The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
less than
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 13 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

Increasing vitamin A intake through promotion of orange sweet potatoes in Western Kenya

0 comments

Kurz, K., M. A. Oyunga, et al. (1998). "Increasing vitamin A intake through promotion of orange sweet potatoes in Western Kenya." FASEB Journal 12(4).

Objective: Low retinol levels in preschool-aged children are found in Western Kenya, where white sweet potato (SP) is an important secondary staple. Survey results from 15 communities in Ndhiwa division using the Helen Keller International (HKI) food frequency method indicated that vitamin A (VA) intake was low - mean score of 4.0, well below the 6.0 cut-off for VA deficiency of public health importance.

Methods: Vines of 4 orange SP varieties were introduced to 20 women's groups in Ndhiwa and nearby Rongo. Half the women's groups were randomly allocated to receive 3 interventions to promote orange SP - nutrition education, food processing, and participatory methods to identify and overcome barriers to use.

Results: In Ndhiwa, the HKI score of the intervention groups increased from 4.8 in April 1996 to 6.4 one year later, despite drought, while the control groups decreased from 4.6 to 2.4, a net increase of 3.8 units. In Rongo, initial scores were higher and the intervention groups decreased slightly (8.9 to 8.4), while the control groups dropped substantially (8.0 to 4.3), a net increase of 3.3 units. All changes are statistically significant.

Conclusion: These results suggest that large increases in the consumption of VA-rich foods are possible with promotion, especially where it is initially low.