Pan-African Conference 21 - 24 July 2002 Inter-Continental Hotel ...

The official Journal of the
South African
Society of Parenteral
and Enteral Nutrition
and the Association for
Dietetics in South Africa
The South African Journal
of Clinical Nutrition
SAJCN
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2
(Supplement, S1 - S48)
Pan-African Conference
21 - 24 July 2002
Inter-Continental Hotel
Nairobi, Kenya
An SAMJ Publication
Health and Medical Publishing Group

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 1
Editors
DANIEL J NCAYIYANA
D LABADARIOS
Associate Editor
A A HAFFEJEE
Assistant Editor
EMMA BUCHANAN
Technical Editor
JULIA CASCIOLA
News Editor
JANET HOWSE
Senior News Journalist
CHRIS BATEMAN
Manuscript Tracking
DENISE WHELEHAN
Head of Publishing
PETER G ROBERTS
Projects Manager
ERICA CONRADIE
Production Manager
ANNE COLLINS
DTP & Layout
SIOBHAN CAULFIELD
Production Assistant
ROBER ARENDSE
Advertising Co-ordinator
VANESSA SAMPSON
Distribution Manager
EDWARD MACDONALD
Advertising Enquiries
NIREEN NAIDOO
PUMLA KOBUS
REINA ROETS
MOIPONE SIGASA
Tel. (012) 481-2066
E-mail: nireenn@samedical.org
Publications Committee
R E KIRSCH (Chair)
T MOKOENA (Vice-Chair)
M N MABASA
B MAYOSI
S MAZAZA
J TERBLANCHE
Editorial Board: Clinical Nutrition
S P ALLISON (Nottingham, UK)
R BLAAUW (Stellenbosch)
M A DHANSAY (MRC)
J DOWNS (Natal)
G GERICKE (Pretoria)
M HENDRICKS (Red Cross Children’s
Hospital)
M G HERSELMAN (Stellenbosch)
E HOLM (Mannheim, FRG)
J E IPUTO (Unitra)
M MEGUID (New York)
G A RICHARDS (Johannesburg)
J L ROMBEAU (USA)
A SIVE (Red Cross Children’s Hospital)
N STEYN (University of the North)
R SWART (W Cape)
J M VAN SCHALKWYK
(Johannesburg)
H H VORSTER (Potchefstroom)
A R P WALKER (SAIMR)
T A WINTER (UCT)
P WOLMARANS (MRC)
ISSN 003-8-2469
CONTENTS
Volume 15 No. 2 July 2002 (Supplement)
PLENARY LECTURES
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Advisory and Scientific Committee (ASC):
Demetre Labadarios (Conference Chair, South Africa), Hanifa Bachou (Conference Vice-chair, Uganda),
Leif Hambraeus (Sweden), Gibriel Ahmed (Egypt), Thorkild Tylleskar (Norway), Delana Adelekan (Nigeria),
Chrisse Chawanje (Malawi), Moussa Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso) and Christopher Msoma (Tanzania).
Local Organising Committee (LOC) Kenya:
Judith Waudo (Chair, Kenya), Stellamaris Muthoka (Kenya), Wambui Kogi-Makau (Kenya), Prisca Tuitoek
(Kenya), Thereza Muthui (Kenya) and Richard K'Okul (Kenya).
Fund Raising Committee (FRC):
Wambui Kogi-Makau (Chair, Kenya), Britta Ogle (Sweden), Jerida Nyatsanza (Zimbabwe), Fatima Quattara
(Mali), Linley Chiwona-Karltun (Sweden), Thabisile Hlatshwayo-Molea (South Africa), Sobhy Mohsen
(Egypt) and Ruth K Oniang'o (Kenya).
The abstracts that have been published are those received
up to and including 15 June 2002; abstracts submitted after
that date have not been included in the proceedings.
The abstracts have been published as received from the
authors.
Published by Health and Medical Publishing Group, 14 Central Square, Pinelands, 7405.
All letters and articles for publication should be addressed to the Editor, Private Bag X1,
Pinelands, 7430. Tel. (021) 530-6520. Fax (021) 531-4126. E-mail: publishing@samedical.org.
Website: www.samedical.org
© Copyright 2000 by SA Medical Association. This work is copyright under the Berne Convention. It is also
copyright in terms of the Copyright Act 98 of 1978. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise, without permission of the copyright holder.
3
14
29

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 3
Plenary Lectures: Contents
ABSTRACTS
IT: The role of palm technology in nutrition / Technologie de paume
J.H. Anderson, D. Belshawe, S.S. Mothapo, C. Phafane, E. Phokojoe, A. Govender, B. Nillson, A. Cajada, A. Trowbridge, M. Read, A. Michie,
E. Wessels, H. Heymans, J. Niemand, E. Hartzenburg
Wilgivinfo Networking (SA), c/o Institute of Development Research, Oxford, UK
The role of E-learning in nutrition / Le rôle de e-Apprentissage
Rolf Attström* and Kåre Larsson#
*Professor, Department of Periodontology, Centre for Oral Health Sciences, Malmö University, Sweden
#Professor Em. Food Technology, University of Lund, Sweden
IT : A privileged tool for strategic planning and intersectorial coordination in the field of fighting malnutrition / IT : Instrument privilégié
pour la planification stratégique et la coordination intersectorielle en matière de lutte contre la malnutrition
D. Berardi (1), A.Ag Iknane (2), M. Diarra (3)
(1) Dario Berardi, Director Data Analysis Support Center (DASC), Rome, Italy
(2) Akory Ag Iknane, Public Health Specialist, researcher in nutrition for the National Research Institute in Public Health (INRSP), Mali
(3) Modibo Diarra, Head of the Unit for the Follow-up of Food and Nutrition Situation (DSSAN), Mali
IT in nutrition communication / La TI en communication nutritionnelle
Suzanne Elbon
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, USA
The role of IT in dietary assessment / La TI dans l’évaluation diététique
J.G. Erhardt
Hohenheim University, Stuttgart, Germany
IDPAS: Networking global expertise to expand research and action on anaemia prevention and control/IDPAS: Le réseau global d’expertise
pour l’extension de la recherche, du contrôle at de la prévention de l’anémie
Gary Gleason
International Nutrition Foundation, USA
IT and food security / La TI dans l’évaluation de la sécurité alimentaire
Dr. Helen Hambly Odame
Research Officer
ISNAR (International Service for National Agricultural Research), The Netherlands
IT in nutritional status assessment / La TI dans l’évaluation nutritionnelle
Leif Hambræus, MD PhD
Professor emeritus, Unit for Preventive Nutrition, Dept of Bioscience, Karolinska Institutet at Novum, Sweden
Communicating nutrition research: obstacles and opportunities through IT / Communication de la recherche nutritionnelle : obstacles et
opportunités par la TI
Nik Harvey
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA
Communication and connectivity in Africa / Communication et connectivité en Afrique
Michael Jensen, South Africa
Nutrition networking in West Africa and the role of information technology / Le réseautage pour la nutrition en Afrique de l’ouest et le rôle
des nouvelles technologies de l’information
Dado Kagnassy Sy, Chef de la Division Nutrition, Ministère de la Santé Publique, Mali; Kabba T. Joiner, Directeur Général, Organisation Ouest
Africaine de la Santé; Shawn K. Baker, Directeur Régional pour l’Afrique, Helen Keller International; Serigne Mbaye Diène, Conseiller Régional
Nutrition, BASICS II
The role of IT in nutrition education / Le rôle de la TI en éducation nutritionnelle
KM Kolasa.
Nutrition Services and Patient Education, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
Producing web sites / Créer les sites Web
Jean-Charles Le Vallée
Food Security Guide for the Development Gateway, World Bank, USA
The concept of knowledge networks in Africa — an enabling tool for knowledge management in the field of nutrition, with specific
reference to SA HealthInfo / Le concept des connaissances des réseaux en Afrique
Jacobus Adriaan Louwa , Benjamin Fouchéb , Demetre Labadariosc aExecutive Director: Informatics and Knowledge Management, South African Medical Research Council and Visiting Professor, Department of
Information Science, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
bProfessor and Director of Information and Knowledge Management Programmes, Department of Information Science, University of
Stellenbosch, South Africa
S3

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 4
S4
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
c Professor, Department of Human Nutrition , University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
ICT: New technologies, and their relevance, challenges and opportunities in the health sector / La technologie de l’information et de la
communication
Salah Mandil, Ph.D.
Vice President eStrategies, WiseKey S.A, Geneva, Switzerland
Capacity building for human rights using ICTs: lessons for nutrition programming / Développement de capacités en TIC: Leçons des
programmes de nutrition
Firoze Manji
The Micronutrient Initiative, Canada
PROFILES: A computer-based process for nutrition policy analysis and advocacy / Plaidoyer pour les décideurs politiques
R Mwadime 1 , J Ross 2 and H Stiefel 2
1 The Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care, Kampala, Uganda, 2 The Academy for Educational Development, Washington, DC, USA
IT and nutrition training / Le rôle de la TI dans la formation en nutrition
Britta Ogle, PhD
Dept of Rural Development Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
Information technology in nutrition research / La TI dans la recherche nutritionnelle
Adelheid W. Onyango, PhD
Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Food Composition Programme of AFROFOODS / Base de données sur la composition des aliments: AFROFOODS
HC Schönfeldt and SM van Heerden*
AFROFOODS coordinator, Centre for Nutrition, University of Pretoria, South Africa
*Animal Nutrition and Animal Products Institute, Agricultural Research Council. Private Bag X2, Irene, South Africa
IT an important tool in surveillance of food borne infections/intoxications and identification of contributing factors for outbreaks / La TI:
un outil important dans la surveillance des infections et intoxications alimentaires et dans l’identification des facteurs contribuant aux
épidémies
Walter E.L. Spiess
c/o Institut fuer Lebensmittelverfahrenstechnik, Universitaet Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe
Hardware, software, people-ware in nutrition / Matériel, logiciel et ressources humaines en nutrition
T Tylleskär
Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway
IT and nutrition in emergencies / La TI et la nutrition en situation précaire
Saskia van der Kam
Médecins Sans Frontières, Holland
The international nutrition community and information technology: Opportunity and responsibilities / La communauté internationale de
la nutrition en face de la TI: opportunités et responsabilités
Mark L. Wahlqvist, AO, MD, FRACP
President, International Union of Nutritional Sciences
IT as a tool for micronutrient nutrition program support in Africa / La TI comme un outil pour le soutien des programmes en nutrition de
micronutriments en Afrique
Kate Wild
Micronutrient Initiative, Canada
The role of FAO in information technology for the advancement of nutrition / Le rôle de la FAO en TI et le développement de la nutrition
Tanja Wildemann, FAO, Rome, Italy; DG Gustafson, FAO, Nairobi, Kenya
Computer-based tools for educating health professionals about nutrition / Produire du matériel pédagogique interactif
Steven H. Zeisel, MD, PhD
McGavran-Greenberg Building, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 5
IT: The role of palm technology in nutrition / Technologie de paume
J.H. Anderson, D. Belshawe, S.S. Mothapo, C. Phafane, E. Phokojoe, A.
Govender, B. Nillson, A. Cajada, A. Trowbridge, M. Read, A. Michie, E.
Wessels, H. Heymans, J. Niemand, E. Hartzenburg
Wilgivinfo Networking (SA), c/o Institute of Development Research, Oxford,
UK
Approximately 1-in-8 of Africa’s absolute poor (

