Browsing by Author "Ahunu, B."

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    Constraints on the use of animal source foods for young children in ghana: A participatory rapid appraisal approach.
    (2006) Colecraft, E.; Marquis, G. S.; Aryeetey, R.; Sakyi-Dawson, O.; Lartey, A.; Ahunu, B.; Canacoo, E.
    Micronutrient deficiencies limit child health and development. Although animal source foods (ASF) provide highly bioavailable micronutrients, Ghanaian preschoolers consume little. Participatory rapid appraisal methods identified constraints to the availability, accessibility, and utilization of ASF. Stakeholders working with or living in six communities in three agro-ecological zones reported constraints including low income, lack of access to technology and markets, inequitable household food allocation, inadequate knowledge, and beliefs. The least expensive ASF was fish, which was easy to preserve and consumed by all communities. Since ASF was primarily purchased, interventions that increase income may be most successful in improving Ghanaian children's diets.
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    Dual fortification of salt with iron and iodine in women and children in rural Ghana
    (East African Medical Journal, 2007-11) Asibey-Berko, E.; Zlotkin, S.H.; Yeung, G.S.; Nti-Nimako, W.; Ahunu, B.; Kyei-Faried, S.; Johnston, J.L.; Tondeur, M.C.; Mannar, V.
    Objective: To test the efficacy of double-fortified salt (DFS) on the anaemia and iodine deficiency (ID) status of women and their children. Design: Double-blind randomised controlled trial. Setting: Sekyere West District of Ghana. Subjects: In this eight-month trial, mildly anaemic or non-anaemic, non-pregnant, non-lactating women were randomised into three groups receiving: DFS plus weekly placebo (n = 61); iodised salt plus weekly 70 mg iron supplement (n = 65); or iodised salt (IS) plus weekly placebo (control group, n = 58). Correspondingly, their mildly anaemic and non-anaemic children aged 1-5 years were randomised into two groups receiving either the DFS (n = 23) or IS alone (control group, n = 59). Results: At the end of the intervention, prevalence of anaemia in women remained unchanged in the DFS or IS plus weekly iron supplement group, but significantly increased by 19.5% in the control group (P = 0.039). In children, prevalence of anaemia in the DFS group significantly decreased by 21.7% (P = 0.025) while no change was observed in the control group. ID decreased significantly in all groups of women (P < 0.001) and children (P < 0.05), with no difference among groups of women and children. Conclusion: While the use of DFS prevented anaemia in women, it had a significant role in both the prevention and treatment of anaemia in children. Both the DFS and IS significantly reduced ID in women and children to a similar degree.