COMBATING MALNUTRION IN CHILDREN AND … pilot project... ·  · 2014-04-03Under five years 20 2 570 ... To reduce the prevalence of malnutrition in people living with HIV/Aids and

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Impact monitoring was conducted from August to November by implementing self-registration boards,

24-hour diet recall and focus group interviews. Self-registration and 24-hour diet recall methods were

applied on 20 members of the 40 community project members. Data collection was not on a weekly but

a monthly basis. Focus group interviews were conducted with two 5-member groups segregated by sex

and were conducted on a separate data day from the self-registration and 24-hour diet recall.

The findings of the impact monitoring study are

Households spent the bulk of their income on food (58.5%) and other activities (29.3%)

compared to the 6.9% spent on agriculture production and 5.2% on health (Figure 2) over the

three month period

The average expenditure on agriculture production increased in October relative to the

expenditure for August.

average income per household from urban agriculture declined from a high of USD 14.00

(16.2%) per month to USD 9.00 (4.2%) from August to October

Vegetables do not constitute home produced food

The number of foodstuffs consumed in Kaloko increase from 61% in August to 74% in September and finally to 82% in October

The variety of crops being grown increased two months after the project was fully implemented

Chicken droppings, household waste and vegetable matter were being used as organic fertilizers

without supplemental applications of inorganic fertilizers.

Women are collecting water every day compared to when water was difficult to access and

sometimes members of the community purchased water from the street

Food availability and sufficiency are still major problems that members of Kaloko face.

Even though the impact monitoring was carried out over a short period of time before the project has

had more impact it can be concluded that signs of improvements in some aspects of the community

have taken place

The variety of foods has increased

Food intake, in terms of kilocalories, has increased even though marginally

The number of new crops being grown has been noticed

Water has been made available as noted from the increased number of water collections per

day even though the distance to the source of water is still far.

Resources permitting, it would be appropriate to continue intervening in this community to ensure that

the interventions that have been started could continue to ensure the transfer of skills to other

members of the Kaloko community.

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Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 2

1. BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................................... 5

1.1. The project Area............................................................................................................................ 5

1.2. Problems Targeted ........................................................................................................................ 6

1.3. Objectives and Expected results. .................................................................................................. 6

1.4. Expected Results. .......................................................................................................................... 6

2. METHODOLOGY FOR IMPACT MONITORING ........................................................................................ 7

2.1. Registration Boards (self-registration) .......................................................................................... 7

2.2. 24-Hour Recall ............................................................................................................................... 7

2.3. Focus Group Interviews ................................................................................................................ 7

3. PROJECT IMPACT ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................. 7

3.1. Self Registration ............................................................................................................................ 7

Household Incomes ............................................................................................................................... 7

Expenditure ........................................................................................................................................... 8

3.2. Food types that constitute the diets Kakolo households (24-hour Diet Recall) .......................... 9

3.2.1. Types of Foodstuffs Consumed in Kaloko Households ......................................................... 9

3.2.2. Nutritional Basis of Household Foods ................................................................................. 10

3.2.3. Cost of Household Food Consumption ............................................................................... 12

3.3. Community Perceptions (focus group interviews) ..................................................................... 13

3.3.1. Crop Choices and Fertilizers ................................................................................................ 13

3.3.2. Water Availability ................................................................................................................ 13

3.3.3. Socio-economic Problems ................................................................................................... 13

4. CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................................... 14

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1. BACKGROUND

Unemployment in Ndola was estimated to be 75% and poverty at 67% which has contributed to most

citizens living below the poverty datum line. The closure of mines and related activities on the

Copperbelt during the Chiluba era resulted in the local economy of Ndola and most cities on the belt

going into recession. Typically the situation in Ndola can be categorized as follows:

Liberalization of the economy in the late 80s resulted in industries closing down

High unemployment and poverty levels

Households to meet own economic needs (less government subsidies)

Most of those affected lacked other livelihood skills, hence the need to develop new forms of livelihood

activities and urban agriculture is one such activity that will improve the livelihood of the community.

Additionally, many people living with HIV/Aids and children lack good nutrition. It is against this

background that New Kaloko Nutrition group proposed to implement a chicken rearing and vegetable

gardening project to supplement nutrition and raise funds for the group and their family members.

Furthermore, the scarcity of water in New Kaloko has contributed to the poor development of

agricultural activities in the area.

1.1. The project Area New Kaloko is an unplanned settlement situated in the south west of the administrative district of Ndola. It has a population of 12,850 people as shown in Table 1. Most residents are not in formal employment and they lack livelihood skills. The main occupation for most residents is selling of agricultural products as well as general buying and selling of other commodities.