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 6
S6
IT: Instrument privilégié pour la planification stratégique et la coordination
intersectorielle en matière de lutte contre la malnutrition
D. Berardi (1), A.Ag Iknane (2), M. Diarra (3)
(1) Dario Berardi, Director Data Analysis Support Center (DASC), Rome, Italy
(2) Akory Ag Iknane, Public Health Specialist, researcher in nutrition for the
National Research Institute in Public Health (INRSP), Mali
(3) Modibo Diarra, Head of the Unit for the Follow-up of Food and Nutrition
Situation (DSSAN), Mali
Au Mali, comme dans la plus part des pays en voie de développement, les
problèmes nutritionnels représentent un important défi: comment résoudre de
façon durable les problèmes de malnutrition face à une situation permanente
de pauvreté. En absence de solutions prouvées, un élément indispensable
d’une stratégie efficace et durable de lutte contre la malnutrition est la
coordination des intervenants et le partage de l’information entre tous les
intervenants, aussi bien dans le domaine de la recherche que des statistiques
et des interventions.
Le Mali a relevé le défi de la coordination en séparant les fonctions de
coordination intersectorielle et planification stratégique des fonctions
d’intervention et d’appui aux structures déconcentrées. Une Division du Suivi
de la Situation Alimentaire et Nutritionnelle (DSSAN) a été crée au sein de la
Cellule de Planification et Statistique (CPS) du Ministère de la Santé pour
s’occuper de la coordination intersectorielle et de la planification stratégique.
Pour atteindre ces objectifs, la DSSAN a beaucoup investi dans la Technologie
Informatique (IT) et ainsi a développé le Système d’Information pour le Suivi
des Interventions Alimentaires et Nutritionnelles et des Statistiques
(SISINAS), un Fond Documentaire sur l’alimentation, les pratiques
alimentaires, la nutrition et un Journal trimestriel “Les Echos du SISINAS”.
Le SISINAS et le Fond Documentaire utilisent un site web dynamique
(utilisant une banque de données en ACCESS (® Microsoft) et les Cold Fusion
Server Applications (® Macromedia) pour la mise à jour et la diffusion des
informations sur les interventions et la documentation, tandis qu’une version
en CD-ROM du SISINAS et le Journal sont les instruments de diffusion pour
les zones non connectées à Internet.
Le développement du SISINAS et du Fond Documentaire a débuté en mai
2002 et sa mise en route est prévu pour octobre 2002. Le choix de Internet vise
aussi le renforcement de la coordination et de l’échange d’informations au
niveau sous-régional.
IT in nutrition communication / La TI en communication nutritionnelle
Suzanne Elbon
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, USA
Instructional Technology (IT) provides an innovative approach to
communicate nutrition concepts in a way that is interactive and engaging,
compact, and economically reproducible.
Health and nutrition communication is a complex field requiring study and
practice, like epidemiology and laboratory science. Due to a lack of capacity,
many international micronutrient efforts either neglect communications, or
rely extensively on expensive consultants. IT products can play a role in
increasing awareness and participation of communication experts in nutrition
programs. These tools also enhance the understanding of nutrition program
managers about the need for communication to be an integral part of the
overall program.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed
CDCynergy for Micronutrients, a CD-Rom based tool designed to respond to
this need. CDCynergy expands nutrition communication planning capacity,
allowing international counterparts to plan and manage programs
competently on their own.
The CDC has also developed other instructional tools, such as MAPit
(Micronutrient Action Plan instructional tool) to be used as part of
epidemiology training programs. MAPit includes a component that teaches
epidemiologists and other health professionals about the crucial role of
nutrition communication within a micronutrient program.
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
The role of IT in dietary assessment / La TI dans l’évaluation diététique
J.G. Erhardt
Hohenheim University, Stuttgart, Germany
In this lecture different procedures to assess the dietary intake will be
presented. Since most of the procedures were developed in industrial
countries a focus of the presentation will be the applicability of these dietary
assessment methods for african countries. The methods can be differentiated
in prospective and retrospective methods. The most important are protocol
methods, 24 hour recalls, food frequencies and diet history methods. Each of
these methods have advantages and disadvantages which will be addressed in
detail during the presentation. To illustrate the methods a software will be
used which was developed by the speaker. The software is public domain and
can be downloaded at www.nutrisurvey.de.
IDPAS: Networking global expertise to expand research and action on
anaemia prevention and control/ IDPAS: Le Réseau Global d’expertise pour
l’extension de la recherche, du contrôle et de la prévention de l’anémie
Gary Gleason
International Nutrition Foundation, USA
Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) is Africa’s most widespread micronutrient
problem. IDA threatens the lives, health, cognitive, physical and social
performance and overall quality of life of infants, children, youth, adult
women and men across the continent. In recent years, technical consensus was
achieved in several areas needed to accelerate introduction and effective and
sustainable integration of the key interventions for prevent and control iron
deficiency anaemia. In May 2002, the United Nations General Assemble
ratified a document setting a target for all countries to reduce anaemia by 30%
during the current decade at the Special Session on Children.
Efforts to prevent iron deficiency are moving higher on the public health
agenda of many African countries and more concretely into national planning
strategies. This progress is causing a temporary but serious problem in many
countries and for those international agencies and NGOs support efforts to
prevent and control anaemia. Those with advocacy, organizational and
operational responsibilities for the multiple intervention strategies needed to
improve iron nutrition, often need detailed technical information, access to
ongoing advice and pragmatic operational experiences. Further complicating
overall efforts to prevent and control anaemia are the multiple, often poorly
connected sectors and groups involved. These may include millers and bakers
(cereal fortification), Government standards committees (regulatory and
monitoring roles) and health staff and NGOs (iron supplements and
improving diets through education). Successfully developing an overall
strategy to successfully address anaemia requires a spectrum of technical
information and experience that is most often beyond the expertise of any of
the specialists and project personnel working in this field.
Current information technologies, channels and access levels now available in
most African countries and experience in areas such as “applied knowledge
utilization” and “proactive networking” led to the development of the Iron
Deficiency Project Advisory Service (IDPAS) and “Iron World” as a global
network for technical information support and project level experience
exchange. Beginning in 2000 with grant support from the Micronutrient
Initiative, IDPAS Iron World focuses on iron nutrition and supports evidencebased
advocacy to improve national policies related to amenia control,
acceleration of pragmatic research and the strengthening and expansion of
field projects aimed at reducing iron deficiency in children and women in
developing countries.
The major strategy employed by IDPAS is a multi-channel, proactive network
that carries general and specifically requested technical information to
national and project level users and promotes facilitates sharing of
information among network users globally.
IDPAS Iron World developed direct channels with users in 49 countries, 18 in
Africa. Network channels for technical information and interaction on specific
technical and operational issues includes the world wide web, a series of
updated CD ROMs, e-mail, fax, telephone, post and courier. The network
operates without any fees or advertising and provides users with a fully
searchable database of over 1,100 references organized by topic, over 400 full
text chapters and articles, contacts for both other users and experts working on
iron nutrition and individualized rapid responses to both queries on technical
and project operations.
The first 12 months of IDPAS Iron World operations emphasized building and
devising an accessible, manageable, and up-to-date technical information

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 7
system comprehensively covering prevention and control of iron deficiency
research and interventions. This period also focused on promoting
participation and use of IDPAS services among international organizations,
NGOs, bilateral agencies, universities and project personnel throughout the
developing world.
The second, current phase of the project aims at extending Iron World much
more actively into field level project operations, in a number of selected
countries. The objectives are to supply specific information and technical
advice to more of those doing research, and supporting and implementing
interventions related to iron nutrition. However, this phase of network
development also aims toward developing more active “populating” Iron
World more information on the experience of its users and more active sharing
of experiences among them. To better balance information reports based on
laboratory and field research, IDPAS is actively exploring mechanisms aimed
at drawing out and sharing practical, field level operational experiences.
Initial efforts demonstrate the challenges of proactive networking. Identifying
the core group of those working on research and relevant projects in African
countries, reaching them by means other than an actual visit, and finding
effective and acceptable means for encouraging them to share experiences are
difficult.
The experiences of IDPAS in developing both a global technical information
service and in trying to develop a proactive networking model should be
useful for those working in several other technical fields of nutrition,
particularly if barriers to communication among those working in related
fields can be overcome and a genuine epistemic and virtual community can be
developed.
IT and food security / La TI dans l’évaluation de la sécurité alimentaire
Dr. Helen Hambly Odame
Research Officer
ISNAR (International Service for National Agricultural Research), The
Netherlands
The world has the tools, wealth, food and know-how to fight poverty and
hunger. This may be no surprise to those us who as individuals or
organizations work in nutrition and agricultural research and development.
Yet the extraordinary actions to prevent 800 million people in the world being
undernourished in 2010 are sadly lacking. The largest proportion of people
who suffer from this inaction lives in Africa.
To what extent can IT be an opportunity to achieve food security through
improved assessment and action? If less than one in one hundred Africans
have any access at all to a single modern information technology (i.e. a radio,
a telephone, a fax, the Internet, etc.) is IT the means for a digital divide or a
digital bridge?
The conceptual basis of this paper rests on the sharing of knowledge and
participatory assessment, and not the control and release of information. To
this end, the experiences of various international interventions related to IT
and nutrition in Africa are discussed. The agencies include the CTA, the
CGIAR, IICD, UNESCO, IDRC and others. Links with national partners in
Africa and the role of critical stakeholders such as rural women and youth are
emphasized. The paper concludes by suggesting that only if IT engages fully
with social communication and learning will it impact universal food security.
IT in nutritional status assessment / La TI dans l’évaluation nutritionnelle
Leif Hambræus, MD PhD
Professor emeritus, Unit for Preventive Nutrition, Dept of Bioscience,
Karolinska Institutet at Novum, Sweden
Too low as well as too high intakes of energy and nutrients may to some extent
be compensated by changes in body stores, reflected by changes in body
composition. However, sooner of later it leads to disturbances in the metabolic
regulation resulting into malnutrition disease. Deficiency of energy or one or
more nutrients, malnutrition minus, leads to more or less well-defined
deficiency diseases and increased susceptibility to infections. A surplus of
energy or nutrient intake also leads to long-term deleterious effects, often
referred to as malnutrition plus, i.e. obesity, cardiovascular disease.
Nutritional epidemiology depends on valid assessment of nutritional status of
individuals and populations. For any preventive health care measures, it is
essential to find methods to identify individuals and populations at risk at an
early stage. as well as exposure of individuals to various risk factors.
In the flow sheet of various methods and diagnostic tools used to assess
ABSTRACTS
nutritional status, the assessment of dietary intakes by various record and
recall methods may offer possibilities to identify risk groups at an early stage.
Changes in body composition as result of reduced stores of nutrients and
changed plasma levels may be used as biomarkers of potential malnutrition
before any clinical symptoms and signs have developed. Clinical data are,
however, relatively late results of malnutrition. The final outcome of the health
effect of malnutrition is revealed by morbidity and mortality data in health
statistics.
All above mentioned methods for assessment of nutritional status benefit from
the use of computer technology. Valid data on dietary intake are depending on
(1) accurate food databases available on the net or CD; and (2) data processing
procedures of results obtained from food questionnaires as well as dietary
records and recalls, to express the results in relation to recommended daily
allowances (RDA). Local or regional valid data on RDA should preferably be
used as references. Computer-assisted self-interviewing programs may prove
to be an economic approach to assess dietary intake not only of nutrients but
also of potential food-borne exposures in a population. In order to evaluate the
accuracy of dietary intake it is also essential to analyse body composition and
physical activities for indirect estimation of energy balance.
Specific computer assessment programs have also been developed for
assessment of nutritional status.. These are based on a number of
measurement techniques including nutrient intake, body composition data
and exercise. Many of the programmes take advantage of interactive health
communications technologies in order to screen multiple behaviours and
initiate interventions, for making nutrition and exercise plans for athletes as
well as patients. This also makes it possible to combine assessment of
nutritional status with nutrition education and information. It is understood
that health statistics comprising morbidity and mortality data in relation to
dietary intakes are almost completely depending on accurate data processing
procedures.
Information technology and use of computer analysis as well as interactive
communication technologies have the potential to eliminate and greatly
reduce many of the barriers to analyse nutrition assessment data and support
nutrition education of the public.
Communicating nutrition research: obstacles and opportunities through IT /
Communication de la recherche nutritionnelle: obstacles et opportunités par
la TI
Nik Harvey
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA
As nutrition researchers rise to face the challenges surrounding food policy
issues, information technology (IT) is greatly enhancing their work. IT is
revolutionizing the field by allowing for greater accuracy in data collection,
quicker information sharing and new methods of teaching and learning. IT is
also being introduced as a tool to effectively communicate nutrition research
and strengthen the linkage between nutrition science and public policy
formulation. The goal of IT is not simply wiring houses and classrooms; it is
bringing information to people whom are deprived of it.
The challenge for nutrition communications is to expand the use of IT in
regions where technology is limited, unreliable or too costly. Considering the
principles of techno-realism, it is important to note that IT is not the ultimate
solution to nutrition communications, and should not be the focal point of any
communications strategy for developing countries. IT should be viewed as a
means of assisting knowledge transfer, and augmenting communications.
Since usage of IT varies by location, it is also important to consider IT within
the capacity that it is available.
Communicating Nutrition to Policymakers
While improving nutrition appears to be a moral imperative, nutrition as a
means for economic and social development is an illusive concept for many
policymakers. To communicate nutrition requires information that “sells” the
issue, convincing policymakers and their advisors of its importance. Since
policymakers receive information from a variety of sources, the extent to
which policymakers use IT for nutrition information is debatable. However,
policy advisors are looking to IT for information, as well as traditional
mediums.
Communicating Urban Nutrition
Urban growth in developing countries affects nutrition, and many of these
countrys’ urban food security policies need to be reevaluated. Unfortunately,
communicating nutrition information is difficult because many urban
policymakers focus more on squalid environments, security and
infrastructure. As cities grow, urban food security is often crowded out of the
public policy agenda.
S7

