Browsing by Author "Malley, Zuwena"

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Consumption of Mixed Indigenous Vegetables: A solution to low hemoglobin levels among pregnant women in Babati, Tanzania
(Enviro Research Publishers., 2025-02-25) Malley, Zuwena; Sauli, Elingarami; Martin, Haikael
Pregnancy-related anemia is a critical health issue affecting a larger number of pregnant women in Tanzania affected. The study examined the impact of consuming locally grown indigeneous vegetables on iron intake and anemia prevention. The study utilized a cross-sectional design to investigate the impact of consuming locally grown indigenous vegetables on iron intake and anemia prevention among 340 pregnant women in Babati District, Tanzania. Participants were recruited from antenatal care services at four health facilities within the district. Dietary assessments were conducted to evaluate food consumption patterns and Dietary Diversity Scores (DDS).were calculated to determine the variety of food groups consumed. Indigenous vegetables were analyzed for the iron, vitamin C, and phytate content to assess their nutritional composition. Statistical analyses conducted included Chi2 (χ2) tests and Spearman rank correlations to evaluate the relationships between socio-demographic factors, dietary practices, and anemia prevalence. The prevalence of anemia was 45%, with a significant association between anemia and maternal age (P < 0.04, χ2 = 6.43), as older women (36–49 years) were less likely to be anemic compared to younger women (≤35 years). Marital status also correlated with anemia (P < 0.04, χ2 = 4.1), with married women showing a lower prevalence. Dietary diversity was limited, with only 55.6% of participants consuming five or more food groups (DDS ≥ 5). Indigenous vegetables, such as sweet potato leaves and amaranth combined with lemon juice, showed high vitamin C content (43.2 ± 0.26 mg/g), enhancing iron absorption. Hygiene practices like hand washing after toilet use were associated with reduced anemia risk (P < 0.0022, χ2 = 9.352). This study highlights the importance of indigenous vegetables, dietary diversity, and good hygiene in reducing anemia among pregnant women in rural Tanzania, emphasizing the need for nutrition education and improved access to iron-rich foods.
Consumption of Mixed Indigenous Vegetables: A solution to low hemoglobin levels among pregnant women in Babati, Tanzania
(Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science, 2025-02-27) Malley, Zuwena; Sauli, Elingarami; Martin, Haikael
Pregnancy-related anemia is a critical health issue affecting a larger number of pregnant women in Tanzania affected. The study examined the impact of consuming locally grown indigeneous vegetables on iron intake and anemia prevention. The study utilized a cross-sectional design to investigate the impact of consuming locally grown indigenous vegetables on iron intake and anemia prevention among 340 pregnant women in Babati District, Tanzania. Participants were recruited from antenatal care services at four health facilities within the district. Dietary assessments were conducted to evaluate food consumption patterns and Dietary Diversity Scores (DDS).were calculated to determine the variety of food groups consumed. Indigenous vegetables were analyzed for the iron, vitamin C, and phytate content to assess their nutritional composition. Statistical analyses conducted included Chi2 (χ2) tests and Spearman rank correlations to evaluate the relationships between socio-demographic factors, dietary practices, and anemia prevalence. The prevalence of anemia was 45%, with a significant association between anemia and maternal age (P < 0.04, χ2 = 6.43), as older women (36–49 years) were less likely to be anemic compared to younger women (≤35 years). Marital status also correlated with anemia (P < 0.04, χ2 = 4.1), with married women showing a lower prevalence. Dietary diversity was limited, with only 55.6% of participants consuming five or more food groups (DDS ≥ 5). Indigenous vegetables, such as sweet potato leaves and amaranth combined with lemon juice, showed high vitamin C content (43.2 ± 0.26 mg/g), enhancing iron absorption. Hygiene practices like hand washing after toilet use were associated with reduced anemia risk (P < 0.0022, χ2 = 9.352). This study highlights the importance of indigenous vegetables, dietary diversity, and good hygiene in reducing anemia among pregnant women in rural Tanzania, emphasizing the need for nutrition education and improved access to iron-rich foods.
Leveraging Indigenous Vegetables to Combat Anaemia among Pregnant Women in Babati
(NM-AIST, 2025-08) Malley, Zuwena
Pregnancy related anaemia remains a significant public health concern in Tanzania particularly among women of reproductive age. Limited dietary iron intake is a major contributing factor, despite the availability of iron supplements. However, poor adherence to supplementation due to side effects, limited access, and inadequate health education has hindered efforts to address the problem. The study investigated the potential of indigenous vegetables as a dietary intervention to prevent and manage anaemia among pregnant women in Babati District, Manyara region. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August 2023 involving 340 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at four health facilities in Babati District. Nutritional analysis was conducted on commonly consumed indigenous vegetables to assess their iron, vitamin C and phytate content. The findings revealed that indigenous vegetables such as amaranth, sweet potatoes leaves and blackjack are rich in iron and culturally accepted and locally accessible. However, their consumption was irregular due to limited awareness, seasonal availability and preferred for exotic vegetables. The study also found a significant association between frequent consumption of indigenous vegetables and higher haemoglobin levels among pregnant women. Respondents who consumed these vegetables at least three times a week had a lower prevalence of anaemia compared to those who consumed less frequently. Promotion of regular consumption of iron rich indigenous vegetables could serve as an effective, affordable, and culturally appropriate dietary strategy to reduce anaemia in pregnancy. The community nutrition education and support for local vegetable cultivation is recommended to enhance dietary diversity and maternal health outcomes.