Using Agriculture to Improve Child Health: Promoting Orange Sweet Potatoes Reduces Diarrhea

Jones, Kelly; Brauw, Alan de

doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.04.007

Cited by 80 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(29 reference statements)

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“…Previous OFSP-focused strategies in Uganda and Mozambique improved child VA intakes and status (1, 2) and reduced child diarrhea (33). Maternal VA intakes also increased (2); however, impacts on other maternal health and nutrition indicators were not examined.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Promotion of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Increased Vitamin A Intakes and Reduced the Odds of Low Retinol-Binding Protein among Postpartum Kenyan Women

Girard

Grant

Watkinson

et al. 2017

The Journal of Nutrition

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Background: Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) improves vitamin A (VA) status of young children; research with pregnant and lactating women is limited.Objective: We examined the effectiveness of the Mama SASHA (Sweetpotato Action for Security and Health in Africa) program to improve nutrition knowledge, diets, and nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in Western Kenya.Methods: Eight health facilities were allocated to the Mama SASHA intervention or comparison arms. PLW in intervention facilities received enhanced nutrition counseling at health clinics, were linked with community-based maternal support groups, and received vouchers for OFSP vine cuttings. Control PLW received clinic-based nutrition counseling only. A total of 505 women in early and midpregnancy, attending their first antenatal care visit, and with no previous engagement in project activities were enrolled from the 8 facilities. Nutrition and health-seeking knowledge, food security, dietary patterns, and anthropometric measurements were collected at 4 time points at ≤9 mo postpartum. VA intakes were assessed with multipass 24-h recalls in a subsample of 206 mothers at 8–10 mo postpartum. VA status was assessed by using serum retinol-binding protein (RBP). Impacts were estimated with multilevel mixed models adjusted for clustering and differences at enrollment.Results: At enrollment, 22.9% of women had RBP <1.17 μmol/L. By 9 mo postpartum, intervention women had significantly higher intakes of VA [adjusted difference = 297.0 retinol activity equivalent (RAE) units; 95% CI: 82, 513 RAE units; P = 0.01; n = 206], greater consumption of VA-rich fruit and vegetables in the previous 7 d (difference-in-difference estimate: 0.40 d; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.56 d; P < 0.01), and a 45% reduction in the odds of RBP <1.17 μmol/L (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.33, 0.92; P = 0.01).Conclusion: Promotion of OFSP to PLW through health services is a feasible strategy to improve women’s nutrition knowledge, VA intakes, and maternal RBP.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Promotion of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Increased Vitamin A Intakes and Reduced the Odds of Low Retinol-Binding Protein among Postpartum Kenyan Women

Girard

Grant

Watkinson

et al. 2017

The Journal of Nutrition

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“…For instance, Palmer et al [14] demonstrated improved pupillary responsiveness through consumption of provitamin A carotenoid-biofortified maize, while Jones and de Brauw [15] showed promising evidence of orange sweet potato in reducing childhood diarrhoea. While these crop-based interventions have proven to have substantive benefits, to date they have mostly targeted replacement of single micronutrients [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Livestock ownership, animal source foods and child nutritional outcomes in seven rural village clusters in Sub-Saharan Africa

et al. 2017

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Background: Sub-Saharan Africa currently has the highest prevalence of malnutrition worldwide. In children under the age of 5 years, malnutrition can have long-term effects on physical and cognitive development, with implications at the national scale. Theoretically, livestock-based interventions are well placed to overcome constraints faced by micronutrient and/or food-based interventions. However, there is limited empirical evidence to support this hypothesis. Methods:This study utilised agriculture, nutrition and anthropometry data from the Millennium Villages Project to investigate relationships between livestock ownership, animal source foods (ASF) consumption and child nutritional outcomes across seven rural village clusters in Sub-Saharan Africa. Village clusters were located in different agro-ecological zones and included: Bonsaaso, Ghana; Mayange, Rwanda; Mwandama, Malawi; Tiby, Mali; Pampaida, Nigeria; Potou, Senegal; and Ruhiira, Uganda. Data from 1624 households (including 1543 children) were included in the analysis.Results: Overall, the proportion of children with stunting, underweight or wasting across the seven village clusters was 40, 18 and 5%, respectively. Livestock ownership, ASF consumption and child nutritional outcomes varied between village clusters. Households that owned livestock were generally more likely to consume associated ASF. For example, the proportion of households that consumed milk was higher in households that owned cows compared to those that did not in Pampaida, Mayange and Ruhiira (P < 0.05), while poultry meat consumption was generally higher in poultry-keeping households in Mayange and Ruhiira (P < 0.05). The relationship between ASF consumption and anthropometric measurements was complex, ranging from positively to negatively associated depending on the food commodity and village cluster. For instance, in Ruhiira, the mean weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) was significantly higher (better) in children from households that consumed eggs in the last 30 days, while in Potou, mean WAZ was significantly lower (worse) in children from households that consumed eggs in the last 30 days (P < 0.05). Conclusions:This study contributes to the growing body of research that investigates the relationships between livestock ownership, ASF consumption and nutritional outcomes in children. Our results reveal complex patterns that vary across agro-ecological zones. More research is needed to assess seasonal variations in these factors, effects of gender roles on intra-household distribution of ASF, as well as effects of zoonotic food-borne diseases on nutritional status of children in these sites.

