TY - CONF

T1 - Linking urban agroforestry and child nutrition: A case study from Kampala, Uganda.

T2 - 4th world congress on Agroforestry

AU - Mollee, Eefke

AU - McDonald, Morag

AU - Kehlenbeck, Katja

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Uganda faces serious challenges in providing sufficient healthy foods for its growing and urbanizing population. This paper aims to explore the contribution of urban agroforestry homegardens to child nutrition in Kampala. A repeat 24-hour dietary recall including information on food sources was conducted with 49 children (aged 2-5) and 31 of their caretakers (aged 18-49). Dietary Diversity Scores (DDS), Food Variety Scores (FVS) and household food insecurity levels (HFIAS) were calculated and anthropometric measurements taken. A total of 70 edible plant species were recorded in the 49 homegardens. We found a correlation between child and caretaker for DDS (Spearman’s rho = 0.861, P<0.01), FVS (Pearson R = 0.870, P<0.01) and fruit intake (Spearman’s rho = 0.637, P<0.01). A logistic regression indicated that children from wealthier households were more likely to have higher DDS (P=0.007) and fruit intake (P= 0.011). Homegardens only provided 5% of the food items consumed, particularly fruits and vegetables (Fig. 1). Higher garden agrobiodiversity had no influence on dietary diversity and nutritional status of children during the dry season, but the surveyed children had a generally good nutritional status. During harvest season urban homegardens may contribute more to family nutrition. To ensure a more food secure city, researchers, policy makers and urban planners need to become aware of the potential value of urban homegardens and prioritise them in future development plans.

AB - Uganda faces serious challenges in providing sufficient healthy foods for its growing and urbanizing population. This paper aims to explore the contribution of urban agroforestry homegardens to child nutrition in Kampala. A repeat 24-hour dietary recall including information on food sources was conducted with 49 children (aged 2-5) and 31 of their caretakers (aged 18-49). Dietary Diversity Scores (DDS), Food Variety Scores (FVS) and household food insecurity levels (HFIAS) were calculated and anthropometric measurements taken. A total of 70 edible plant species were recorded in the 49 homegardens. We found a correlation between child and caretaker for DDS (Spearman’s rho = 0.861, P<0.01), FVS (Pearson R = 0.870, P<0.01) and fruit intake (Spearman’s rho = 0.637, P<0.01). A logistic regression indicated that children from wealthier households were more likely to have higher DDS (P=0.007) and fruit intake (P= 0.011). Homegardens only provided 5% of the food items consumed, particularly fruits and vegetables (Fig. 1). Higher garden agrobiodiversity had no influence on dietary diversity and nutritional status of children during the dry season, but the surveyed children had a generally good nutritional status. During harvest season urban homegardens may contribute more to family nutrition. To ensure a more food secure city, researchers, policy makers and urban planners need to become aware of the potential value of urban homegardens and prioritise them in future development plans.

M3 - Paper

Y2 - 20 May 2019 through 22 May 2019

ER -