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 8
S8
To address this dilemma, IFPRI is embarking on a project that includes IT for
communicating urban food and nutrition policy to a variety of audiences in
Africa, Asia and Latin America, through the use of traditional and new IT
channels. This project attempts to explore the benefits brought about by IT in
effectively communicating urban food and nutrition policy research. Many of
these channels flow through intermediaries whom interact with policymakersadvisors,
NGOs and the public. Uses of IT within the project include:
- Online portals that allow for information sharing between NGOs that have
close ties with policymakers,
- Improved information display using more complex visuals and sounds,
- In cooperation with Worldspace Foundation, build opportunities for the
public to listen to nutrition programming via a satellite broadcast to wireless
radio receivers.
Despite the benefits of using IT to communicate nutrition to policymakers, IT
cannot replace personal interactions. The ability to shake hands and share
ideas lends to an effective experience of information transfer between the
sender and receiver. Despite IT’s limitations, the development of projects such
as Internet2 are creating a more personal communications environment
through IT, and may open up avenues that will one day deliver information
directly to a policymaker’s desk.
Communication and connectivity in Africa / Communication et connectivité
en Afrique
Michael Jensen, South Africa
The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in general has
grown rapidly in most urban areas in Africa. As an indication, only four years
ago a handful of countries had local Internet access, now the Internet is
available in every capital city. There are now as many mobile cell phones on
the continent as there are fixed lines, hundreds of new local and community
radio stations have been licensed, and satellite TV is now also widely
available.
The number of dialup Internet subscribers now stands at over 1.3 million, up
from about 1 milion at the end of 2000. The total international incoming
Internet bandwidth is now well over 1 gigabyte per second, while outgoing
traffic is estimated at about 800Mbps.
But although these encouraging trends have emerged in the last few years, the
differences between the development levels of Africa and the rest of the world
are still wider in the area of ICTs than they are using more traditional measures
of development: Of the 770 million people in Africa:
1 in 13 have a TV (50m)
1 in 40 have a fixed line (20m)
1 in 40 have a GSM line (20m)
1 in 130 have a PC (5.9m)
1 in 150 use the Internet (5.5m)
1 in 400 have pay-TV (2m)
More widespread access has also been constrained by a number of issues,
including a low density of telephone lines and the poor quality of the ageing
copper infrastructure; expensive international connections for Internet Service
Providers; and a tight control over the telecommunications and Internet
market which frequently remains under monopoly control. Investment in
rural areas, where the majority of the population lives, has been particularly
low.
Irregular or non-existent electricity supplies are a common feature and a major
barrier to use of the Internet, especially outside the major towns. Many
countries have extremely limited power distribution networks, which do not
penetrate significantly into rural areas, and power sharing (regular power
outages for many hours) is a common occurrence, even in some capital cities
such as Accra, Dar es Salaam and Lagos. Furthermore, most tax regimes still
treat ICTs as luxury items, which makes these almost exclusively imported
commodities all the more expensive, and thus unobtainable by the majority.
However, there is now increasing tendency to open up the markets to enable
more widespread Internet access, and there are newer technologies that are
particularly appropriate. These include the use of VSAT (very small aperture
terminal) satellite systems; and the use of radio links for short and medium
distance.
New moves on the sub-continent towards the provision of public access
facilities are also proving effective, as these can provide web access to meet a
wide range of needs.
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
Nutrition networking in West Africa and the role of information technology
Dado Kagnassy Sy, Chef de la Division Nutrition, Ministère de la Santé
Publique, Mali; Kabba T. Joiner, Directeur Général, Organisation Ouest
Africaine de la Santé; Shawn K. Baker, Directeur Régional pour l’Afrique,
Helen Keller International; Serigne Mbaye Diène, Conseiller Régional
Nutrition, BASICS II
The 15 nations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS,
comprising Benin, Burkina Faso, Cap Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia,
Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra
Leone and Togo) have a combined population of 227 million of whom 41
million are under 5, this represents over 1 / 4 of the population of Africa, and
includes Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone countries. The average
under 5 mortality for the regional is 185 per 1,000 and protein energy
malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are major contributors to this rate.
It is estimated that vitamin A deficiency alone contributes to 228,000 deaths
per year in the region. Since 1995, the Centre Régional de Recherches en
Alimentation et Nutrition (CRAN), a structure of the Organisation pour la
Cooperation et la Coordination de Lutte Contre les Grandes Endémies (OCCGE) has
worked with partners and member states to create a network of nutrition focal
points, which serves as a vehicle for documenting and sharing experiences in
nutrition and reinforcing regional and national capacities. The network
originally covered the nine countries of the OCCGE (all Francophone) but has
expanded to all 15 ECOWAS members in 1999. In 2000, the two regional health
organizations of ECOWAS (one Anglophone and one Francophone) were
merged into the West African Health Organization (WAHO) and WAHO has
taken the lead in organizing the network and adopted nutrition as one of its
eight priority program areas. Successes include inclusion of vitamin A into
National Immunization Days (NIDs) in all 15 countries, editing of a document
on best practices in vitamin A in Africa, annual focal point meetings,
promotion of national micronutrient days, developing food fortification
strategies and advocacy, promotion of PROFILES for nutrition advocacy,
strengthening Information, Education and Communication strategies and
editing of a bi-weekly, e-mail-based nutrition news letter (Nutrition News for
Africa) in English and French. Information Technologies play an increasingly
important role in maintaining and growing the network. The presentation will
focus on methods used to build and maintain the network, the role of
information technologies, outcomes and lessons learned, and future
directions. Partners include several USAID-funded projects (BASICS II,
FANTA, LINKAGES, MOST, SANA, SARA), UNICEF, Helen Keller
International, the Micronutrient Initiative, the World Health Organization and
the World Bank.
Le réseautage pour la nutrition en Afrique de l’ouest et le rôle des nouvelles
technologies de l’information
Dado Kagnassy Sy, Chef de la Division Nutrition, Ministère de la Santé
Publique, Mali; Kabba T. Joiner, Directeur Général, Organisation Ouest
Africaine de la Santé ; Shawn K. Baker, Directeur Régional pour l’Afrique,
Helen Keller International; Serigne Mbaye Diène, Conseiller Régional
Nutrition, BASICS II.
Les 15 pays de la Communauté Economique des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest
(CEDEAO est composée du Bénin, du Burkina Faso, du Cap Vert, de la Côte
d’Ivoire, de la Gambie, du Ghana, de la Guinée, de la Guinée Bissau, du
Libéria, du Mali, du Niger, du Nigéria, du Sénégal, de la Sierra Leone et du
Togo) ont une population globale de 227 millions d’habitants dont 41 millions
ont moins de 5 ans; ceci représente plus d’un quart de la population de
l’Afrique et regroupe les pays anglophones, francophones et lusophones. Le
taux moyen de la mortalité infanto-juvénile pour la région est de 185 pour
1 000 et la malnutrition protéino-énergétique et les carences en
micronutriments en sont les causes majeures. On estime que la carence en
vitamine A à elle seule, contribue à 228 000 morts décès par an dans la région.
Depuis 1995, le Centre Régional de Recherches en Alimentation et Nutrition
(CRAN), une des structures de l’Organisation pour la Coopération et la
Coordination de Lutte Contre les Grandes Endémies (OCCGE) a travaillé en
collaboration avec certains partenaires et des états membres afin d’établir un
réseau de points focaux nutrition, qui servirait de véhicule pour la
documentation et le partage des expériences en matière de nutrition et
renforcerait les capacités régionales et nationales. A l’origine le réseau
comptait les neuf pays de l’OCCGE (tous francophones) mais s’est étendu en
1999 aux 15 pays membres de la CEDEAO. En 2000, les deux organisations
régionales de la santé de la CEDEAO (une anglophone et une francophone)
ont fusionné pour créer l’Organisation Ouest Africaine de la Santé (OOAS).
L’OOAS a pris la direction de l’organisation de ce réseau et a retenu la
nutrition comme l’un de ses huit programmes prioritaires. Parmi les succès
réalisés : dans les 15 pays l’intégration de la distribution de la vitamine A lors

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 9
des Journées Nationales de Vaccinations (JNV), la parution d’un document sur
les meilleures pratiques concernant l’utilisation de la vitamine A en Afrique,
les rencontres annuelles des points focaux, la promotion des journées
nationales pour les micronutriments, le développment des stratégies et des
plaidoyers sur la fortification alimentaire, la promotion des PROFILES pour le
plaidoyer en matière de nutrition, le renforcement des stratégies
d’information, d’éducation et de communication et la parution d’un
bimensuel envoyé par email sous la forme d’une lettre d’information sur la
nutrition (Nutrition News for Africa) en anglais et en français. Les
technologies de l’information jouent un rôle de plus en plus important dans
l’entretien et l’expansion de ce réseau. La présentation insistera sur les
méthodes utilisées pour construire et entretenir le réseau, sur le rôle des
technologies de l’information, les résultats et les leçons apprises, ainsi que les
directions futures. Parmi les partenaires il faut citer plusieurs projets financés
par l’USAID (BASICS II, FANTA, LINKAGES, MOST, SANA, SARA),
l’UNICEF, Helen Keller International, l’Initiative pour les Micronutriments,
l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé et la Banque Mondiale.
The role of IT in nutrition education / Le rôle de la TI en éducation
nutritionnelle
KM Kolasa
Nutrition Services and Patient Education, Brody School of Medicine at East
Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
In the mid 1990’s the use of IT in nutrition education seemed like an
impossible dream not only to nutrition educators in the developing countries,
but also those in North America and Europe. The barriers of time, money and
computer access seemed overwhelming. International and government
agencies were challenged to create opportunities for nutrition educators to use
both stand-alone programs as well as email and the World Wide Web. 1 Today,
nutrition educators are using IT throughout the world. Most African
universities are internet connected. And, educators have demonstrated that
people of all ages, gender and literacy levels can use and learn from these
programs2,3 While it is easier to use IT for nutrition education than it was in the mid 1990’s,
no major new functional innovations have emerged. Yet, IT may be
underutilized in nutrition education. Optimal use, however, has not been
defined. For now, it is how nutrition educators use IT technology, not the
technology that is most important The stand-alone programs remain best for
delivering graphics and video; as well as for audiences with limited reliable
and affordable Web access. Benefits of stand-alones will be illustrated from the
Nutrition in Medicine cd-rom series (http://www.med.unc.edu/nutr/nim)
The Web provides opportunities and challenges. Rapid access to information
is a real promise of the Web but it has not been delivered yet. Teachers no
longer are information gatekeepers but have become guides. It is a significant
challenge is to guide learners away from nutrition misinformation found on
the Web or forwarded through Listserves. North American examples (e.g.
Nutrition Navigator http:// http://navigator.tufts.edu/; a password
protected Food Literacy BlackBoard course http://ecu.blackboard.com) will
be used to demonstrate types of responses nutrition educators/institutions
can make. The world-wide nutrition education community is relatively small.
The resources required for IT are large and sharing must become a greater part
of the nutrition education world. One example of sharing will be
demonstrated by the Physicians Curriculum in Clinical Nutrition passwordprotected
web site. Tailoring information for individuals is in its infancy but
holds enormous promise. Examples such as Healthy Eating Index
(http://147.208.9.133) and the Shape Up America! (http://www.shapeup.org)
online weight class will be used to illustrate. Another example to demonstrate
challenges and opportunities for nutrition educators include the web based
Dietary Guidelines for Americans continuing education course
(http://www.dga2000training.usda.gov). Evaluation of behavior changes
remains challenging. Issues will be explored.
1. Kolasa KM. New developments in computer-mediated technology for nutrition
education. FAO Nutrition Paper Series, 1996; No. 59,pp. 33-36, 42.
2. Kolasa KM. Images of nutrition in medical education and primary care. Am J Clinical
Nutrition, 2001;73:1006-1009.
3. Gould SM, Anderson J. Using interactive multimedia nutrition education to reach
low-income persons: an effectiveness evaluation. J Nutrition Education. 2000;32: 204-
213.
ABSTRACTS
Producing web sites / Créer les sites Web
Jean-Charles Le Vallée
Food Security Guide for the Development Gateway, World Bank, USA
This presentation addresses the development of web sites for a nutrition
audience, an area still in its infancy, with few lessons learnt to draw upon. The
presentation reviews steps for web site production from planning to
maintenance, and offers ways of avoiding common problems.
Much web site production for the implementation of learning tools,
information sharing, statistics, news, or research, requires initial planning such
as a concept paper analyzing the potential audience and its needs. An IT
project calls for resources, time, people and selection of staff. Content and web
site development are key, but design, testing and validation are paramount.
What works and why depends on a strong plan and good marketing. Which
software or hardware to use? What type of server do I need? In the rush to
start up, the costs of sustaining an effective site are often underestimated.
This presentation is based upon lessons learned from 6 websites related to
food and nutrition security, from 1995 to today, the most recent being the Food
Security web site at the Development Gateway. The presentation will be given
in two parts: the first in French, discusses typical steps and challenges in
producing web sites; and the second half of the presentation, in English,
reviews a series of lessons learnt, how certain problems can be addressed and
future opportunities. The presentation will provide a broad overview for those
who wish to set up web sites on nutrition.
The concept of knowledge networks in Africa – an enabling tool for
knowledge management in the field of nutrition, with specific reference to
SA HealthInfo / Le concept des connaissances des réseaux en Afrique
Jacobus Adriaan Louwa , Benjamin Fouchéb , Demetre Labadariosc aExecutive Director: Informatics and Knowledge Management, South African
Medical Research Council and Visiting Professor, Department of Information
Science, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
bProfessor and Director of Information and Knowledge Management
Programmes, Department of Information Science, University of Stellenbosch,
South Africa
cProfessor, Department of Human Nutrition , University of Stellenbosch, South
Africa
This paper introduces the concept of a knowledge network as an enabling tool
for improved knowledge management in the field of Nutrition in Africa, with
specific reference to the planning and development of the South African
national health knowledge network — SA HealthInfo.
A knowledge network is aimed at facilitating the needs of certain communities
of end-users and stimulates the process of innovation within a particular
system, thereby also improving decision making. The methodology is in
essence based on the principles of knowledge management and the drivers of
a system of innovation.
Knowledge management has become the buzzword in modern management
of organisations. The challenge exists to design systems that will also cater for
knowledge creation, conversion and flow in a larger system of innovation —
using a knowledge-network approach. The South African Medical Research
Council (MRC) has designed such a model for inter-institutional knowledge
management in the health system. It received funding from the South African
Government’s Innovation Fund via the Department of Arts, Culture, Science
and Technology to establish, in collaboration with partners, a National Health
Knowledge Network (trademark SA HealthInfo). The SA HealthInfo
knowledge network, aims to provide a one-stop interactive forum/resource,
for quality-controlled and evidence-based health research information, to a
wide spectrum of users, at various levels of aggregation, with the necessary
security arrangements and facilities for interaction among users to promote
explicit (codified) and tacit knowledge flow.
The SA HealthInfo knowledge network, which uses Internet portal technology
and is available on the Internet at http://www.sahealthinfo.org, caters for the
needs of epistemic communities and communities of practice through the
creation of Modules — content-specific mini information clearinghouses —
and provides relevant services. It has developed a specific Nutrition Module,
catering for various audiences. This Module, which can be directly accessed at
http://www.sahealthinfo.org.nutrition/nutrition.htm, focuses on South
African nutrition information, based on peer-reviewed research. Nutrition
information is organised under the following groupings: online documents of
interest to the public; nutritional software and databases; collaboration tools;
and, related sites.
S9

