Waswa, Judith (2014) Development of a Food Product as Replacer for Geophagy in Adolescent Girls: A Case of Two Schools in Kakamega County. Masters thesis, University of Nairobi.
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Abstract
Geophagy is the regular and deliberate eating of soil by humans. It is common among pregnant women and children in sub-Saharan Africa. Geophagy is often regarded as a response to compulsive physiologic demand including demand for iron and zinc in the body. However, geophagy significantly increases the risk of helminthes infestation. This study was designed to develop a food based geophagy replacer and assess its effects on geophagic practices and anemia status of adolescent girls in Western Kenya. The study was organized in three phases. The first phase consisted of a baseline survey with a sample of 302 randomly drawn from two high schools in Likuyani Sub-County of Kakamega County. The study cohorts consisted of 154 girls from Moi girls Nangili and 148 from St. Annes’ Nzoia. The cohorts were proportionately drawn from forms one to four. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics including geophagy. Anthropometric measurements of weight, height and mid upper arm circumference were taken using standard procedures. Blood and stool samples were taken to determine the hemoglobin status and presence of helminthes respectively. A seven day food record was taken and mean nutrient intakes computed. Phase two consisted of laboratory development of an acceptable and shelf stable food replacer to contain adequate iron from millet, amaranth grains and termites. Phase three of the study consisted of an intervention. The intervention study was done at St Annes’ Nzoia school after being randomly picked from the two schools that participated in the baseline survey. A sample of 58 cohorts was randomly drawn. The sample was split into two; the treatment group and the control group. Cohorts from both groups were given malaria prophylaxis and anti- helminthes treatment. The treatment group was further given the food replacer and requested to eat it as a drug and avoid sharing with friends. The cohorts xv were given 30g of the food product per day for eight weeks. At the end of the intervention the girls were evaluated for geophagy and hemoglobin status. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) version 17. Mean, frequencies, Chi-square, t -test and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze data. A nutrient calculator was used to analyze dietary data. Results showed that the prevalence of geophagy was 46%. Significant predictors of geophagy were; being a daughter of a geophagic mothers and family size. The prevalence of anemia was 38%. Anemia was not found to be a predictor of geophagy. The meals of the cohorts did not provide adequate iron to meet the recommended Daily Allowance. The most preferred food replacer developed had ratio of 70:20:10 of (millet: amaranth: termites) and iron content of 16.6mg/100g. The replacer provided 4.98mg of iron per day (33% of RDA). Consumption of the soil replacer significantly reduced the geophagy practice by 96% and improved the hemoglobin status of the cohorts by 0.061g/dL. The study showed that an acceptable food replacer was suitable for reduction of geophagy in adolescent girls when well formulated with regard to iron content and would also improve the hemoglobin status of the cohorts.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | NLANDU Ephraim DIKUIZA |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Jan 2017 13:52 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Jan 2017 07:42 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/1114 |
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