Training to Build Nutrition Capacity in the Nigerian Agricultural Sector: Initial Assessment and Future Directions.

BACKGROUND: In response to calls to increase nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development developed the Nigeria Agricultural Sector Food Security and Nutrition Strategy 2016-2025 (AFSNS). Capacity development activities to facilitate the AFSNS implementation subsequently commenced. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the processes and outputs of initial capacity development efforts, examined findings from the analysis using existing literature, and identified critical next steps for nutrition capacity development in the Nigerian agriculture sector. METHODS: The study reviewed documents including a proposal for nutrition training of agriculture sector actors, reports of meetings held among 6 resource persons who designed and/or delivered training, training reports, participants' pre- and posttraining assessments, and participants' training evaluation. Interviews were conducted with 2 resource persons involved in training design and delivery. Documents and interviews were coded and analyzed to identify emergent themes. Participants' pre- and posttests results were compared using paired t test in Stata 12.0. RESULTS: Knowledge and practice gaps were more extensive than had been anticipated. Training had some but limited effects on knowledge scores at the federal level. Modules addressing implementation practices had to be scaled down for participants to keep up with the learning pace. Existing literature indicates that such training would have been better planned as part of a broader sectoral nutrition workforce strategy, to facilitate greater tailoring of training to participants' job roles. CONCLUSION: Effective AFSNS implementation requires developing and operationalizing a comprehensive short-, medium- and long-term Agriculture Sector Nutrition Capacity Development Strategy for Nigeria.

Nutritional, Texture, and Sensory Properties of composite biscuits produced from breadfruit and wheat flours enriched with edible fish meal.

This study aimed to develop biscuits with improved nutritional contents using edible fish meal from catfish as the source of macro- and micronutrient enrichment while trying to reduce the input of wheat flour in biscuit-making process. The biscuit was produced using edible fish meal (EFM: 0%-40%) from catfish, improved quality breadfruit (IQBF: 0%-60%), and wheat flours (WF: 0%-40%). Macro (crude protein, fat, fiber, ash, and carbohydrate)- and micro (calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and iron)-nutrient contents of the biscuit were determined. The color (lightness-L*, redness-a*, and yellowness-b*), texture (hardness, springiness, and adhesiveness), and sensory (taste, texture, and overall acceptability) attributes of the biscuits were assessed using standard methods. Model characteristics of the responses were profiled, and numerical optimization technique was used to predict combination/blends that produce biscuits with desired nutritional contents. Moisture, crude protein, fat, fiber, and ash values were in the range of 3.50%-5.57%, 3.06%-15.52%, 13.62%-26.00%, 0.31%-1.40%, and 1.98%-5.32%, respectively. The iron, calcium, and phosphorus contents of the biscuit ranged from 103.85 to 201.30 mg/100 g, 100 to 754 mg/100 g, and 8 mg/100 g to 304 mg/100 g, respectively. Interaction between the models for WF and EFM was significant and this significantly affected the L* (36.37-51.90) and adhesiveness (0.01-0.29) values for color and texture, respectively. Similar observations were also noticed for most of the nutrients. The quadratic models selected for the nutrients were all significant (p < .05) and the adjusted R 2 ranged from 0.61 to 0.84 and 0.59 to 0.97 for the macro- and micronutrients, respectively. In conclusion, a biscuit from IQBF, WF, and EFM of 61.33, 0.07, and 38.60 with protein, fat, ash, iron, and calcium contents of 10.41%, 17.59%, 2.05%, 120.52 mg/100 g, and 500.00 mg/100 g, respectively, was produced.

Leptospermum petersonii as a Potential Natural Food Preservative.

Leptospermum petersonii (family Myrtaceae) is often cultivated for ornamental purposes but also serves as a rich source of bioactive essential oils. While several studies focused on the activities of the essential oils, this study analysed the potential of spent L. petersonii leaves as a natural food preservative. METHOD: We investigated the in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of crude L. petersonii extracts against activities of the purified isolated flavonoid, 6-methyltectochrysin, which was characterized using spectroscopic methods. The antioxidant assays followed ORAC, FRAP and TEAC tests. The antimicrobial activities of the extract and purified flavonoid were analysed against six multi-drug resistant microbial strains in broth dilution assays. RESULT: The results revealed that both the crude extracts and isolated 6-methyltectochrysin exhibited positive radical ion scavenging antioxidant potential, however the crude extract was about 6-fold more potent antioxidant than the purified 6-methyltectochrysin. The crude extract also showed strong antimicrobial activities against Bacillus cereus, and even more potent antimicrobial agent than the reference ampicillin antibiotic against Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae. A higher resistance was observed for the tested Gram-negative strains than for the Gram-positive ones. 6-methyltectochrysin was generally inactive in the antimicrobial assays. CONCLUSION: The crude methanolic extract showed significant bioactivity which validates the medicinal relevance of the plant. The observed biological activities, especially against a notorious strain of B. cereus, suggest that L. petersonii could be a promising natural source of food preservatives.

