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SASHA Brief 2014: Integrating health and agriculture to maximize the nutritional impact of orange-fleshed sweetpotato: The Mama SASHA proof-of-concept project in Western Kenya

In Kenya, Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem contributing to significant rates of blindness, disease, and pre-mature deaths that extend regionally in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Integrating agriculture and nutritional interventions into antenatal health care services to maximize the potential benefits of Orange fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) on the health status of mothers and children less than 2 years of age can significantly reduce these public problems. This brief presents a ‘proof of concept’ carried out in Western region Kenya. Briefly, it aimed to provide solid evidence for the effectiveness of this innovative approach to integrate OFSP promotion and production with public health care services. Among major observations there were doubling of dietary vitamin A intake for both mothers and infants in intervention areas compared to control areas; these differences were attributed to OFSP intakes.

Authors: Rikka Trangsrud, Amy Webb Girard, Frederick Grant, Rikka Trangsrud, Amy Webb Girard, Frederick Grant

Contributors: Sara Quinn, Sara Quinn

Pages: 4

Publisher: International Potato Center

Publication Date: August2014

Keywords: Health and Agriculture, Kenya, Orange fleshed sweetpotato

HOW TO CITE

Grant, F., Trangsrud, R. and Girard, A.W. 2014. Integrating health and agriculture to maximize the nutritional impact of orange-fleshed sweetpotato: The Mama SASHA proof-of-concept project in Western Kenya. International potato Center (CIP).