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 10
S10
This paper provides insight into the development of the SA HealthInfo
knowledge network, the rationale behind the design of the system and share
experiences as regards the development of the Nutrition Module. It also
reflects on the experience as regards the use of such systems in a developingworld
context, ICT issues at stake and the need to interact with other relevant
gateways and portal initiatives.
ICT: New technologies, and their relevance, challenges and opportunities in
the health sector / La technologie de l’information et de la communication
Salah Mandil, Ph.D.
Vice President eStrategies, WiseKey S.A, Geneva, Switzerland
The past 20 or so years have been rich with excitement and unequivocal
expressions of the importance of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT) to the health sector. The material of discussion groups,
workshops and conferences abound with that excitement and, though to a
lesser extent, examples of the uses of such ICT tools in heath care have also
been reported. In more recent years, the excitement has multiplied with the
emergence of new Clinical and Health Care Technologies and Practices, so
much that some hail it as an emerging New Healthcare Paradigm.
This invited address will highlight the most important of these new ICT and
ICT-based technologies, and point out the extent to which these are relevant to
the industrially developing countries. Actual examples, exclusively from
developing countries, will be briefly described in testimony to the views. The
examples will include applications in clinical care, knowledge-based systems,
surveillance and the management of health care services. The address will
also highlight the current challenges that have to be tackled, and the
opportunities that could and should be grabbed to cultivate these ICT
technologies for the achievement of equitable and quality health care services
especially to the under-served communities.
Capacity building for human rights using ICTs: lessons for nutrition
programming / Développement de capacités en TIC: Leçons des programmes
de nutrition
Firoze Manji
The Micronutrient Initiative, Canada
This presentation will describe the ways in which Fahamu has sought to use
ICTs for strengthening the campaigning, advocacy and organisational
capacities of human rights organisations in southern Africa. The project1 arose
from detailed investigations in the region of their training needs and
constraints to accessing ICTs. Access to the Web is problematic for most
organisations in the region because of high costs, low bandwidth and poor
telephone connections. As an alternative, we have developed interactive
CDROM-based learning materials for distance learning, with tutoring support
provided via email and regional face-to-face workshops. Courses developed
include: fact-finding and investigation; human rights monitoring and
evaluation; campaigning, advocacy and lobbying; leadership and
management; financial management; fundraising; using the internet for
research and advocacy; and training of trainers. The strategy in the
development of these courses has been to use ICTs as a complement, rather
than a substitute, for direct human interaction.
Lack of access to the web also creates serious difficulties for human rights
organisations in accessing information and news about what is happening in
the region. We therefore developed a weekly electronic newsletter covering
some 20 topics as diverse as conflict, human rights, development,
environment, health, social welfare, books and arts, internet resources. The
newsletter provides a weekly summary of developments on these subjects.
The initiative has been hugely popular, with the subscriber based growing
from 300 to nearly 8000 in a year.
The key to the success of these initiatives has been to invest efforts to ensure a
clear understanding of the needs of the target constituency, both in relation to
their training needs and their need for information.
Similar programmes could be realistically adopted for nutrition programming
based on a careful assessment of the needs of that constituency, and the
recruitment of appropriate experts to develop effective materials.
1
The ‘Adilisha Project’ is supported by grants from the European Union, the British Department for
International Development, and the Canadian International Development Research Centre
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
PROFILES: A computer-based process for nutrition policy analysis and
advocacy / Plaidoyer pour les décideurs politiques
R Mwadime 1 , J Ross 2 and H Stiefel 2 1 The Regional Centre for Quality of Health
Care, Kampala, Uganda, 2 The Academy for Educational Development,
Washington, DC, USA
PROFILES is a process for nutrition policy analysis and advocacy that uses
spreadsheet models to estimate the functional consequences of malnutrition in
terms that policy makers understand and care about. Nutritional problems
addressed include sub-optimal infant feeding practices, underweight,
stunting, iron-deficiency, vitamin A deficiency and iodine deficiency. Using
local demographic, economic and nutrition data, the consequences of these
problems are quantified in terms of performance, health and survival. The
implications for economic development, education and the health sector are
emphasised.
The PROFILES process typically includes the following steps: 1) identification
of nutrition policy reform priorities; 2) use of spreadsheet models to quantify
the potential gains in health, survival and economic productivity due to
feasible improvements in nutrition; 3) development of a long term strategy for
policy dialogue that uses these estimates to argue for increased investment in
key nutrition interventions; and 4) preparation of computer-based and other
policy communication tools to advance these arguments. These activities
typically occur during a 2-week workshop involving 10 - 15 local nutrition
advocates and up to 3 facilitators.
PROFILES has been used in over 20 countries worldwide. A recent review of
PROFILES experience in Africa has led to a number of suggestions for
improving the process, including paying greater attention to step 1 (see above)
and doing more to ensure continuity after the initial workshop. In addition to
some important policy successes, PROFILES has been credited with helping to
establish or strengthen nutrition networks, increase capacity, and identify
information gaps.
Future plans include the addition of models that quantify between
malnutrition and chronic diseases, increasing regional institutional capacity to
facilitate the PROFILES process, increasing the number and variety of
communication channels used, and making the process more flexible and
adaptable to decentralised (community or district-level) decision making.
IT and nutrition training / Le rôle de la TI dans la formation en nutrition
Britta Ogle, PhD
Dept of Rural Development Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
Trainers throughout history have made use of new technologies to stimulate
interest and to facilitate learning. Educational theories for some time have
emphasised relevance, problem-based approaches and learner-centered
training. Nutrition falls within the responsibility of many disciplines. Relevant
nutrition training requires preparing trainees in assessment and analysis of
nutrition-related community health and food problems, conducting relevant
research, implementing nutrition activities, educating the population and
evaluating institutions, policies and actions.
Young people in the South who are now training as nutritionists, doctors,
nurses, agronomists and food scientists are facing tremendous challenges as
decision makers and resource persons in their own countries. All efforts to
strengthen the capacity of these professionals are of outmost importance for
improvements in nutrition and the use of IT must be part of this.
Developments in the field of modern information technologies (IT) have been
dramatic and offers many opportunities for academic trainers world-wide. For
once the South and the North have the possibility to a more equal access to
new research findings, new discoveries within the subject area, more equal
access to debates, dialogues, conferences and informal exchange of
information and ideas. An increasing number of software applications are
available for both staff and students to use in numerous ways for individual
learning, for communication, in field projects, distance training or
examination. What advantages can this bring to nutrition training and what
changes are required in nutrition training to make optimal use of these
technologies, especially in the South?
A key group to reach are academicians at university departments or similar
institutions in the South, who are actively involved in higher nutrition training
of nutritionists, medical or other health professionals, or food scientists or
nutrition in agriculture professionals. The Global NutrITion programme is
designed specifically for this target group. It combines an updating of current
nutrition concerns with computer skills training and provides a basis for

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 11
stronger networks among academic trainers through the use of IT. Trainers get
opportunities to use numerous available soft ware applications, test problem
based learning, web-based distance training and web conferencing, discuss
computer pedagogics and produce computer assisted learning materials. The
lecture will raise key issues on IT in nutrition training in the South on the basis
of experiences from the Global NutrITion programme.
Information technology in nutrition research / La TI dans la recherche
nutritionnelle
Adelheid W. Onyango, PhD
Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, World Health
Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
A research project advances in various stages, from formulating a hypothesis
through designing the investigation, drawing a sample, collecting and
analyzing data, writing up the research report to getting it published. IT is
relevant to each of these stages of research.
Interest in a specific research question is often provoked by something one
observes or reads about. The logical next step is to attempt an understanding
of what is already known about the subject. Given the limited selection of print
journals available in African universities and research institutions, IT can serve
a pivotal role as a source of information. The occasional researcher can access
a limited scope of scientific literature on the internet. However, individuals
and institutions engaged in research have the option of subscribing to
electronic scientific journals. In this respect, the recently launched internet
initiative, “Access to Research” for developing countries is good news for
biomedical researchers in Africa. The initiative makes more than two thousand
journals available free or at significantly reduced charges to institutions
in eligible countries (See Health InterNetwork website:
http://www.healthinternetwork.org).
Once relevant literature has been reviewed, the hypothesis or research
question formulated and a study design chosen, the researcher has to
determine, adapt and refine methods and obtain study equipment if required.
IT can be a useful search tool for contact addresses of researchers that one may
wish to consult with and companies that supply the equipment required for
the study (e.g., http://www.google.com).
Data management and analysis require a computer, and with an internet link,
one could download programmes for data management and analysis. A good
example is Epi Info, a programme developed by the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, and available free of charge. This programme has
modules for calculating sample size, designing a questionnaire that forms a
template for data entry, can be set up to check consistency of data and includes
some analysis routines. Epi Info should be of special interest to Nutrition
researchers using anthropometry as it calculates anthropometric indicators for
children and adolescents (http://www.cdc.gov/epiinfo).
Research results need to be disseminated through publication, and many peer
review journals now require electronic submission of manuscripts, a
development that greatly speeds up correspondence with reviewers and
editors, thanks to IT. In addition to print journals, it is now possible to publish
in electronic research archives such as the one launched by the Lancet in 1999
for purposes of publishing research that does not make it to the print journal
but which is of interest to, for example, regional readership. Other outlets for
research are databases maintained by United Nations agencies and others. The
Department of Nutrition for Health and Development at WHO maintains six
databases on different subjects in nutrition. The most widely used among
them is the Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition
(http://www.who.int/nutgrowthdb/).
Although Africa is far behind the industrialized world in access to IT, a single
internet connection in a given institution can facilitate access by thousands of
researchers and students to information that has potential to change the
quality of research and the efficiency and scale of its dissemination. The
opportunities offered by IT are a capital challenge to every researcher on this
continent to radically improve the quantity and quality of African research by
African researchers.
Food Composition Programme of AFROFOODS / Base de données sur la
composition des aliments: AFROFOODS
HC Schönfeldt and SM van Heerden*
AFROFOODS coordinator, Centre for Nutrition, University of Pretoria, South
Africa
*Animal Nutrition and Animal Products Institute, Agricultural Research
Council. Private Bag X2, Irene, South Africa
ABSTRACTS
During the African Food and Nutrition congress held in Harare, Zimbabwe in
1988 the following problems were identified namely: Inadequate or complete
lack of food composition tables in a number of African countries; incomplete
and poor quality of available food composition data; lack of necessary
equipment and human resources for food analysis activities; lack of
coordination at regional and sub regional levels; lack of a forum for the
exchange of information in the area of food composition. An African Network
of Food Data System (AFROFOODS) as part of INFOODS (International
Network of Food Data Systems) was established in September 1994 in Ghana.
This was followed by a meeting in Dakar (Ghana) during May 1995 during
which activities was reestablished. Capacity building and training in
analytical methods and compilation of food composition data were identified
as a pre-requisite for progress during both meetings. During a workshop in
Cape Town, South Africa (6-8 May 1996) a module on Food Composition and
Hygiene for an M Sc in Food and Nutrition Sciences in developing countries
for the Network of European Agricultural Universities (NATURA) - NECTAR
group on as part of a EU-financed programme was drawn up. The module
was based on the existing Food Composition Course of Wageningen
Agricultural University and was first tested in South Africa during 1997 in
Cape Town. The 1st ECSAFOODS course on the Production and Use of Food
Composition Data in Nutrition was held from 23 June to 11 July 1997 at the
University of the Western Cape, the 2nd ECSAFOODS course was held from
5 – 27 June 1999 at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in Pretoria, South
Africa. A third ECSAFOODS course will be held from 14 October 2002 to
1 November 2002 in Pretoria, South Africa. AFROFOODS seem to lag behind
other data centers with regard to the progress they have made during the same
time period. Capacity building in the AFROFOODS region stays one of the
mayor priorities for the immediate future, to equip people to assist their own
countries in reaching the ultimate goal of being able to compile good quality
food composition tables that reflect the individual food components in the diet
of the different people within the country.
IT an important tool in surveillance of food borne infections/intoxications
and identification of contributing factors for outbreaks / La TI: un outil
important dans la surveillance des infections et intoxications alimentaires et
dans l’identification des facteurs contribuant aux épidémies
Walter E.L. Spiess
c/o Institut fuer Lebensmittelverfahrenstechnik, Universitaet Karlsruhe,
Karlsruhe
In the last decade the contamination of food with several dangerous
pathogenic micro-organism has reached a dimension that it has to be
considered as a serious health threat to the consumer. In order to deal
successfully with this situation it is important to understand precisely the
dimensions of the problem and the various causes of the problem.
One of the prerequisites of a problem definition are national foodborne
diseases surveillance systems on the basis of a mandatory notification of
foodborne diseases outbreaks, surveillance data from national reference
laboratories and e.g. national hospital networks. Besides the notification of
cases of foodborne diseases, confirmed causative agents in foodborne
outbreaks, incriminated foods and confirmed or suspected causative agents, as
well as outbreaks by places where food was acquired or eaten and
contributing factors have to be reported.
Such surveillance systems require a rather complicated infrastructure which is
based amongst others on a sophisticated IT system/Network.
On the basis of individual national reports and the 7th Report of the WHO
Surveillance Progamme for Control of Food borne Infections and Intoxication
in Europe surveillance systems are presented and data obtained within the
frame of such systems are discussed with respect of ensuring food safety and
food hygiene.
Hardware, software, people-ware in nutrition / Matériel, logiciel et
ressources humaines en nutrition
T Tylleskär
Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway
In the 70’s it was suggested that the ‘developing countries’ should not
necessary follow the technological development of the so-called ‘western
countries’. The idea of “appropriate technology” was widely supported in
discussions on global development. Another thirty years of development has
demonstrated that the technological advances are unifying all countries into
the same technological development. Mobile phones could easily have been
S11