Table 1. Population characteristics of New Kaloko

Category Percentage Total

Total Population 100 12 850

Children under one year old 4 514

Under five years 20 2 570

5-14 years 28.8 3 701

Women 15-45 years 22 2 827

All adults 15+ years 51.2 6 579

Total male all ages 49.9 6 412

Total female all ages 50.1 6 476

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1.2. Problems Targeted The project addressed the following

(i) Inadequate water in the area. Water for urban agriculture was only through rain. (ii) Poor nutrition uptake by households as a result of the inability to farm all year round and

the lack of guidance on the crops to grow. Malnutrition in under eight year olds was estimated to affect 50% of the children. Adults were also affected by the same problem.

(iii) Unemployment levels are around 80% and the UA project will offer some form of informal employment to the participants.

(iv) Lack of skills – it was hoped that the UA project would be able to address some of the problems in the area relating to lack of livelihood skills.

1.3. Objectives and Expected results. The main goal of the project was to demonstrate that if properly organized, urban agriculture can significantly contribute to the fight against malnutrition and that it can reduce urban poverty. The specific objectives of the proposed project included:

(i) To reduce the prevalence of malnutrition in people living with HIV/Aids and children by at least 50% through introducing new high nutrition crops and other UA activities like beans, herbs and groundnuts by the end of implementation period of the project.

(ii) To impart livelihood skills to the 40 participating members through training in low-input gardening and poultry.

(iii) To develop the capacity of the 40 participating members in organic farming and UA practices through training in organic farming, conservation and water harvesting.

(iv) To improve the supply of water at the project area through drilling a borehole and fitting it with a hand pump for all year gardening.

1.4. Expected Results. The project outcomes included impacts on the immediate 40 members participating in the project and

the households in the surrounding area:

i. Reduction in malnutrition levels for the 40 participating households. It was anticipated that the reduction of malnutrition prevalence will be in the order of 50%.

ii. Improved household food security. The participating members would be food secure throughout the year. Crop production would take place all year round with the sinking of the borehole.

iii. Reduced poverty levels, as the residents of New Kaloko will have acquired livelihood skills in UA. iv. It was also hoped that one of the outcomes would be the replication of some of the practices by at

least 20 % of households in the surrounding areas who will through the demonstration effect be enticed to adopt some of the approaches introduced in the project area.

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2. METHODOLOGY FOR IMPACT MONITORING An assessment of the likely impact of the project on the New Kaloko community, through the 40

participating households, was carried out over a period of four months. Three methods were applied to

50% of the households. Data was collected once a month after a discussion with the participating

households revealed that weekly data collections would not receive adequate collaboration from the

sample households.

2.1. Registration Boards (self-registration) The sample of households was trained in how to register their incomes (from urban agriculture and

other sources) and expenditures for each day of the month. At the end of the month, which was the first

week of each month, students visited the 20 households to collect the information from each of

households. Registration boards were used to gather economic data for household income from UA and

other sources and expenditure on food, agriculture production, health and other. The 20 households

were required to use coloured cardboard squares when income was earned or an expense incurred.

2.2. 24-Hour Recall Twenty-four hour diet recall data was collected during the monthly visits by students to the households

in the sample. All food consumed by the household in the last 24 hours was required to be recalled by

the respondents and listed on the 24-hour recall data sheets. Information was obtained from an adult

who prepared the food and if she/he was not available, another adult who was present during the 24

hours was provided the information. Food consumed in the house meant food that was prepared in the

house and that which was consumed outside the home (this is food prepared and not prepared in the

home).

2.3. Focus Group Interviews A specific sub-category of respondents, two groups of five (5) men and five (5) women, were targeted to

discuss pre-selected topics. The gender segregated approach allowed for gender segregated analysis of

the results. After the group had discussed a particular topic in a theme, the two groups did not meet in

the plenary to discuss the results of the group discussion. Semi-structured questionnaires will be

prepared and applied to gather data. Questionnaires had short questions on the themes of gender,

socio-economic and the community environment.

3. PROJECT IMPACT ANALYSIS

3.1. Self Registration

Household Incomes The average income per household from urban agriculture declined from a high of USD 14.00 (16.2%)

per month to USD 9.00 (4.2%) from August to October (Figure 1). Income from other sources also

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declined from USD 237 (83.8%) to USD 204 (95.8%). The average earning per household is higher from

other sources than from UA.

Total household income declined from USD 247 in August to USD 212 in October. Reasons for this

decline are varied and may range from increasing scarcity of food arising from the peak of the dry

season when water is scarce.

Expenditure Households spent the bulk of their income on food (58.5%) and other activities (29.3%) compared to the

6.9% spent on agriculture production and 5.2% on health (Figure 2) over the three month period. It was

observed that the average expenditure on agriculture production increased in October relative to the

expenditure for August.

