Background
In the past, wild edible fruits (WEFs) were a significant source of food and nutrition in Bhutan. These nutrient-rich species can enhance food security and alleviate poverty in Bhutan. However, recent developments like the introduction of improved fruit varieties, changes in dietary choices, and infrastructure development are expected to influence indigenous knowledge and consumption of WEFs. We aimed to document the species diversity of WEFs and their uses in eastern Bhutan and examine how the knowledge and consumption of WEFs vary with socio-demographic factors.
Methods
A total of 97 households in two districts were selected to participate in the survey. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview a selected adult from each household. Comparative analysis of indigenous knowledge and consumption of WEFs among the socio-demographic factors was performed using one-way ANOVA and a Chi-square test on R software.
Results
The present study reported 52 species of WEFs belonging to 35 families. The prevalence of WEF consumption was found to be 42%. WEF consumption differed significantly between districts, age groups, and indigenous knowledge levels. Similarly, indigenous knowledge of WEFs was significantly associated with districts and age groups.
Conclusions
Eastern Bhutan has a rich diversity of WEFs, but their consumption has been decreasing. Recent agricultural and infrastructure developments may have impacted the consumption and indigenous knowledge of WEFs in this region. Thus, domestication and agro-processing of WEFs should become a major focus in Bhutan to utilize their nutritional value and potential economic benefits to enhance food security in the country. Additionally, incorporating WEF-related knowledge in the school curriculum is essential to educate younger generations on WEFs.
A comprehensive assessment of the dietary status of university students in Indonesia is lacking. Hence, this study aims to assess students’ dietary habits, status, and the nutritive value of meals offered at university canteens. This was a cross-sectional study based on the dietary habits of 333 students, 26 of whom were interviewed for the dietary survey. The nutritional value of canteen menus used by nearly half of the students (44%) was also examined. Most menus lacked macro and micronutrients (i.e., calcium, 15.5%) and were high in salt (181.5%). BMIs showed malnutrition among students (38.5%). The protein, fat, carbohydrate (PFC) ratio showed a high proportion of fat (32.4%) in the diets of female students. The level of salt intake (96.2%) was above the Indonesian recommended dietary allowance (RDA). Most students had unhealthy dietary patterns, including a high consumption of sweet beverages and instant noodles and a low intake of fruits, vegetables, animal protein, and milk. The lack of nutrients in canteen menus might lead to a nutrient deficiency among the students, which underlines the important role of canteens in the students’ dietary intake. Optimizing the nutritional profile of menus, labeling based on nutrient profiling, and promoting nutrition education should be addressed to improve students’ diets.
Implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Indonesia has created renewed momentum for integrating traditional Indonesian herbal medicine (TIHM) in healthcare delivery under the national health insurance program (NHI). At present, little is known about the attitudes of conventional healthcare practitioners towards the clinical use of TIHM. This study aimed to explore the attitudes of general practitioners (GPs) towards TIHM use in conventional care and their perception of the integration of TIHM in the NHI. A total of 30 GPs from 28 conventional health facilities were purposively selected to participate in the study. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through administered-questionnaire and interviews. The majority of participating GPs demonstrated a favourable view towards TIHM role in conventional care and the potential integration of TIHM under the NHI. Being used as an adjunct therapy in the conventional treatment of chronic diseases, including degenerative disease and metabolic syndrome, and in palliative care, seemed to be the most promising areas to emphasize TIHM role in conventional care in the anticipated integration. However, only a few GPs had formally prescribed TIHM to their patient. The barriers of TIHM use in their practice include knowledge gap, unclear regulatory procedure, unreliable provision of TIHM and exclusion of TIHM in the NHI. While the GPs accepted the idea of integrative care under the NHI, to achieve an institutional integration, their knowledge base in TIHM must be improved while also addressing regulation, development of TIHM’s formal list, and issues of safety of TIHM to ensure evidence-based practice.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.