin, Haikael D.; Petrucka, Pammla
Purpose – This study aims at determining the risk of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors on overweight and obesity among primary school children aged 10–13 years in Tanzania. Design/methodology/approach – A case-control study was conducted from January to March 2020 involving 69 overweight/obese children as cases and 138 normal weight children as controls. Cases were identified as having body mass index-for-age þ1 standard deviation (SD) and controls as those having BMI-for-age range between 2 SD to <þ1 SD. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection on daily physical activities and sedentary behavior types, frequency duration and activity score. An independent sample t-test was used to compare means of activity score between cases and controls. Binary logistic regression was used to predict risk factors for overweight/obesity. Findings – Risk factors for overweight/obesity were listening to music and/or radio for >2 h/week (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2–6.1) and walking for exercise <2 h/week (OR 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–4.1). On the other hand, rope skipping for >2 h/week (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.03–0.7) was a protective factor against overweight/obesity. Controls had a significantly higher mean score of being active during lunch breaks compared to cases (p = 0.012). Cases had higher weight, height and percentage body fat than controls (p < 0.001). The home environment provided more avenues for physical activity than the school environment. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is original research work and the first case- control study to predict physical activity and sedentary behaviors as risk factors for overweight and obesity in Tanzanian school children.