The average income from UA cannot finance food purchases for the community of New Kaloko

according to the statistics obtained from August to October (Table 2). The average monthly income per

Figure 1. Average incomes per

household for August to

September from urban

agriculture and other sources

Figure 2. Average monthly

expenditures on food,

agriculture production,

health and other activities in

percentages.

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household is sufficient to finance food, agriculture production and health but cannot finance other

expenses.

Table 2. Average monthly incomes and expenditure

Month UA Other Food Agriculture Production

Health Other Average Income

Average Expenditure

August 14(16) 237(84) 99(62) 19(6) 4(4) 330(29) 251 242

September 6(15) 70(85) 37(58) 4(8) 4(8) 70(27) 76 110

October 9(4) 204(96) 39(56) 6(7) 3(4) 184(33) 212 231

Note: Figures are in US$ whilst those in parenthesis are percentages

3.2. Food types that constitute the diets Kakolo households (24-hour Diet

Recall)

3.2.1. Types of Foodstuffs Consumed in Kaloko Households

The diet of Kakolo is composed of the foods listed in Table 3.

Table 3. Food types consumed in a 24 hour period by Kakolo households on a monthly basis

Food Local Standard

Quantity (g)

Local Cost (USD)

August September October

Apple 1 120 1,500 √

Banana 3 350 1,000 √ √ √

Beans 1 plate 250 2,000 √ √ √

Bean leaves 1 bundle 800 2,000 √

Beef 1 plate 1,000 12,000 √ √ √

Biscuit 1 packet 60 700 √ √ √

Bread 1 loaf 500 5,000 √ √ √

Buns/scones 1 bun 25 600 √ √ √

Cabbage 1 head 2,000 2,000 √

Cassava leaves 1 bundle 240 500 √

Cassava (roasted) 1 piece 20 100 √ √ √

Cassava (meal) 1 heap 300 800 √

Chicken 1 bird 2,000 25,000 √ √ √

Chinese Cabbage 1 bundle 240 500 √ √ √

Cooking Oil (ml) 1 cup 50ml 500 √ √ √

Curry powder 4 t/spns 5 200 √ √

Eggs 1 egg 500 √ √ √

Fish (dried) 1 plate 95 3,000 √ √ √

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Fish (fresh) 1 plate 1,000 6,500 √ √ √

Ground nuts 1 packet 10 200 √ √ √

Guava 1 fruit 50 50 √

Kapenta (dried) 1 packet 75 2,500 √ √ √

Kapenta (fresh) 1 plate 500 6,000 √

Maize meal (nshima)

1 plate / packet

350 1,500 √ √ √

Maize (dry) 1 packet 250 1,000 √

Milk (ml) 1 bottle 500 4,000 √ √ √

Onion 1 onion 25 500 √

Oranges 1 orange 100 500 √ √ √

Paprika 4 t/spns 5 200 √ √

Potatoes 1 heap 1,500 5,000 √

Potato leaves 1 bundle 240 500 √ √

Pumpkin leaves 1 bundle 240 500 √

Rape 1 bundle 200 500 √ √ √

Rice 1 packet 200 2,000 √

Sausage 1 packet 1,000 7,500 √ √

Spinach 1 bundle 400 1,000 √

Sugar 12 t/spns 50 500 √ √ √

Tomato 1 tomato 250 1,000 √

NB. t/spns = tea spoons

The 24-hour recall assessment indicated that some households do not use tomatoes and onions in their meals on a regular basis. Rice and potatoes do not also constitute part of the diet of Kaloko families. It was also noted that the diet of the Kaloko families is primarily a vegetable biased diet (green diet) which also includes dairy products. Using the list of foodstuffs as a guide, it is worth noting that the number of foodstuffs consumed in Kaloko increase from 61% in August to 74% in September and finally to 82% in October. This may be attributed to various social-economic factors that may include the training in managing household nutrition that the project has undertaken. The impact of this is improved nutrition particularly for households that have HIV/AIDS patients. The use of fruits and dairy products in a low income community such as Kaloko is an important development that requires support for sustainability.

3.2.2. Nutritional Basis of Household Foods

The availability of vitamins and minerals in the diet of the Kaloko community is provided in Table 4.

