Browsing by Author "Kimiywe, Judith"

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Dietary Practices, Nutrient Adequacy, and Nutrition Status among Adolescents in Boarding High Schools in the Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania.
(Hindawi, 2020-07-01) Nicholaus, Calista; Martin, Haikael; Kassim, Neema; Matemu, Athanasia; Kimiywe, Judith
A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess dietary practices, nutrient adequacy, and nutrition status among 164 adolescents aged between 16 and 19 years in boarding secondary schools in the Kilimanjaro region. In-depth interviews and a survey guided by a semistructured and structured questionnaire, including 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaire techniques, were used to collect information. Nutrition status was assessed using anthropometric measurements and hemoglobin levels. WHO AnthroPlus software and NutriSurvey software were used to analyze anthropometry and dietary data, respectively. Diet in boarding schools was monotonous comprising mainly of cereal-legume meal with low intake of animal sources, fruits, and vegetables. Mean intake of energy, vitamin C, iron, calcium, and zinc was 1392 kcal, 24.8 mg, 9.2 mg, 134.5 mg, and 4.3 mg, respectively, which were below the Recommended Daily Allowance. The average carbohydrate, fat, and protein intake of 471.9 g, 73.7 g, and 80.7 g, respectively, were slightly higher than the Recommended Daily Allowance in both sexes. Male had a significantly higher intake of protein and carbohydrates ( < 0.001). Female had a significantly ( < 0.001) high intake of fat compared to male adolescents. Overall, 23.1% of the adolescents were anaemic, 25% were overweight, and 6.1% were obese. Boarding secondary schools' diet is monotonous and are inadequate in key micronutrients, iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamin C. There is a coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition among adolescents in boarding schools. Therefore, monitoring adolescents' dietary intake and nutrition status is a key in preventing adolescents' malnutrition in the short term and diet-related diseases in the long term.
Does Pesticide exposure contribute to the growing burden of non - communicable diseases in Tanzania
(Elsevier B.V., 2022-09) Martin, Haikael; Matemu, Athanasia; Kassim, Neema; Kimiywe, Judith; Nicholaus, Calista
Pesticide exposure is becoming a public health concern in Tanzania. This review highlights the existing information on pesticide exposure, health effects, knowledge, and awareness on pesticide handling and management and in the current pesticide regulations in Tanza- nia. There was a significant increase in pesticides importation of up to 4.5 million liters’ in 2017 and registration of 1,114 pesticides in 2018. Food, water and soil are subjected to unacceptable levels of pesticide residues. Inadequate awareness of the effects of pes- ticides among the population of Tanzania was observed. Even though there are existing regulations governing pesticides, the inadequate management of pesticide in Tanzania was identified to contribute the malpractices in pesticide usage. Persistence of the malpractice in pesticide handling has been observed which argues for immediate intervention. Limited information concerning pesticide poisoning and adverse health effects has been reported but the magnitude of the health effects is not well known. There is scarce data on the association between pesticide and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Tanzania. This review is informative to the policy, practices, and intervention towards the existing situa- tion of pesticide in Tanzania. In addition, it calls for further investigation of the absence of data on pesticide exposure and NCDs
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity, and Its Associated Factors Among Health-care Workers, Teachers, and Bankers in Arusha City, Tanzania
(Dovepress, 2021-02-02) Zubery, Dalahile; Kimiywe, Judith; Martin, Haikael
Background: Tanzania is one of the developing countries experiencing an increasing trend of overweight and obesity among adults. Working adults have been identified as a high-risk group more exposed to the predictors of overweight and obesity than the general population. However, limited studies have been done in this group. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of overweight and obesity and its associated risk factors among health-care workers, teachers, and bankers in Arusha city council. Subjects and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among health care workers, teachers, and bankers. A total of 305 working adults aged 18–60 years participated in the study. A modified World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach for chronic disease risk factor surveillance was used to collect data about socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, dietary practices and anthropometric measurement. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to collect information about level of physical activities. The anthropometric measurement and level of physical activities were calculated and ranked according to WHO guidelines. Results: Overall, 68.9% (31.1% overweight and 37.8% obese) of working adults were overweight or obese. Age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR=7.73; 95% CI: 1.93–30.87]), gender (AOR=2.60; 95% CI: 1.30–5.21), marital status (AOR=2.47; 95% CI: 1.11–5.50), years spent with the current institution (AOR=4.59; 95% CI: 1.38–17.80), using private car or public transport to and from work (AOR=2.43; 95% CI: 1.10–5.39) and sedentary work (AOR=2.43; 95% CI: 1.04–5.71), were significant factors associated with overweight or obesity. Conclusion: The study identified a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in Tanzania compared with previous studies. The results from this study are useful for the education sector, financial institutions and health sector on designing workplace wellness programs to reduce the burden of overweight and obesity among this working category.