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 12
S12
dismissed as ‘inappropriate’ in developing countries some decades ago. Now
we see that wireless technology decreases the infrastructural needs in
resource-poor settings.
The IT revolution is similarly a technologically unifying concept, which may
actually provide an opportunity for training institutions in low-income
countries to catch up on their fellow universities in richer countries. Which are
the key factors to promote such a development?
The first key factor is hardware. It is necessary for the African universities to
mobilise resources to connect to the global internet at to provide affordable
connections for both the departments, staff and students.
The second key factor is the software. The more internet-based the activities are,
the lower the cost for software.
The most crucial factor is the people-ware. The faculty members in the
universities must acquire the knowledge on how to use the new technology
both for teaching and research, a second ‘literacy campaign’ must be carried
out and the senior university leaders must be converted to the idea that IT can
really make a difference for their university. Providing simple IT courses for
university leaders and heads of departments is therefore a strategic move. The
students are learning the same things by the extensive use of email and
internet facilities. The next step is to make available the teaching information
on internet and in this way improve efficiency at the training institutions. The
last step is to establish production sites in Africa for appropriate interactive
training material so that the training material reflects the challenges of the
professional life in the Africa.
IT and nutrition in emergencies / La TI et la nutrition en situation précaire
Saskia van der Kam
Médecins Sans Frontières, Holland
Dare to share
During the last days we learned what smart software can offer us as it
comes to improving assessments, analysis of data, and access to dedicated
information, and networking.
However the real challenge is how we share he results/outcomes of the
information generated by the user of these new technologies.
For that reason I would like to refer to my current experience of internet
based knowledge-sharing platforms. The NutritionNET is an interactive
web-based platform for individuals and groups involved in the food and
nutrition sector in the emergency and development aid sector. The
overarching goal is to improve the quality of food and nutrition
interventions worldwide by promotion of improved interagency cooperation
between professionals. Participants are field workers from UN
agencies and NGO’s (local and international); researchers lectures and
students from academic institutes, specialist working groups (e.g. SCN
working groups), and individual nutritionist world wide (e.g. consultants).
Participants in NutritionNET have access to information and they can share
and manage their own information and discussions by creating their own
knowledge clusters and/or participating in existing knowledge clusters.
Such a system is different form existing web-sites who envisage the
downloading of information in ready to consume parts, where as
NutritionNET.net is a working area, where participants are supposed to
contribute to the platform, process this information, and manage the access
to their knowledge and discussions.
The NutritionNET developed out of an existing nutrition network of experts
working in the area of emergency aid. NutritionNET is answering the need
to communicate with peers on problems met in the field. NutritionNET
offers as well a platform for discussions between professionals on
interventions strategies in certain areas, research findings, articles,
guidelines, protocols and products. A high participation of professionals
(academic and field workers) from the affected countries itself is essential to
arrive at sensible interventions and to improve capacity building in the
regions itself.
The NutritionNET began in March 2002 when the interactive system was
presented at the SCN (UN Standing Committee on Nutrition) year-meeting
in Berlin.
The problems we face around food and nutrition are multi-factorial, the
solutions multidiciplinary. In order to progress we should share our
discussions and problems to other professional groups.
NutritionNET is the perfect tool for sharing information, creating and
capturing nutritional expertise, but only the commitment and active
participation of nutritional professionals can fully explore the benefits of the
possibilities of new technologies. IT makes knowledge sharing possible, it is
up to the nutrition community to make it really happen.
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
The international nutrition community and information technology:
Opportunity and responsibilities / La communauté internationale de la
nutrition en face de la TI: opportunités et responsabilités
Mark L. Wahlqvist, AO, MD, FRACP
President, International Union of Nutritional Sciences
One of the best opportunities now available for human development is
provided by the conjunction of several rapidly developing technologies –
information technology, biotechnology, food technology, nuclear technology,
and nano-technology. In a village where literacy rates remain low, where
rainfall and agricultural production are limited, and where hunger,
malnutrition and infection are rife, it may seem these technologies are
irrelevant. But they can be made appropriate, provide empowerment, and
speed up economic development, with superior systems of governance.
ITANA (Information Technology and Nutrition in Africa) is an exciting
initiative of young multi-skilled and talented individuals, enthused by science
and technology, disseminating and enjoying the fruits of information, and
seizing the moment to shake off the shackles of poverty and disadvantage.
The IUNS (International Union of Nutritional Sciences) strongly supports this
regional development, and kindred developments in Asia and Latin America.
It has affiliated ITANA with the IUNS family of organizations.
With the privilege of knowledge and skill in the combined fields of food,
health and nutrition, together with information science and technology, goes
great responsibility to ensure benefit is obtained by individuals and
communities whose health and economic advancement has been limited.
Those who can contribute, must, or be held accountable by subsequent
generations.
Africa will shortly host the Johannesburg Conference for the World Summit on
Sustainable Development (WSSD) from 24 August to 5 September 2002.
ITANA could play a key role in making the case for concerted action in this
area. Encouraging are the recently published ICSU (International Council for
Science) reports which demonstrate a strong commitment by the international
science and technology community to sustainable development.
There appears to be a gathering coalition to embrace science and technology,
along with good governance, to provide for a more food, health, economic and
environmentally secure future.
IT as a tool for micronutrient nutrition program support in Africa / La TI
comme un outil pour le soutien des programmes en nutrition de
micronutriments en Afrique
Kate Wild
Micronutrient Initiative, Canada
A number of key factors must be considered if ICTs are to provide effective
support to micronutrient nutrition programming and implementation in
Africa. These include, inter alia:
• institutional actors (international organisations, governmental and nongovernmental,
governments, universities and research centres, ngos,
professional associations);
• program foci (policy, advocacy, training, operations);
• information needs (defined in terms of information types, issues, formats
and audiences);
• availability of ICTs and connectivity;
• policies to extend connectivity either at national level or within
government ministries;
• capacities of participating organisations to use ICTs and to envisage
innovative applications to meet their own needs.
The strategic introduction of ICTs often requires that two approaches be
followed simultaneously. In the first place focused, targeted interventions
build on existing information resources by exploiting technologies that are
available and accessible to solve specific problems. At the same time, longerterm
measures are required to identify high impact information, the blockages.
The shorter-term actions will help shape longer-term programs and create
capacities to use their products and services. The combination of short-term
actions and longer term planning allows for the progressive scaling up and
extension of ICT applications.
The scope of the programming exercise will determine the exact mix of factors
to be incorporated into the supporting ICT strategy. This presentation will
focus on the example of the Micronutrient Initiative.

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 13
The role of FAO in information technology for the advancement of nutrition
/ Le rôle de la FAO en TI et le développement de la nutrition
Tanja Wildemann, FAO, Rome, Italy; DG Gustafson, FAO, Nairobi, Kenya
As a consequence of major changes in information technology in the 1990s,
computers found their ways into all areas, including food and nutrition. The
overwhelming amount of information especially in the internet makes it
necessary to establish a sophisticated information management system.
The implementation of the World Agricultural Information Centre (WAICENT)
was an important step to fight hunger with information. This portal provides
access to a large amount of information resources, including documents,
statistics, maps and multimedia resources and to capacity building
programmes in information management. WAICENT assists with its
knowledge and experience all other departments in the development of their
numerous projects concerning food security, food safety and human nutrition.
Food Security:
The Food insecurity and vulnerability information and mapping systems (FIVIMS)
are networks of systems, that collect, analyse and disseminate information
about food insecurity and vulnerability. Additional systems contribute to the
effectiveness of FIVIMS: The software Key Indicators Mapping System (KIMS)
facilitates the management of the collected data, the Key Indicators Database
System (KIDS) provides internationally comparable data and the Global
Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS) gives
further information to foresee and intervene in time in emergency situations.
Food Safety:
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), which was established in the early
1960s by FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO), dedicates its work
the protection of consumer health and fair practices in food trade.
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultations assess the risks related to
microbiological hazards, biotechnology and food additives and contaminants.
The findings contribute directly to the work of the CAC by providing the
scientific basis.
Human Nutrition:
The Nutrition Country Profiles cover numerous countries and give general
information about the country and its population as well as specific data about
the food and nutrition situation, which statistical databases are
complementing.
The regularly publishing of the on-line journal “Food, Nutrition and
Agriculture” gives a short and good overview of the efforts made in
community nutrition, food quality and safety, food security, etc.
The recent project “Feeding minds, fighting hunger” takes advantage of the
increasing availability of the internet in the whole world to disseminate a
variety of data. This information provides educators with teaching material to
introduce their students to the topics of malnutrition and hunger.
FAO’s efforts, to make this large amount of information easy accessible
through the internet, aim at the assistance and provision of governments with
relevant, latest and necessary information for the formulation of agricultural
policy and planning in order to improve the well being and standard of living
of the population. Other information contribute to the correct estimation of the
food and nutrition situation and to a fast and timely intervention in emergency
situations. FAO and non-governmental and civil society organizations are
cooperating in areas of common interests, e.g. the condition of rural
populations and production and distribution of agricultural products.
Computer-based tools for educating health professionals about nutrition /
Produire du matériel pédagogique interactif
Steven H. Zeisel, MD, PhD
McGavran-Greenberg Building, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill,
NC, USA
In this lecture, we will describe how we approached the development of the
successful Nutrition in Medicine CD-ROM series that is currently in use at
more than 125 medical schools throughout the world. We developed, with
funding assistance from the NIH and industry, a series that eventually will
consist of 10 CD-ROMs (The Disease Series (Nutritional Anemias, Nutrition
and Stress, Nutrition and Cancer, Diet, Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease,
and Diabetes and Weight Management: Aberrations in Glucose Metabolism);
the Lifecycle Series (Maternal and Infant Nutrition, Nutrition and Growth,
and Nutrition for the Second Half of Life*); and the Special Topics In Nutrition
Series (Nutrition Supplements and Fortified Foods*, and Sports Nutrition;
ABSTRACTS
those with asterisks are currently under development). Our unique approach
is to immerse the user in a virtual experience that brings our information to
life, we call this edutainment. Our CDs use sophisticated graphics,
animations, audio and video to present an experience that makes nutrition
come to life. Users enter a patient’s life and see what goes on in the doctor’s
office. Rather than using a traditional structure (i.e., lectures on vitamins,
minerals, lipids, protein, etc.), in each program a number of issues derived
from the simulated patient’s problems are used to teach the principles of
nutrition and to illustrate the interaction between nutrition and health or
disease. Nutrition science is presented in a manner that makes it easy for other
medical disciplines to see how this science relates intimately with their special
interests. Practical clinical exercises (problem sets) that differ from the
simulated patient presented in the video promote the actual use of the
acquired knowledge and test the necessary skills. A formal board exam is
available at the end of the program. These exercises and exams provide a
convenient means for additional strengthening of the student’s knowledge
base. These performance data are available to the instructors and can be used
for student evaluation.
The Nutrition in Medicine have the following minimum system requirements:
Pentium CPU/90 MHz with 16 MB RAM; Windows 95 or NT; 4x (or greater)
CD-ROM drive; Monitor capable of 640x480 resolution running thousands of
colors. QuickTime and Acrobat Reader must be installed onto the hard drive,
are included on the CD.
S13

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 14
S14
Oral Presentations: Contents
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
Abstract No. Title
48 Metabolic changes on CD-ROMs
Changements métaboliques sur CD-ROMs
Van Damme Marie-Paule, Gould J. Univ of Monash, Australia; Livett B, Univ of Melbourne; Macaulay J, Maxwell R, Univ of
Monash, Australia; Parslow G, Univ of Melbourne, Australia; Walker K, Univ of Monash, Australia
57 Optimization of the nutrition quality characteristics of cowpea-fortified nixtamalized maize using computer-generated
response surface models
Amélioration de la qualité nutritionnelle du maïs fortifié avec légume en employant des modèles générés à l’ordinateur
Afoakwa Emmanuel Ohene, Sefa-Dedeh S, Cornelius B. Univ of Ghana, Ghana
71 Prospects for information technology in nutritional epidemiology in Ghana
Les perspectives de la TI en nutrition épidémiologique au Ghana
Owusu William, Univ of Ghana, Ghana
85 A review of the use of computer and internet services in a Lagos Tertiary Institution
Une revue de l’utilisation de l’ordinateur et les services internet dans une institution tertiaire à Lagos, Nigéria
Olatunji-Bello Ibiyemi I, Ibegwam A, Odugbemi TO. Univ of Lagos, Nigeria
87 Design, development and evaluation of a multimedia programme in anthropometry
Développement et evaluation d’un programme multimédia pour l’anthropométrie
Wenhold Friede AM, Wolmarans H, Nordhoff HI. Univ of Pretoria, South Africa
88 Awareness and skills of the Tanzanian researchers about scientific literature searching on the internet
Les connaissances et les compétences des chercheurs tanzaniens sur la recherche de l’information scientifique sur internet
Msuya John M, Busaglala LSP. Sokoine Univ of Agriculture, Tanzania
90 Nutrition on-line - surfing the web
La nutrition en ligne - naviger sur le web
Steyn Nelia P. Medical Research Council, South Africa
99 Use of Electronic calculation technic for estimation of energy and nutritive value of meals planned for nutrition of young
men doing military service in the Polish army
Utilisation d’une technique électronique de calcul pour estimer les valeurs énergétique et nutritionnelle des plats planifiés les jeunes
hommes en service militaire en Pologne
Bertrandt, Jerzy, Klos A, Rozmysl. Military Inst of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Poland
100 Use of Food 2.0 software in permanent monitoring of nutritive value of food rations used in nutrition of soldiers from
Polish army’s special troops based on polyunsaturated fatty acids content estimation
Utilisation de Food 2.0 un logiciel pour le suivi de la valeur nutritionnelle basé sur l’estimation du contenu en acides gras poly
insaturés des rations alimentaires des soldats de l’armée polonaise
Bertrandt, Jerzy, Rozmysl, Klos A.. Military Inst of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Poland
101 Estimation of mineral elements content in meals planned for children going to military kindergartens in Warsaw based on
electronic data base
Détermination des minéraux des plats planifié pour les enfants des militaires allant en maternelles en Varsovie
Bertrandt, Jerzy, Klos A, Rozmysl. Military Inst of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Poland
102 Learning about micronutrient nutrition: a CD-ROM series for self-directed learning
Apprentissage sur les micronutriments: une série de CD-ROMs à auto-apprentissage
Chang M, Randall Simpson J. McMaster Univ, Canada; Boy E, Bégin F, Cervinskas J. The Micronutrient Initiative, Canada; Atkinson
S. McMaster Univ, Canada
104 Evolution of the South African food composition database management system
Evolution du système de base de données sur la composition des aliments de l’Afrique du sud
Nazeeia Sayed. Univ of Natal, South Africa; Humphreys J. Medical Res. Council, South Africa
108 Is Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing (ACASI) a feasible method for collecting sensitive information?
Est-ce “l’auto-interview informatisé assisté par audio” est une méthode faisable pour la collecte de l’information sensitive?
Waruru Anthony, Tylleskär Thorkild. Centre for Intenational Health, Norway
109 Nutrition CD-ROM training in Africa: an appraisal of a nutrition training CD-ROM by the use of a computer assisted selfadministered
questionnaire
Apprentissage de nutrition en Afrique à l’aide de CD-ROM: une étude par l’usage des questionnaires administrés sur l’ordinateur
Waruru Anthony, Centre for Intenational Health, Norway; Antonsson-Ogle Britta, Swedish Univ of Agric Sc, Sweden; Hambraeus
Leif, Uppsala Univ, Sweden; Tylleskär Thorkild. Centre for Intenational Health, Norway