Co-existence of maternal overweight and obesity with childhood undernutrition in rural and urban communities of Lagos State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The coexistence of over-nutrition and under-nutrition is emerging as a public health problem in many low and middle income countries. This study aimed at determining prevalence of coexisting maternal overweight and obesity with childhood stunting (MOCS) and the associated socio-demographic factors in rural and urban communities of Lagos State, Nigeria. METHODS: This was a cross sectional survey conducted using the multistage random sampling technique. A total of 300 mother-child pairs were studied, consisting of 150 each from rural and urban communities. Maternal overweight and obesity and undernutrition in children were determined using standard criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among mothers was significantly higher in urban than rural areas (50.7% vs. 41.3%; p=0.022) while the prevalence of childhood stunting was significantly higher in rural than urban areas (43.3% 12.6%; p<0.001). Coexisting maternal overweight and obesity with childhood stunting was observed in 31 (10.3%) mother-child pair with a significantly higher prevalence in rural than urban areas (14.7% vs. 6.0%, p=0.014). In multivariate logistic regression, maternal short stature (OR 3.3, 95% CI=1.2-9.0, p=0.02) and living in rural area (OR 0.2, 95% CI=0.1-0.5, p=0.001) were the identified risk factors for coexisting maternal overweight and obesity with childhood stunting. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of coexisting MOCS is high especially in rural areas. Effort at reducing childhood malnutrition should focus on appropriate interventional measures aimed at improving maternal nutritional status.

Dietary practices and nutritional status of under-five children in rural and urban communities of Lagos State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Evidence shows that urban children generally have a better nutritional status than their rural counterparts. However, data establishing whether this difference in prevalence of undernutrition could be ascribed to difference in dietary practices are few. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare dietary practices and nutritional status of children in rural and urban communities of Lagos State, Nigeria. METHODS: This was a comparative-analytical study conducted using the multistage sampling technique to select the study cases. A total of 300 mother-child pairs were studied, including 150 each from rural and urban communities. Data collected include demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, feeding practices and anthropometric measurements of the participants. Food intake data were collected using 24-h dietary recall. Malnutrition in children was determined by calculating the prevalence of low height-for-age (stunting), low weight-for-age (underweight), and low weight-for-height (wasting) using the World Health Organization cutoff points. RESULTS: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months (25.3% vs. 28.7%; P = 0.516), use of formula feeds (48.7% vs. 44%; P = 0.077), and mean age of child at introduction of semisolid foods (7.54 ± 4.0 months vs. 8.51 ± 7.3 months; P = 0.117) were not significantly different between urban and rural communities. The diversity of food choices and frequencies of consumption were similar between urban and rural communities. However, prevalence levels of underweight and stunted children were significantly higher in rural than that of urban communities (19.4% vs. 9.3%, P < 0.001 and 43.3% vs. 12.6%, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Other risk factors besides inappropriate feeding practices need to be considered for higher prevalence of undernutrition among children in rural communities.

Maternal and child under-nutrition in rural and urban communities of Lagos state, Nigeria: the relationship and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Poor nutritional status of mothers has a direct and indirect consequence on their own health and that of their children. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between nutritional status of mothers and their children and the risk factors for under-nutrition among mothers and children in rural and urban communities of Lagos State, Nigeria. METHODS: This was a cross sectional survey conducted using the multistage random sampling technique. A total of 300 mother-child pairs were studied, consisting of 150 each from rural and urban communities. Under-nutrition in mothers and children was determined using standard criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence of under-nutrition among mothers was significantly higher in rural than urban communities (10.7% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.014). The prevalences of underweight and stunted children were also significantly higher in rural than urban communities (19.4% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.001) and (43.3% vs. 12.6%, p < 0.001) respectively. In rural communities, the risk of stunted mothers having children with stunting was about 7 times higher than those who were not (OR 6.7, 95% CI = 1.4-32.0, p = 0.007). In urban communities, undernourished mothers have about 11 and 12 times risk of having children with underweight and wasting respectively (OR 11.2, 95% CI = 1.4-86.5, p = 0.005) and (OR 12.3, 95% CI = 1.6-95.7, p = 0.003) respectively. The identified risk factors for maternal and child under nutrition differs across rural and urban communities. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of maternal and child under-nutrition is high in both communities although higher in rural communities. Efforts at reducing the vicious cycle of under-nutrition among mothers and children should concentrate on addressing risk factors specific for each community.