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Table 4. Availability of Foods Containing Vitamins and Minerals in Diets of Kakolo households

Food

VITAMINS/MINERALS V

itam

in A

Vita

min

B1

Vita

min

B2

Vita

min

B3

Vita

min

B6

Vita

min

B12

Vita

min

C

Vita

min

E

Cal

cium

Vita

min

B11

Iodi

ne

Iron

Mag

nesi

um

Pro

tein

Sel

eniu

m

Zin

c

Apple x

Banana x x

Beans x x x x x

Bean leaves

x x x

Beef x x x x x xx x x

Cassava leaves

x x x x

Cassava roots

x x x x

Chicken xx x x x

Cooking Oil x

Curry powder

x x x

Fish xx x x x x x

Ground nuts

x x x

Maize meal x x x x

Milk (ml) xx x x xx xx x

Onion

Oranges x x xx x x

Paprika x x x

Pumpkin leaves

x x x x x x x x x x

Rape x x x x

Rice x x

Spinach

Tomato

This assessment indicates that the diet for Kaloko households is deficient in Vitamin E which is

obtainable from Papaya (Avocado pears). Papaya is common in Zambian residential areas even though

its presence is related to the age of the residence. The fruit is most always traded on the market. Its

nutritional value is overlooked due to the fact that it is not as sweet as Bananas or oranges that attract

children than does Papaya.

The estimated daily intake of kilocalories per household increased from 7.22 K/cal in August, 5.63 K/cal

in September to 7.97 K/cal in October. The reasons may also be related to the project’s training and

education program related to nutrition and its relationship to human health.

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3.2.3. Cost of Household Food Consumption The study revealed that some households do not make any savings on income spent on food. This

means that some families spend more money on food than they allocate for food. About 11% of the

household had negative savings on money spent on food in September. The average monthly

expenditure on food per household is still low at US$58 (range US$97 – US$37). The households still

have a per capita expenditure of less than a US$1 per day.

Households in Kakolo save more money allocated for food than they are supposed to (Figure 3). The

fact that expenditure on food declined should have indicated that the household consumed food that

was produced from UA. Unfortunately this cannot be proven by the data that was collected.

Figure 3. Total household incomes spent and saved on food. Figures are in US Dollars.

In August, more than 90% of the households did not consume food that it produced, most of the food was purchased (Table 4). In September, only 21% of the households consumed corn meal from what the household had produced which declined to 13% by October. The fact that not even vegetables constitute home produced food is indicative of the problem of UA or the fact that most of it is sold on the market.

Table 4. Percentage of home-produced foodstuffs that are consumed by the household

Foodstuff August September October Beans 5.5

Buns 11

Groundnuts 5.5 6.7

Corn meal 21 13.3

Paprika 5.5

Rape (leafy vegetable) 11

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3.3. Community Perceptions (focus group interviews)

3.3.1. Crop Choices and Fertilizers The response in terms of choice of crops changed from August compared to what was being grown in

November. It was observed that the variety of crops being grown increased two months after the

project was fully implemented. The traditional crops were beans, Chinese cabbage, maize, okra, onion,

pumpkin, rape, sweet potatoes and tomatoes. Female respondents indicated that members of their

households had adopted okra as a new crop that was being grown. Male respondents indicated that

cowpeas and tomatoes were the new crops that some members of their households had started

growing after the project had started. Gardening was pointed out as a new activity that households had

adopted after the project had been introduced.

Chicken droppings, household waste and vegetable matter were being used as organic fertilizers

without supplemental applications of inorganic fertilizers.

3.3.2. Water Availability In August members of the project in the local community were having problems finding clean water.

Towards the end of November, the same members of the community indicated that water was being

collected about everyday day and sometimes more than once per day. This shows that the project has

succeeded in providing sufficient quantities of relatively cleaner water to Kaloko.

3.3.3. Socio-economic Problems Respondents indicated that food availability and sufficiency are still the major problems that members

of Kaloko face. Additionally, meeting the cost of educating children and distance between the source of

water and the household are still problems that are being faced. Some family members find it difficult to

meet the cost of accommodation.

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4. CONCLUSION The Kaloko community has still continued depending on other sources of generating income than UA. It

can also be inferred that towards the peak of the dry season, food and incomes generally decline. the

increase in expenditure for agriculture purposes may be indicative of the fact that community members

would like to increase food production through the adoption of new crop varieties and farming

methods. Even though the agriculture expenditure increased, the average income from UA cannot

finance food purchases for the community of New Kaloko. Changes in observed in crop choices,

increased food types and improved intake of kilocalories may be attributed to various social-economic

factors that may include the training that the project had undertaken.

Even though the impact monitoring was carried out over a short period of time before the project has

had more impact it can be concluded that signs of improvements in some aspects of the community

have taken place

The variety of foods has increased

Food intake, in terms of kilocalories, has increased even though marginally

The number of new crops being grown has been noticed

Water has been made available as noted from the increased number of water collections per

day even though the distance to the source of water is still far.

Resources permitting, it would be appropriate to continue intervening in this community to ensure that

the interventions that have been started could continue to ensure the transfer of skills to other

members of the Kaloko community.