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 15
ABSTRACTS
Abstract No. Title
114 Allergy advisor: an allergy and intolerance diagnostic and management software tool
Allery advisor: un logiciel pour le diagnostic et le management d’allergie et d’intolérance
von Blerk Nicola L, Steinman H. Zing Solutions, South Africa
115 Harmonization of nutrition training: a curriculum review 2000
Harmonisation de la formation en nutrition: une revue des curricula en 2000
Sibiya Thokozile E. Univ of Swaziland, Swaziland
116 Using e-Nutrition to collect data on food eating patterns on the campus of the University of Zimbabwe
Utilisation de e-Nutrition pour collecter les données sur les aliments consommés dans le campus de l’Université de Zimbabwe
Harris Ellen W, Dept of Agriculture, United States ; Nkungula A, Univ of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
127 International micronutrient edition of CDCynergy: A guide to communication planning
L’édition internationale de micro nutriment CDCynergy: un guide de planification de la communication
Anderson, B 1 , Bobrow EA 1 , Parvanta I 1 , Parvanta C 2 , Brandon V 2 , Cole G 2 . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of
Nutrition and Physical Activity 1 and the Office of Communication 2 , Atlanta, USA
133 Rural connectivity: exploring a gateway for cassava producers, consumers and traders in Malawi
Connectivité rurale: explorant un point de rencontre virtuel pour les producteurs, commerçants et consommateurs en Malawi
Chiwona-Karltun Linley. Swedish Univ of Agricultural Sc, Sweden; Mataya C. Bunda College of Agric Malawi; Mkumbira J.
Bvumbwe Agric Res Station, Malawi; Gullberg U. Swedish Univ of Agricultural Sc, Sweden; Rosling H Karolinska Institutet,
Sweden; Jiggins J. The Netherlands
135 Survey methodology and appropriate sample size for nutritional surveys in a large population: rightsize software and
micronutrient malnutrition case study
Etude de la méthologie et de la taille d’échantillion appropriée pour les études nutritionnelles dans une population large: le logiciel
approprié et une étude de cas de malnutrition en micronutriment
Sunderland Nadine, White M, Nsubuga P, Parvanta I, Knowles J. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention,USA
163 Challenges in the development of food composition databases in Africa
Les défis du développement de la base de données sur la composition des aliments en Afrique
Makokha AO. Jomo Kenyatta Univ of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
164 The challenges of setting up an African nutrition journal
Les défis de la conception d’un journal africain de nutrition
Mutuku M, Oniang’o RK, Makokha AO. Jomo Kenyatta Univ of Agriculture & Technology, Kenya
165 Distance Education: Masters in Nutrition programme
Formation à distance: programmes de Maîtrises en Nutrition
Marais Debbie, Herselman MG, Blaauw R, Visser J, Labadarios D. Univ of Stellenbosch, South Africa
166 Post-graduate distance education in nutrition
Formation à distance en nutrition troisième cycle
Marais Debbie, Blaauw R, Labadarios D. Univ of Stellenbosch, South Africa
167 The design for a self-teaching nutrition web page
La conception d’un auto-apprentissage de la nutrition de la nutrition sur le web
Pietersen Clint D, Labuschagne I, Du Plessis K, Woodley HM, Labadarios D. Nutrition Information Centre at the Univ of Stellenbosch
(NICUS), South Africa
190 Influence of new IT on food chemistry and human nutrition course for students of pharmacy in Poland
L’influence de la nouvelle TI dans la formation des étudiants en pharmacie dans les cours de la chimie alimentaire et de la nutrition
humaine en Pologne
Schlegel-Zawadzka Malgorzata, Collegium Medicum Jagiellonian Univ; Przyslawski J. Medical Academy, Poznan; Bertrandt J, Klos
A. Military Institute of Hygiene & Epidemiology, Poland
194 Use of information technology to disseminate nutrition messages related to HIV/AIDS to the rural population in Malawi
L’utilisation de la TI pour la diffusion des messages de nutrition sur le VIH/SIDA en milieu rural au Malawi
Chawanje Chrissie M. Univ of Malawi, Malawi; Chiwona-Karltun Linley. Swedish Univ of Agricultural Sc, Sweden
198 Nutrition education and the global information highway: use of on-line applications and selected packages
Education nutritionnelle et le chemin global de l’information: l’usage des logiciels selectionnés et en ligne
Sigot Asenath J. Maseno Univ, Kenya
206 Training of health professionals in nutrition at the university of Nairobi, Kenya: Opportunities and challenges in the use
of information technology
Formation des professionnels de la santé en nutrition à l’université de Nairobi, Kenya: Opportunités et défis de la TI
Thuita Faith. Nairobi, Kenya
207 Nutrition networking in African countries 2002
Réseaux de nutrition dans les pays africains en 2002
Bukania Zipporah N. College of Agric and Veterinary Studies, Univ of Nairobi, Kenya
208 Use of the Malian food composition table and database for further development of exchange software to use in West Africa
countries
S15

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 16
S16
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
Abstract No. Title
Utilisation de la base de données sur la composition des aliments du Mali en vue de développer un logiciel d’échange pour les pays de
l’Afrique de l’Ouest
Barikmo Ingrid. Akershus Univ College, Norway; Quattara F Institut National e Recherche en Santé Publique, Mali; Osaug A.
Akershus Univ College, Norway
210 Paediatrics database to improve the clinical care and research at the university teaching hospital in Lusaka, Zambia
Base de données en pédiatrie pour améliorer les soins cliniques et la recherche au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire à Lusaka, Zambia
Bhat Ganapati, Kankasa C, Campbell J, Tumeo R, Bwale J. School of Medicine & Univ Teaching Hosp, Zambia; Hirota M. JICA PHC
Project, LDHMT, Zambia; Mitchell C, Klaskala W. Univ of Miami School of Med, Miami, USA
211 Information communication technology: challenges and prospects for delivery of nutrition education amongst rural
communities in Kenya
La TI et de la communication: Défis et perspectives pour une éducation nutritionnelle des communautés rurales au Kenya
Wagah Margaret Akinyi, Kenyatta Univ, Kenya
214 Information technology as pertains to food science and nutrition in Eastern Nigeria
La TI en relation avec les aliments et la nutrition au Nigeria de l’Est
Nneoma Elechi Nyelucheya. Lagos State School of Nursing, Nigeria
217 International micronutrient edition of CDCynergy: A guide to communication planning
L’édition internationale de micro nutriment CDCynergy: un guide de planification de la communication
Anderson, B (1), Bobrow AE (1), Parvanta I (1), Parvanta C (2), Brandon V (2), Cole G (2).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (1) and the Office of Communication (2),
Atlanta, USA
221 Nestlé Nutrition Institute Africa: CPD initiative
L’institut de nutrition de Nestlé: L’initiative CPD
de Beer Anne-Marié. Nestlé Nutrition Institute Africa, South Africa ; Blaauw R. Univ. of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
222 Computer-aided learning in disadvantaged communities in the Southern Cape and Karoo: a nutrition education initiative
Apprentissage à l’aide d’ordinateur des communautés défavorisées dans le sud de Cape et Karoo: une initiative d’éducation
nutritionnelle
Marais Debbie. Univ of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Venter I. School of Life Sc, Cape Technikon, South Africa; De Muynk R, Shedden
A.Western Cape Education Department, South Africa.
225 MAPit - micronutrient action plan instructional tool. A computer-based training tool about micronutrient malnutrition
2002
MAPit - un outil d’instruction pour le plan d’action en micronutriment - un outil informatique de formation sur la malnutrition en
micronutriment en 2002
Elbon Suzanne M, Knowles J, Bobrow EA, Timmer A, Nsubuga P. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, USA
226 Web-based nutrition education material for undergraduate students - a product of Global Nutrition 2001
Matériaux pédagogiques basés sur le web pour des étudiants universitaires un produit de Global Nutrition 2001
Joseph Bobby. St John’s Medical College, India
228 Web-based nutrition courses: case study from first nations and inuit communities in Northern Canada
Cours de nutrition basés sur le web: une étude de cas des communautés inuit au Canada du Nord
Johns Timothy, Trifonopoulos M, Martin J, Hamilton S, Collier A, Kishchuk N, Kuhnlein HV. Macdonald Campus of McGill Univ,
Canada; De Roose E. Government of the Northwest Territories, Canada
229 A wellness on-line program (WOLP) between Australia and Malaysia
Un logiciel on-line de bine-être entre Australie et Malaysia
Omar Azizah, Wahlqvist M, Savige G, Kouris-Blazos A. Monash Univ, Australia
230 IT and nutrition education in Africa 2002
La TI et l’éducation nutritionnelle en 2002 en Afrique
Kilungu OM. Kenyatta Univ, Kenya
232 The impact of HIV/AIDS on communal and commercial farming communities in Namibia
L’impact de VIH/SIDA sur les communautés paysannes commerçantes en Namibie
Iipinge Scholastika N. Univ of Namibia, Namibia
247 Development of nutrition policy analysis and advocacy in Nigeria using PROFILES
Développement d’une politique nutritionnelle au Nigeria par l’usage de PROFILES
Oguntona, Tunde. Univ of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Aminu Francis, Williams Abimbola. BASICS II, Nigeria; Aguayo Victor.
HKI Africa
248 Microbiological contamination of household food and water in displaced areas in Sudan
Contamination micro-biologique de l’eau et des denrées alimentaires des foyers des populations déplacées au Soudan
Osman, Faiza Univ of Khartoum, Sudan
249 Nutrition in Africa in a global economy: perspectives, challenges and opportunities
Nutrition en Afrique dans une économie globale: perspectives, défis et opportunités
Kinabo Joyce. Sokoine Univ of Agriculture, Tanzania

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 17
ABSTRACT NO. 48. Metabolic challenges on CD-ROMs
Van Damme M-P1 , Gould J1 , Livett B3 , Macaulay J1 , Maxwell R1 , Parslow G3 ,
Walker K2 1 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
2 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Monash University 3800
3 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University
of Melbourne 3010, Victoria, Australia
As a way of engaging students more actively in their learning, we have created
for undergraduate students multimedia presentations that have been
compiled in two CD-ROMs “Biochemistry- A Metabolic Challenge” and
“Nutritional and Hormonal Aspects of Diabetes”. These multimedia
presentations offer:
1. “Self-Directed Learning activities” through interactive tutorials on various
aspects of metabolism, nutrition and diabetes. The tutorials serve as
information resources and the information can be accessed through a
comprehensive “Index of Topics”.
2. Problems-solving exercises that relate to catabolic processes associated
with long distance running and to anabolic processes associated with the
follow-up consumption of a meal. These exercises are question/problem
based and interactive, requiring students to think logically and integrate
information drawn from a variety of sources.
3. Interactive overviews that help students correlate metabolic events
occurring in various tissues/organs under various energy states (after a
meal, between meals and during starvation).
4. Case studies to teach students to apply their knowledge to clinical cases,
such as “The effects of alcohol on metabolism”. “Type 1 and type 2
diabetes” and “Dietary therapy for type 2 diabetes”. In these case studies,
the students play the role of dieticians.
These multimedia presentations help students to obtain a broader
understanding of the “Big Picture” of metabolism and the metabolic effects of
nutrition, concepts that are difficult to convey to students in a formal lecture
context. Therefore, students become more active in, and responsible for, their
learning. Surveys have shown that use of the programs translates into marked
improvement of student comprehension and enjoyment of the topics.
To create a more flexible student-centered learning environment we have
integrated these CDs with web-based material. This material contains: lecture
notes (in Power-Point) with direct links to specific aspects of the CDs, on-line
discussion, case studies, as well as assessment and quizzes to provide students
with opportunities for immediate feedback without major impact on staff
time. The web-based material enables better integration of the different
components of the subject material and results in an improvement in the
quality and productivity of students’ learning as well as in their attitudes to
learning.
e-mail address: Marie-Paule.Vandamme@med.monash.edu.au
ABSTRACT NO. 57. Optimization of the nutritional quality characteristics
of cowpea-fortified nixtamalized maize using computer-generated response
surface models
Afoakwa EO, Sefa-Dedeh S, Cornelius B
Department of Nutrition & Food Science, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 134,
Legon-Accra, Ghana.
The high utilization and consumption levels of maize in developing countries calls
for investigations into new methods of processing to help introduce variety as well
as improve the functionality and nutrient quality of maize-based foods.
Our objective was to optimize the chemical and functional quality characteristics of
fermented cowpea-fortified nixtamalized maize using computer-generated
response surface models obtained from Statgraphics, an IT software. The central
composite rotatable design for K = 3 was used to optimize the combined effect of
lime concentration (0 - 1%), moisture content (55 - 65%) and cowpea level (0 - 30%)
on the pH, titratable acidity, water absorption, texture, protein and viscosity of
fermented nixtamalized maize. Regression models were developed to predict the
variables which were used to optimize the product quality during processing.
The response surface models generated aided the optimization of the processing
conditions as well as the nutritional quality characteristics of the product. The
presence of lime and cowpea influenced the pH, titratable acidity, water
absorption, protein content and the cooked paste viscosity of the fermented
cowpea-fortified maize. The presence of lime during fermentation generally
decreased titratable acidity, water absorption, work required to back extrude an
amount of cooked slurry (texture) and cooked paste viscosity while the addition of
cowpea increased most of the studied indices.
Information technology systems can therefore be used to optimize the nutritional
quality characteristics of nixtamalized maize using response surface models,
with optimum acceptable product quality characteristics.
ABSTRACTS
ABSTRACT NO. 71. PROSPECTS FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IN NUTRITIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGY IN GHANA
William Owusu
University of Ghana, Ghana
The disease patterns in Ghana, like other West African countries have for a
long time been that of infectious diseases and under-nutrition in both adults
and children. However, with the current trends in modernization, changes in
eating patterns and lifestyle among segments of the population, there appears
to be an increasing trend in the incidence of complicated, costly-to-manage
chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, bone fractures, among
others, that are related to diet and lifestyle. For example, in Ghana, the
prevalence of diabetes has increased from less than 1% a decade ago to over
4% now, while that of hypertension among those above 45 y of age increased
from 1.2% in 1985 to 2.5% in 1999. There is therefore the urgent need for us to
have a better understanding of the relationships among our dietary intakes,
lifestyle, and the incidence of these diseases, as has been widely done in
certain developed (temperate) countries, to provide us with useful clues for
better policies for diet-related chronic degenerative disease prevention and
public health. Dietary studies in Ghana (and West Africa) are seriously limited
by the lack of efficient and appropriate facilities for the collection and analyses
of dietary data. This limits the amount of data that can be collected and
analyzed. As a result, few nutritional epidemiological studies have been
carried out in the country and the sub-region. This presentation reviews the
trends of the incidence of some chronic diseases in Ghana (and West Africa)
over the past decade, re-emphasizes the need, and assesses the potential, to
develop national and sub-regional computerized food composition databases
as the basis for developing and utilising the significant potential of IT in
dietary assessment in nutritional epidemiological studies.
ABSTRACT NO. 85. A review of the use of computer and Internet services
in a Lagos tertiary institution
Olatunji-Bello II 1 , Ibegwam A 2 , Odugbemi TO 3
1 Department of Physiology
2 Medical Library
3 Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, P. M. B. 12003, Lagos
The availability of information on medicine and related subjects cannot be
over estimated on the Internet. Some tertiary institutions in most of the
developing countries, in particular Nigeria, do not have access to the Internet.
This may be due to the high cost of the Internet connectivity, inadequate basic
infrastructure and also to the lack of knowledge on the use of the computer
and Internet. The penetration of computers and Internet technology into all
corners of professional life will influence the way students and members of
staff communicate and work. This article presents basic information on the
application of Internet in the fields of medicine, nutrition and health and
furthermore identifies the attitude of students and staff of the College of
Medicine of the University of Lagos (CMUL) to the newly introduced
computer Laboratory and Internet Services. The CMUL is a modern tertiary
institution, situated in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
The methodology employed in this study was stratified distribution of
questionnaires to both students and members of staff of different categories.
The knowledge of the existence of the Computer laboratory and Internet
services on the third floor of the Medical Library was sought, and previous
computer experience was sought. The attitude of users to current price charge,
location as well as the staff providing the services was also studied.
The major findings indicate that many were computer literate and also users
of the services provided in the CMUL. The major activity performed on the
Internet was e-mail. This study shows the need to introduce measures for
improved services like eliminating the telephone dialing time delay and
power outages from public electric supply.
ABSTRACT NO. 87. DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A
MULTIMEDIA PROGRAMME IN ANTHROPOMETRY
Wenhold FAM (1) , Wolmarans H (2) , Nordhoff HI (3)
University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa .
(1) Division of Human Nutrition
(2) Telematic Learning and Education Innovation
(3) Centre for Science Education
S17

