Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) contributes to significant health problems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is an important source of energy and beta-carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A in the body. One medium-size sweetpotato provides enough to meet the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A for children and non-lactating women. This brief documents a project that sought to explicitly integrate agriculture and nutrition interventions into antenatal health care services to maximize the potential benefits of OFSP on the health status of mothers and children less than 2 years of age. It is the first time such an intervention is being tested at the community-level in SSA–and the first one of its kind to focus explicitly on pregnant women. Major outcome was observed with high rates of participation from pregnant women suggesting that the integration of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP), nutrition education and vine distribution into antenatal care is feasible and acceptable for health care providers, community health workers and pregnant women.
Authors: Rikka Trangsrud, Frederick Grant, Rikka Trangsrud, Frederick Grant
Contributors: Sara Quinn, Sara Quinn
Pages: 2
Publisher: International Potato Center
Publication Date: 2013
Rights: Open access
Keywords: Beta-carotene, Orange-fleshed sweet potato, SSA, sub-Saharan Africa, Vitamin A deficiency, Western Kenya
HOW TO CITE
Grant, F. and Trangsrud, R. 2013. 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).