| dc.description.abstract | High prevalence and the negative consequences of the deficiencies resulting from
inadequate intake of iron, iodine and vitamin A have resulted in focused global efforts
to alleviate them. Vitamin A deficiency which has serious consequences can be
prevented by consumption of vitamin A rich foods. This study was undertaken to
determine the viability of locally available foods in providing vitamin A to the
impoverished populations in rural areas of Kenya. A cross-sectional survey was
carried out in Butere-Mumias District of Western Province, Kenya from December
2003 to February 2004. The study compared the potential contribution of local foods
to the provision of vitamin A, to the diets of children aged 12-71 months in the two
divisions of Butere and Khwisero, as based on the Helen Keller International (HKI)
method.
Vitamin A rich foods consumed in the two study areas are dark green leafy
vegetables, kales, papaya margarine, orange/yellow fleshed sweet potatoes, eggs and
ripe mangoes. Butere and Khwisero divisions where the study was conducted are
adjacent to each other. Butere division had an ongoing nutrition intervention project
to promote African leafy vegetables, while Khwisero division did not. Of the 16
clusters surveyed, consumption of vitamin A was insufficient in the six of the eight
communities in Butere, and three of the eight communities, in Khwisero. The
frequency of consumption of vitamin A-rich foods in the study area fell below the
threshold values of the HKI Method. Consumption of these foods was not regular as
planting was done on an ad hoc basis especially in Khwisero division in areas which
were not reached by the on-going campaign in the Butere division.
Vitamin A deficiency was most likely a public health problem in the two divisions.
This study recommends increased activities in the area to control vitamin A
deficiency, prophylactic vitamin A supplementation and efforts to increase vitamin A
consumption. | en_US |