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 18
S18
Based on Merrill’s Model for Instructional Design, a multimedia tutorial,
including a skills and reference manual, on anthropometry for university level
health science students was designed, developed and evaluated.
For the design, the course content was analysed in terms of Merrill’s “tell”,
“show”, “ask” and “do”, following problem-based learning theory. A step-bystep
guide on the practice of anthropometric evaluation forms the core of a
tutorial, in which knowledge is presented, explored and practiced with
decreasing instructional support, focusing on examples, exercises and guided
problem solving with expert opinion when needed. A child or an adult casestudy
are possible starting points. In addition, a measuring skills manual,
divided into equipment and technique sections, was designed. Finally, a
reference manual, representing a data-base of charts and tables of reference
standards, norms and formulae, was compiled.
Using Quest and CD-ROM as delivery system, the development aimed to
allow learner choice, interactivity and flexibility. Apart from continuous access
to the tutorial, measuring skills and reference manuals, the user/learner can
draw on notebook, calculator, search, help and print functions. Links to webbased
and other reference data and training modules are available.
Photography, video, animation, graphics and sound aim to enhance learning.
After testing by third year dietetic students, formal formative evaluation,
consisting of a quantitative and a qualitative component, was performed,
using a structured questionnaire and a videotaped group discussion
respectively. Subject and education experts also provided feedback.
Adjustments were made and Merrill’s five-star rating completed the
evaluation. Trial implementation and ongoing updating and upgrading will
follow.
ABSTRACT NO. 88. Awareness and skills of the Tanzanian researchers
about scientific literature searching on the Internet
Busagala LSP, Msuya JM
Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), P.O.BOX 3006 Morogoro, Tanzania
This paper is based on a study that was undertaken to assess awareness and
skills of Tanzanian researchers on scientific literature searching on the Internet.
The study did involve researchers working in two public universities in
Tanzania, namely Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and University of
Dar es Salaam whereby the target group was all academic and research staff
together with postgraduate students. Random and purposive sampling was
done to select a total of 140 respondents (70 from each University) from
various faculties, departments and institutes. A structured self-administered
questionnaire was used to collect data. Of the 140 respondents that were
contacted, only 91 were able to respond on time. Computerised SPSS
programme was used to process and analyse the data.
Results showed that most of the respondents (92%) were using the Internet in
searching for scientific literature. In assessing the extent of use, more than half
(56%) of those using the Internet indicated that they were using it frequently.
On the other hand, about 30% were not frequent users while 14% indicated to
use the Internet very frequent. Further analysis of the respondents showed
that 66 of them (73%) have heard of Search Engines although only about 65%
understood their roles. Only few of the respondents (29%) had the knowledge
of Query Formulation while 71% did not have the knowledge. More than half
(56%) of the surveyed respondents indicated that in searching for scientific
literature in the Internet they were getting a lot of irrelevant information while
12% showed that they were only obtaining results with limited information.
However, the rest of the surveyed researchers (32%) admitted to get the
needed literature without difficult. Results also indicated that Yahoo was the
most popular Search Engine used by 67% of the respondents. Other Search
Engines that were also popular included Google (50%), Alta Vista (44%), Excite
(19%), Lycos (18%) and Infoseek (15%). The rest of the Internet Search Engines
were less popular among the surveyed researchers.
It seems therefore that although scientific literature searching on the Internet
has become an indispensable service among researchers in Tanzanian
universities, a good number of them have limited searching skills. The
situation calls for an agent need to impart knowledge to the electronic
information users in the country by introducing basic training on information
searching to academicians to be able to match with the technological
development. Initiatives such as ITANA and Global 2000 have therefore come
on time and are very much welcome. It would be a good idea, however, if the
training were incorporated in the University teaching curricula and even in
secondary school education.
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
ABSTRACT NO. 90. NUTRITION ON LINE — SURFING THE WEB
Steyn NP
CDL, Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070, Tygerberg, 7505, RSA
The Internet has made a significant contribution to the way in which nutrition
researchers access knowledge and keep up to date with the latest information
available. This is largely due to two unique features of the Internet: its
universal availability of information and the fact that it is independent of
distance. Helman (2000) has compiled an excellent summary of both E-mail
and web-based nutrition applications, which will be presented together with
additional “ hot” websites, guides and search engines. Health professionals
will be introduced to the Arbor Clinical Nutrition Update, which contains
weekly summaries on the latest clinical nutrition research.
Portal sites such as the US National Agricultural Library provide detailed and
current information on what is available on the Internet. Institutional home
pages provide information on “nutrition related” institutions and
organisations. A few that provide a wealth of nutrition information include the
USA Department of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO),
and the Medical Research Council of South Africa, which presents The South
African National Food Consumption Survey. Useful Internet applications for
nutrition researchers are the numerous journal services online, in many
instances free of charge. Well known services include those of Pubmed and
Grateful Med. Both of these can be accessed to undertake extensive literature
searches on any nutrition subject.
Some individual journals also offer immediately accessible articles in full
text or in abstract form. The best known of these are the British Medical Journal
and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. A more recent trend is the
concept of publishing articles on the Internet prior to their acceptance by the
printed journal. This has allowed democratisation of the whole peer-reviewed
process and heralds a new era in publishing research quickly and
transparently. Biomedcentral is one such website which can be used by anyone
who wishes to place a paper. Current information on local South African
websites will also be presented (eg. ADSA and SASPEN).
ABSTRACT NO. 99. USE OF ELECTRONIC CALCULATION TECHNIQUE
FOR ESTIMATION OF ENERGY AND NUTRITIVE VALUE OF MEALS
PLANNED FOR NUTRITON OF YOUNG MEN DOING MILITARY
SERVICE IN POLISH ARMY
Klos A, Bertrandt J, Rozmysl E
Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 4 Kozielska St., Warsaw, Poland
The aim of the work was use of calculation software FOOD 2, for estimation
of energy and nutritive value of daily food rations planned in nutrition of men
doing military service. The latest edition of "Tables of food products
composition and nutritive value" was the base of this calculation. Obtained
results are shown below.
Values calculated by Values declared in Norm: FOOD 2
FOOD 2 software the norm in %
Energy value [kcal] 4257 95,6
Total protein [g] 134,2 139,7 104,1
Fats [g] 149,8 142,6 95,2
Carbohydrates [g] 691,2 603,2 87,3
Calcium [mg] 1090 1237,5 113,5
Phosphor [mg] 2395 2394,6 100
Magnesium [mg] 656 564,7 87
Iron [mg] 22,5 35,65 158,4
Cellulose [µg] 55,2 68,5 124,1
Vitamin A [m] 1865 1380 74
Vitamin B1 [mg] 3,09 2,94 05,2
Vitamin B2 [mg] 2,66 2,65 100
Vitamin C [mg] 181,1 99,3 54,8
It should be underlined that used calculation software FOOD 2 allows
estimation of content of mineral elements (sodium, potassium, zinc, copper
and manganese), vitamin E, fatty acids including essential unsaturated fatty
acids and amino acids important for human health.

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 19
ABSTRACT NO. 100. USE OF FOOD 2.0. SOFTWARE IN PERMANENT
MONITORING OF NUTRITIVE VALUE OF FOOD RATIONS USED IN
NUTRITION OF SOLDIERS FROM POLISH ARMY’S SPECIAL TROOPS
BASED ON POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS CONTENT
ESTIMATION
Rozmysl E, Bertrandt J, Klos A
Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 4 Kozielska St., Warsaw, Poland
Permanent monitoring of nutrition manner is particularly important for
soldiers doing military service. Soldiers make a group of young men whose
organism development is not finished completely and physical and psychical
load are huge. Computer technology is most often used for nutrition
monitoring. Results of performed researches on estimation of fats’ content and
structure in daily food rations (DFR) planned for soldiers from special troops
in Polish Army nutrition are presented in this work.
Total of 69 DFR planned for nutrition in particular seasons (spring, summer,
autumn, winter) were the base for the researches. Calculation software FOOD
2.0. (1998) issued by Institute of Food and Feeding was used for calculations
of fats’ content and structure. Researches results allow concluding that total
fats level in analyzed DFR is in accordance to nutrition norms. Fats delivered
in an average 28,0% of entire energy, differentiating seasonally from 25,2% in
spring to 31,2 % in autumn. Contribution of energy from saturated fatty acids
slightly exceeded recommended norms and amounted in an average 10,6%
(from 9,9% in spring to 11,4% in autumn). Level of energy coming from
polyunsaturated fatty acids in DFR, amounting in an average 4,5%, in every
examined season met the required minimum, i.e. 3% (from 3,9% in spring to
5,0% in summer). The EPA and DHA fatty aids together delivered in an
average 0,10% of total food ration’s energy, seasonally. During summer and
winter these values were as follows: 0,05% and 0,06%, and did not meet the
required minimum i.e. 0,07% food ration’s energy.
Ratio of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids was close to recommended values and
amounted from 5,9:1 in autumn to 7,7:1 in summer.
ABSTRACT NO. 101. ESTIMATION OF MINERAL ELEMENTS
CONTENT IN MEALS PLANNED FOR CHILDREN GOING TO
MILITARY KINDERGARTENS IN WARSAW BASED ON ELECTRONIC
DATA BASE
Bertrandt J, Klos A, Rozmysl E
Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 4 Kozielska St., Warsaw, Poland
The aim of the work was utilization of computer calculation software to
estimate content of selected mineral elements in meals planned for children in
kindergartens. To estimate content of sodium, potassium, calcium,
phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and manganese the calculation
software FOOD 2, which is based on "Food Composition Tables" and
"Statistica" program for statistic estimation of obtained results were used.
Obtained results were compared to obligatory in Poland norm for children
aged 3-6. It was found that average sodium content planned in daily food
rations was 1365,5±374 mg, potassium 2481,1±351 mg, calcium 504,9±111,1
mg, phosphorus 810,2±108 mg, magnesium 184,0±mg, iron 7,8±2,1 mg, zinc
6,8±1,5 mg, copper 0,83±0,13 mg and manganese 2,18±0,7 mg. From among
analyzed mineral elements calcium content met the requirements in 84,1%,
and zinc in 90,7%. Exceeded sodium and potassium content was found in
planned rations compared to the norm. Content of other elements met the
requirements for children alimentation.
ABSTRACT NO. 102. Learning about micronutrient nutrition: A CD-ROM
series for self-directed learning
Chang M1 , Simpson J Randall1, Boy E2 , Bégin F2 , Cervinskas J2 , S Atkinson1 1 Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5
Canada
2 The Micronutrient Initiative, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 3H9 Canada.
Micronutrient deficiencies affect millions worldwide, including many living in
Africa. The devastating health and economic outcomes are preventable
through a variety of coordinated intervention strategies, including education
of future health professionals in affected countries. As an effort to strengthen
education as a means of eliminating micronutrient malnutrition, the
Micronutrient Initiative collaborated with McMaster University to produce a
three-part series of CD-ROMs for use in training health professionals at the
undergraduate level in developing countries. Each CD-ROM addresses one of
ABSTRACTS
the three most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies worldwide: Iodine
Deficiency Disorders, Vitamin A Deficiency, and Iron Deficiency.
The contents of the CD-ROMs are developed based on current scientific
literature, technical reports from the World Health Organization and other
agencies, input from experts in micronutrient nutrition, and from students at
international partner institutions. Each CD-ROM introduces the user to the
biology, clinical aspects, community-based control strategies of a
micronutrient deficiency, and a case scenario facilitates learning in problembased
format. Text in concise point form, diagrams, graphs, and photographs
are incorporated. Users can click the hypertext to view definitions for key
terms and detailed information in pop-up windows, a quiz at the end of each
section that scores at the click of a button allows for self-evaluation of
knowledge. A users’ guide accompanies each CD-ROM and provides
suggestions on how to use this tool to supplement existing curricula and for
self-directed learning. This CD-ROM series is available to individuals and
institutions in developing countries free of charge. (Funded by The
Micronutrient Initiative.)
ABSTRACT NO. 104. EVOLUTION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD
COMPOSITION DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Sayed N 1 , Humphreys J 2
1 Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Natal
2 Nutrition Intervention Unit, Medical Research Council
A handwritten chart, drafted by dietitians at the Medical Research Council
(MRC) in the 1970s to meet in-house research needs, heralded the first South
African Food Composition Database. In the 1980s, as the demand for food
composition data (FCD) and a printed food composition table (FCT) grew, the
expanded FCD (borrowed largely from the USDA database) was
computerised using the SAS system. This recorded a food code, food name,
food group, a main reference for the data, the nutrient name, and nutrient
value. In the mid-1990s, mandated with the task to update the database with
the new South Africa data on fruit and vegetables, the dietitians at the MRC
begun working on a new system to comprehensively document FCD
compilation information. This development process was enhanced with the
advent of South Africa into the international research scene, enabling sharing
of expertise and learning from other compilers’ experiences. Working with an
in-house computer programmer at the MRC, a relational database
management system was set up using Microsoft Access. Visual Basic
programming was used to customize the database functionalities. In
consultation with INFOODS, a food description system and new
ECSAFOODS food grouping system was adopted. Other features of the
system include: a reference and source type for each nutrient, a record of all
calculations done, integrity tests to check data compilation, a recipe
calculation feature, data export facility, and standardized report formats to
assist in the preparation of FCTs. In 2000, a user manual for SAFOODS (South
African Food Composition Database Management System) was drafted.
Further developmental plans include incorporation of TAGNAMES.
SAFOODS has the potential to assist with food data compilation and facilitate
data interchange in the ECSAFOODS region.
ABSTRACT NO. 108. IS AUDIO COMPUTER-ASSISTED SELF-
INTERVIEWING (ACASI) A FEASIBLE METHOD FOR COLLECTING
SENSITIVE INFORMATION?
Waruru Anthony, Tylleskär Thorkild
Centre for International Health, Armauer Hansen Building, N-5021 Bergen, Norway,
The latest advances in decreasing mother-to-child transmission of HIV by
dosing anti-retroviral drugs at delivery has led to a situation where an
increasing number of mothers are aware of their HIV-positive status and at the
same time they know their child is likely not to be infected. Since the HIV can
be transmitted in the postnatal period through breastfeeding, the ethical
dilemma of whether these mothers should breast-feed or not is now
challenging the scientific community. There is a need to collect reliable
information on infant feeding practices in resource poor settings within the
context of HIV. Face to face interviewing has obvious limitations due to the
sensitive nature of the questions. In addition, the information may be flawed
due to socially desirable responses. Such questions call for less intrusive
methods of interviewing. We are going to explore the use of Audio-Computer
Assisted Self-administered Interviewing (ACASI) and compare it with face-toface
interviewing.
S19

