Improved nutrition in Zambia – the role of agricultural research

1. International
Institute of
Tropical
Agriculture
RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION, ZAMBIA
Seminar: Agricultural Research for Improved Nutrition in Zambia
20 March, 2012
Lusaka, Zambia
Isabel Madzorera

2. IITA in Zambia
 Office – Regional Hub
Programs
 MIRACLE – Making agriculture innovations
work for small holder farmers affected by
HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa
 SIMLEZA - Sustainable Intensification of Maize-
Legume systems for the Eastern Province of
Zambia (SIMLEZA) project, funded by USAID
“Feed the Future”

3. MIRACLE project
 3 year project (2011-2013)
 Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Swaziland
 Implemented in 3 districts in Zambia – Kazungula, Mansa
and Mumbwa
PURPOSE
 To improve health and nutrition status, food security and
income of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA)
through the production, consumption and marketing of
nutritionally-enhanced crop and livestock products and
to lobby for supportive agricultural and health policies,
as well as to strengthen the capacity of key
stakeholders engaged in agricultural activities

4. Research in the MIRACLE
project
 Food Consumption and Nutrition Survey
Why Food Consumption and Nutrition Survey
- importance of food security and good
nutrition for people living with HIV
- poor nutritional status hasten progression to
AIDS-related illnesses and undermine response
to antiretroviral drugs
- Establish project baseline for intervention
design ---development of dietary strategies to
enhance intake and diet quality

5. FCS: Specific objectives.
• Estimate with reasonable precision the mean usual food
consumption and nutrient intakes of women of childbearing
age (15-49 years) and children aged 6 months to 14 years in
HIV/AIDS affected households in target communities.
• Determine proportion of individuals within the group at risk
of inadequate caloric, protein, and micronutrient intakes
(vitamin A, iron, and zinc).
• Determine the nutritional status of women of childbearing
age (15-49 years) and children aged 6 to 59 months in
HIV/AIDS affected households in the selected agricultural
camps.
• Assess the relationship among observed nutritional status,
food consumed, and nutrient intakes.

6. Study areas :
Study areas:
• Kazungula – Musokotwane, Mukuni agriculture camps
• Mansa – Mabumba and Kale agriculture camps
• Mumbwa – Nampundwe and Martin Luther agriculture
camps
Sample size: 422 households affected by HIV and AIDS
Study subjects:
 Women of child bearing age
 Children aged 6 months to 14 years within the sampled
households
Assessment period: Feb and Mar 2012

7. Sample size
Sampled Based on
Agricultural
Province District Block Households estimated
camp
(n) prevalence
Luapula Mansa Mansa East Mabumba 67 of dietary
energy
Mansa East Kale 48 intake below
Central Mumbwa Shibuyunji Martin Luther 39 minimum
levels in
Shibuyunji Nampundwe 148 Zambia of
Southern Kazungula Mukuni Mukuni 60 51% ( Living
Conditions IV
Musokotwane Musukotwane 69
survey, 2006)
Totals 422

8. Methodology
 24 hour dietary recall
 Multipass methodology
 Mothers training sessions before data collection
 2 recall interviews per household (women and
children)
 Quantification of food consumed (salted
replicas/direct weight, play dough, volume,
length, picture charts)
 repeat interviews for 25% of the sampled
households on non-consecutive days (to validate)
 nutrition anthropometry (weight and height for
women and children)

9. Preliminary indications
Food consumption by HIV and AIDS
affected households in the lean season
 Dietary diversity is poor
 Diets are largely plant based and low in
animal products
- diet quality, anti nutritive factors

10. Policy Implications
Policy dialogue
 dietary diversity
 Enhancing intake
 Food preparation and processing of crops