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Counseling on mashing local foods for infants increases nutrient intakes but less than supplementation with a fortified spread in rural Zimbabwe.
Author(s) -
Paul Keriann,
Muti Monica,
Madzima Rufaro,
Humphrey Jean H,
Stoltzfus Rebecca J
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.916.9
Subject(s) - micronutrient , malnutrition , nutrient , medicine , environmental health , fortified food , vitamin , nutrition education , food science , biology , gerontology , ecology , pathology
Fortified spread, Nutributter® (NB), is promoted as a supplement to prevent childhood malnutrition. Prior to a community based trial, we conducted formative research to see how local diets of 6‐12 month olds in rural Zimbabwe could be improved and then further improved when providing NB. We carried out 2 sets of Trials of Improved Practices (TIPs), with and without NB. The first set identified feeding problems and acceptable improved practices using behavior change and available foods (n=16 mother/infant dyads). The second set was similar to the first, but it also assessed the acceptability of NB (n=16 dyads). TIPs included 5 interviews over 2 wk and 24‐hr dietary recalls (2 pre‐ and 2 post‐counseling). Poor variety was the major feeding problem due to little awareness about what foods infants could eat. Recommendations to mash local foods such as vegetables, fruits, insects, and seeds were most frequently accepted, tried, and practiced. Nutributter was well accepted when added to the new foods tried by the mothers. While intakes from complementary foods of energy, protein, Vitamin A, and calcium increased regardless of NB (p<0.05), intakes of fat, folate, iron, and zinc increased only (fat) or more so (all others) with the provision of NB (<0.05). Significantly increasing nutrient intakes using local food is possible in Zimbabwe, but provision with NB helps ensure adequate intakes, especially of micronutrients.