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“…Among children who consumed OSP, the prevalence of diarrhea was 11.5 percentage points lower for children younger than five, and 19 percentage points lower for children younger than three, compared with children who did not consume OSP. Similarly, children who consumed OSP suffered from less diarrhea-0.6 days (for those younger than five) to 1.3 days (for those younger than three) less per week-than children who did not consume OSP (Jones and de Brauw 2015). These results reveal that biofortification could improve child health (Jones and de Brauw 2015).…”

Section: Current Evidence: Nutrition Impactmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…In Mozambique, the delivery of OSP doubled vitamin A intakes, with OSP providing almost the entire total vitamin A intake for children (Hotz et al 2012a). Consumption of OSP also reduced the prevalence and duration of diarrhea among children (Jones and de Brauw 2015). Among children who consumed OSP, the prevalence of diarrhea was 11.5 percentage points lower for children younger than five, and 19 percentage points lower for children younger than three, compared with children who did not consume OSP.…”

Section: Current Evidence: Nutrition Impactmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Similarly, children who consumed OSP suffered from less diarrhea-0.6 days (for those younger than five) to 1.3 days (for those younger than three) less per week-than children who did not consume OSP (Jones and de Brauw 2015). These results reveal that biofortification could improve child health (Jones and de Brauw 2015). In order to complete the effectiveness evidence on all three micronutrients, an iron bean effectiveness study is currently being implemented in Guatemala, and there are plans to conduct a zinc wheat effectiveness study in Pakistan in the coming years.…”

Section: Current Evidence: Nutrition Impactmentioning

confidence: 92%

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Achieving a nutrition revolution for Africa: The road to healthier diets and optimal nutrition

Ayalew¹,

Hoffmann²,

Lindahl³

et al. 2016

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Focusing the 2015 Annual Trends and Outlook Report (ATOR) on nutrition will contribute to a broader understanding of the critical role of nutrition in achieving international, continental, and national economic growth targets through agriculture, food security, and nutrition. This report presents information and analysis in support of evidence-based policy making that should inform the second generation of CAADP national investment plans now being developed. This is an important moment for shaping the region’s future and ensuring that the much-needed agriculture-led growth and development agenda can simultaneously deliver on improving nutrition, saving lives, improving productivity and health, and curbing nutrition-related diseases and the associated public health expenditures. These investment plans should address not only the usual elements of undernutrition but also widespread micronutrient deficiencies (termed “hidden hunger”) and the growing problem of overweight and obesity that is associated with economic growth.1 introduction 2 The African union policy environment toward enabling action for nutrition in Africa 3 Africa’s progress toward meeting current nutrition targets 4 Economic development and nutrition transition in Ghana: taking stock of food consumption patterns and trends 5 Making African agriculture and food systems work for nutrition: what has been done, and what needs to be done? 6 Lessons learned from the evaluation of Helen Keller International’s enhanced homestead food production program 7 The role of biofortification as part of more diverse diets in Africa: progress, challenges, and opportunities 8 The role of mycotoxin contamination in nutrition: the aflatoxin story 9 The challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned in evidence-informed decision making in Africa 10 Evaluating nutrition-sensitive programs: challenges, methods, and opportunities 11 Supporting multisectoral action: capacity and nutrition leadership challenges facing Africa 12 Tracking key CAADP indicators and implementation processes 13 Summary and policy recommendations: toward a nutrition revolution for AfricaReportPRIFPRI1; ReSAKSS; HarvestPlus; B Promoting healthy food systemsDSGD; WCAO; ESAO; HarvestPlus; PHND; A4NH; MTIDCGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH

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Using Agriculture to Improve Child Health: Promoting Orange Sweet Potatoes Reduces Diarrhea

Cited by 80 publications

References 28 publications

Promotion of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Increased Vitamin A Intakes and Reduced the Odds of Low Retinol-Binding Protein among Postpartum Kenyan Women

Promotion of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Increased Vitamin A Intakes and Reduced the Odds of Low Retinol-Binding Protein among Postpartum Kenyan Women

Livestock ownership, animal source foods and child nutritional outcomes in seven rural village clusters in Sub-Saharan Africa

Achieving a nutrition revolution for Africa: The road to healthier diets and optimal nutrition

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