Effect of school garden food production on nutrient adequacy and nutrition status of children in Namasagali primary school in rural Kamuli District, Uganda
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Date
2016
Authors
Byaruhanga, Laura Agaba
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Abstract
Proper nutrition is critical for optimal growth, cognitive development, general well being
and academic performance among school going children. Access to good nutrition either
at home or at school can contribute to the elimination of malnutrition and its associated
health and developmental problems among this age group. Developing countries still
remain within reach of halving the proportion of hungry people. Gains of the second
Millennium Development Goal (MDG) (Sustainable Development Goal-SDG 4) are
being threatened by several factors that including short term hunger. A cross sectional
study with an analytical design and laboratory analysis was used. Data was collected on
socio economic and demographic factors of the pupils, dietary intake patterns of the
pupils , anthropometric measurements were collected from 226 pupils. The meal was
analysed in the laboratory for nutrients: energy, protein, fats,vitamin A, iodine and iron.
Both inputs and output from the school garden were recorded and these computed in
monetary terms. Data was analysed using SPSS version 17, Anthro-plus version 1.0.2 and
Nutri-survey. Descriptive statistics such as inean, frequencies and percentages were used
to describe the data. A higher level of cross tabulation and correlation test of the three
hypothesis was done and P<0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. From the
study 50.4% were male pupils while 49.6% were females. About 5]% of the caregivers
had attained at least level of primary education with 89% of them being peasant farmers.
The most grown crops were maize (97%) and sweet potatoes (87%). The school meal
provided a significant amount of calories (853kcalĀ±178) and all other major nutrients as
compared to what the pupils received from home. Stunting and BMJ-for -age levels did
not change much after the program introduced the school feeding program, an indication
that there could be a spill over of malnutrition from childhood to school age. Regression
analysis showed that there exists a positive correlation between BMl for age and
education level of parent and a negative relationship between BM] for age and marital
status of parent exists. Further analysis showed a weak relationship between nutrition
status BMJ for age and number of meals consumed per day (r=0.120. p=0.021). The
study did not find any significant relationship between schools meals and nutritional
status. Contribution from the stakeholders-program-28%, parents-14% and school
garden-57% indicated a reduction on the cost incurred by the program to sustain the SFP.
This study recommends that a longitudinal study comparing schools that employ gardens
and those that do not should be conducted to examine the difference in nutritional status
and the cost implications
Description
A research thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of master
of science (food, nutrition and dietetics) in the school of applied human sciences, Kenyatta University, October 2016