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Sustainability of Backyard Gardening to Improve Nutrition in HIV‐affected Individuals in Swaziland
Author(s) -
Malinga Steven,
Magagula Celinhlanhla,
Sibiya Thulani,
Benson Shelby,
Ramlal Roshan T
Publication year - 2012
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.26.1_supplement.653.2
Subject(s) - sustainability , malnutrition , geography , environmental health , socioeconomics , agroforestry , medicine , biology , sociology , ecology , pathology
Objective The CDC‐funded Community Linkages Project aims to improve nutrition of HIV‐affected individuals through backyard gardening in Swaziland. Methods Quantitative and qualitative data collected from February 2010 to September 2011 were used to assess the sustainability of backyard gardening to improve nutrition among those affected by HIV. Individuals included those at high risk of malnutrition due to comorbidities such as HIV and tuberculosis. The project provided training, garden tools, seeds of six vegetables and ongoing supervision to 355 individuals establishing backyard gardens. Individuals from dry and humid climates, across 14 clinics, who did not own a garden and were willing to participate, were selected and monitored. Individuals were categorized according to garden progress as follows, stage 1: land clearing and preparation, stage 2: seedbed preparation and transplanting, stage 3: weeding, watering, pest and disease control, and stage 4: harvesting. Results 191 individuals were evaluated; others being lost to death or relocation. Of 191, 85% sustained their garden after a year (stage 3 or 4). Interviews showed benefits included many teaching neighbors the practice and expanding gardens to larger areas. Conclusion In a country where food and micronutrient supplements are becoming less popular due to issues of sustainability and cost, backyard gardens are a viable alternative.