Risks of aflatoxin exposure among adolescents in boarding schools in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania
(Wageningen Academic Publishers, 2021-04-12) Nicholaus, Calista; Martin, Haikael; Matemu, Athanasia; Kimiywe, Judith; Kassim, Neema
School feeding in low-income countries is dominated by cereals and legumes, which are susceptible to aflatoxin contamination but are usually not assessed for aflatoxins. A cross sectional study was conducted to assess aflatoxin exposure among adolescents through consumption of school meals in Kilimanjaro region. Food frequency questionnaires and 24 h dietary recalls were used to collect information on food consumption. At least four samples of common food used in school meals were collected. A deterministic approach was used to estimate the dietary aflatoxin exposure. High Performance Liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyse presence of aflatoxin contamination. Results showed that, maize based food and beans were consumed on daily basis. The intake of maize flour and dehulled maize ranged from 17.5 to 738.2 g and 28.2 to 272 g per person per day respectively. Furthermore, consumption of beans and rice were in the range of 121.1 to 595.2 g and 15.7 to 42.2 g per person per day respectively. Total aflatoxins ranged 0.20-438.53 μg/kg (median 2.30 μg/kg). The highest contamination range (0.59-438.53 μg/kg) was in maize while the lowest (0.20-3.41 μg/kg) was found in rice. Similarly, the highest aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) concentration (35.88 μg/kg) was in dehulled maize while the lowest (0.44 μg/kg) was in rice. The highest dietary exposure to total aflatoxins and AFB1 due to consumption of maize ranged from 0.70 to 973.45 ng/kg/bodyweight (bw)/day, and from 0.05-81.06 ng/kg/bw/day, respectively. This pronounced risk of exposure to aflatoxins might have been contributed by a monotonous maize based diet in boarding schools. These findings call for institutions immediate interventions, such as the use of appropriate storage technologies, sorting, cleaning and winnowing in order to remove damaged grains, thereby reducing the risk of dietary exposure to aflatoxins. Likewise, the relevant ministries should consider food diversification and routine risk assessments of the susceptible crops throughout the value chain as a long-term intervention plan at policy level.
Traditional Medicine and Its Role in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus: (Patients’ and Herbalists’ Perspectives)
(Hindawi, 2019-07-04) Kasole, Rose; Martin, Haikael; Kimiywe, Judith
Background. Diabetes mellitus is a complicated health condition with multiple causes and many treatment options. Various myths may infuence diabetics’ health-seeking behavior, and they may use traditional medicines, which include normal foods and herbs, for primary health care. Te aim of this study was to determine patients’ and herbalists’ practices and perspectives regarding the use of traditional medicines and the role of traditional medicines in the management of diabetes. Methods and Findings. We conducted a cross-sectional study with a mixed-methods design. We interviewed 140 patients attending diabetic clinics using a structured questionnaire, conducted focus group discussions with an additional 20 diabetic patients, and conducted in-depth interviews with 8 local herbalists. Te majority of the diabetic participants believed that diabetes is caused by a high-carbohydrate diet. Of the 140 participants who answered the questionnaire, 67.2% reported using traditional medicines to manage their diabetes, including 58.6% who reported using both conventional medicines and traditional medicines. Some participants believed that combining conventional and traditional medicines improved the efectiveness of treatment. Reasons given for using traditional medicines included the high cost of conventional treatment and the availability and accessibility of the traditional medicines. Te most commonly used traditional medicines were indigenous vegetables and medicinal plant products including amalanth leaves, hare lettuce leaves, nightshade leaves, spider plant leaves, okra pods, moringa leaves and seeds, soursop leaves, black plum back, avocado seed, and lemongrass. Conclusion. Patients and herbalists provided a range of perspectives regarding the use of traditional medicines to treat diabetes. Further research is needed to identify bioactive compounds present in commonly used traditional medicines and their efcacy.