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 20
S20
Audio-Computer Assisted Self-administered Interviewing is an interview
method where the person to be interviewed sits in a quiet place on her/his
own in front of a laptop with a headset. The questions will be displayed on the
computer screen and simultaneously listened to in the appropriate local
language via the headset with simple answering instructions where the
interviewed person only presses designated keys. The feasibility of ACASI
will be evaluated and results from the data collection method will be
compared with traditional face-to-face interviewing.
ABSTRACT NO. 109. NUTRITION CD-ROM TRAINING IN AFRICA: AN
APPRAISAL OF A NUTRITION TRAINING CD-ROM BY THE USE OF A
COMPUTER ASSISTED SELF-ADMINISTERED QUESTIONNAIRE
Waruru Anthony1 , Antonsson-Ogle Britta 2 , Hambraeus Leif3 , Tylleskär
Thorkild1 .
1Centre for International Health, Armauer Hansen Building, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
2Dept of Rural Development Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,
Sweden
3Dept of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
Two CD-ROMs (Nutrition in Africa 1 and 2) for nutrition training of
undergraduates were developed by nutrition professionals from Africa during
a training programme in Sweden. We wanted to know how the use of CD-
ROMs in training compared to traditional methods; the impact of the
difference(s) on learning; and its usability.
Using computer assisted self-administered interviewing (CASI), this study
evaluated the usability of the CD-ROM ‘Nutrition in Africa 1’ with respondents
from Uppsala (Sweden), Egerton and Kenyatta (Kenya), and Bergen (Norway)
Universities. Interactivity, ease of using the program and the respondents’
multimedia preferences were measures for usability. Ease to revisit topics was
a reason for preference of CD-ROMs to books (30/38) and most (27/38) still
found it necessary to refer to books after using CD-ROMs. The narrator’s voice
(32/38), better graphics (36/38), case scenarios (36/38), quizzes (36/38), and
interactivity indicated preference of CD-ROMs. Ability to revisit topics was
convenient in absence of the teacher. Hyperlinked multimedia elements such
as the narrator’s voice, graphics, and pictures make multimedia programs a
richer learning experience. Interactivity, achieved by case scenarios, popquizzes
and other learning activities is an indispensable feature of CD-ROM
mediated learning. However, the instructor’s presence is still needed to
facilitate the discursive learning process.
We conclude that multimedia CD-ROMs bridge the information gap, and are
feasible instructional tools even in Africa. They are complementary and the
instructor facilitates the learning process. Computer assisted self-administered
interviewing is a viable method of data collection.
ABSTRACT NO. 114. Allergy Advisor: an allergy and intolerance
Diagnostic and Management Software Tool
Steinman H, Von Blerk Nl
PO Box 565, Milnerton 7435, South Africa
Allergy Advisor is an informatics bridge between the growing body of
research on allergies and intolerances, and the growing incidence of allergies
and intolerances seen in clinical practice. This bridge is made particularly
necessary because of the generally limited time spent on the subject in
classrooms. The computer programme brings the large body of research into
use through guiding and expanding the patient interview and follow-up.
Allergy advisor uses parts of the patient interview, particularly reports of
adverse reactions to food and other substances, and by a series of steps helps
provide a complete picture of both the patient’s condition and the proper
treatment. The steps lead to information on whether a reaction is common or
even known at all, whether the reaction is likely to be an allergy or intolerance,
what constituent of the food or substance is likely to be the cause of the
reaction, and whether cross-reactions are likely.
Further investigations are facilitated by the programme (e.g. CAP-RAST codes
and information on an elimination diet are provided). Post-diagnosis
management facilities include “free-from” diets, substitutes and recipes, and
lists of hidden allergens. At this point the programme incorporates research on
the most effective management practices.
Allergy advisor can also be seen as a research and teaching aid inasmuch as it
is a structured and interactive guide to the field of allergies and intolerances.
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
ABSTRACT NO. 115. HARMONIZATION OF NUTRITION TRAINING: A
CURRICULUM REVIEW, 2000
Sibiya TE
University of Swaziland, PO Luyengo, Swaziland
The need to reconceptualize the content, context and processes in terms of,
training, research and service delivery through harmonization of Nutrition
training expressed at various fora International Conference on Nutrition (ICN
1992) and the commonwealth Regional Health Community Secretariat for East
and Central African (CRHC-ECSA, 1997). Swaziland, like many developing
countries is nutritionally vulnerable, and therefore one strategy that can
improve quality service in nutrition is to provide a comprehensive curriculum
that will ensure training programmes and performance management
strategies that will promote healthy sustainable nutrition throughout the
country.
The challenges that this process will present are discussed in detail by the
author and the various components of ensuring a successful implementation
of the several phases of the process are highlighted.
The presentation will take advantage of ITANA2002 to demonstrate how the
various aspects of the Swaziland Nutrition initiative will attempt to integrate
the various concepts into an IT environment to make the concepts more
accessible for a larger number of nutrition practitioners, students, institutions
as well as the global environment. While various resistance to IT change may
be prevalent in other parts of the developing world, this change will provide
Swaziland with various opportunities to put the whole concept of nutrition in
a more modern dynamic environment, needless to mention the interest the
Swaziland experience will generate at ITANA 2002.
ABSTRACT NO. 116. Using e-Nutrition to collect data on food eating
patterns on the campus of the University of Zimbabwe
Harris EW 1 , Nkungula A 2
1Community Nutrition Research Group, Agricultural Research Service, US
Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, United States
2Department of Technical Education, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
Experiential learning was used as a technique to teach dietary assessment at
the University of Zimbabwe. Students designed their class projects based on
lectures, which systematically introduced them to basic concepts of survey
research methodology, questionnaire development, interviewing techniques,
data analysis, and presentation. Computer labs were used to introduce
students to Windows and diet analysis software. Students were divided into
four groups to assess the University’s food environment and its ability to
allow people on campus to meet Food Guide Pyramid recommendations. The
campus food environment was defined as (1) sources of food for staff and
faculty, (2) sources of food for students, (3) staff and faculty food intake, and
(4) student food intake. Demographic, food practices, nutrition knowledge
and food frequency data were collected by the students. Diet Analysis+,
Version 4 (1) was used and modified using the Food Composition Table for
Use in Africa (2), the Composition of Foods Commonly Eaten in East Africa
(3), Nutritive Value of Foods of Zimbabwe (4) and Indigenous and Traditional
Foods in Zimbabwe (5). This project allowed the students to see for the first
time nutrient breakdowns of their most common foods. Actual findings from
the data collected by the students and the challenging aspects of using
computer hardware, nutrient analysis software and modifying it to include
limited local African food composition data will be presented.
1. Diet Analysis Plus. Version 4.0 for Windows. Wadsworth Publishing
Company and ESHA Research, 1999.
2. FAO/US Department of Health, Education & Welfare. The Composition of
Foods Commonly Eaten in East Africa. Rome: FAO, 1968.
3. West CE, Pepping F, Temalilwa CR, editors. The Composition of Foods
Commonly Eaten in East Africa. Wageningen, the Netherlands:
Wageningen Agricultural University, 1988.
4. Chitsiku IC. Nutritive Value of Foods of Zimbabwe. Harare, Zimbabwe:
University of Zimbabwe Publications, 1991.
5. Gomez MI. Indigenous and Traditional Foods in Zimbabwe. Harare,
Zimbabwe: University of Zimbabwe Publications, 1989.

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 21
ABSTRACT NO. 127. INTERNATIONAL MICRONUTRIENT EDITION
OF CDCYNERGY: A GUIDE TO COMMUNICATION PLANNING
L'édition internationale de micro nutriment CDCynergy: un guide de
planification de la communication
Anderson, B1 Bobrow EA1 , Parvanta I1 , Parvanta C 2 , Brandon V2 , Cole G. 2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Nutrition and Physical
Activity1 and the Office of Communication2 , Atlanta, USA.
CDCynergy is a CD-Rom based tool that provides a systematic framework for
planning, implementing, managing, and evaluating health communication
programs within a public health context. The International Micronutrient
Edition of CDCynergy contains a basic planning framework with a tutorial
which provides written and video instructions plus six case studies adapted
from international micronutrient communication projects conducted by
various agencies (vitamin A supplementation, salt iodization, folic acid
fortification, iron supplementation, dietary improvement and multinutrient
supplementation), a media library with materials from the highlighted
programs, documents and research publications, and a planning workbook.
Users are guided through 6 phases: 1) Problem Definition and Description
(descriptive epidemiology used to define scope and severity); 2) Problem
Analysis (analytic epidemiology utilized to examine at-risk populations and
causal factors); 3) Identifying and Profiling Audiences (based on research); 4)
Developing Communication Strategies and Tactics (to test concepts, messages
and materials); 5) Developing an Evaluation Plan (to integrate evaluation with
the overall program); and 6) Launch/Feedback.
This product is unique in the world of health communication planning tools
in several regards, since it demonstrates the linkage between descriptive
epidemiology, analytical epidemiology, program planning, and evaluation, it
does not assume that communication will be the dominant intervention, it
provides examples of how different countries planned their program,
conducted and interpreted formative research, produced media and evaluated
results, it places program documents, real media, and reference materials on a
CD-Rom, and, it features international program managers and scientists in a
manner that will motivate others to strive for excellence.
ABSTRACT NO. 133. RURAL CONNECTIVITY: EXPLORING A GATE-
WAY FOR CASSAVA PRODUCERS, CONSUMERS AND TRADERS IN
MALAWI
Chiwona-Karltun L 1 , Mataya C 2 , Mkumbira J 3 , Gullberg U 1 , Rosling H 4 ,
Jiggins J 5
1 Dept. of Plant Biology, Swedish Univ. of Agriculture Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
2 Bunda College of Agriculture, Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi
3 Bvumbwe Agricultural Research Station, Box 5748, Limbe, Malawi
4 IHCAR, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
5 De Dellen 4, 6673 MD, Andelst, The Netherlands
This paper presents an overview of a planned study to develop rapid
assessment procedures (RAP) methodology for cassava market and
development by exploring the market links between farmers, traders and
consumers. Market transactions in Malawi are based on trust and not on
formal institutionalised market information system. Trust provides a reliable
source of processes for economic activity. Economic transactions of such
calibre perpetuate poverty and continue to marginalise women. Women in
Malawi produce food for the family and for off-farm consumption by selling
in local markets, bartering and in some cases produce a new group of food
crops for export and are increasingly an important income generator. Such
emerging opportunities enable women to decide how to allocate their labour
across three sectors: the non-market based, the market-oriented food sector
and the traditional export cash crop sector. However, the lack of formal
information systems means that women bargaining with traders that supply
cassava and other goods to urban consumers subjects women to a weaker
bargaining position. Studies have also shown that transport, communications
and road infrastructure are major constraints in market opportunities for
women. Developments in information exchange, communication and
globalisation now make it feasible to explore rural connectivity in alleviating
poverty and in enhancing market information systems between women
cassava producers, traders and consumers. Cellular phones, pay as you use,
are becoming a major service provider in both urban and rural Malawi
providing an opportune moment for the transformation of cassava from a
subsistence crop to a market crop.
ABSTRACTS
ABSTRACT NO. 135. SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND APPROPRIATE
SAMPLE SIZE FOR NUTRITIONAL SURVEYS IN A LARGE
POPULATION: RIGHTSIZE SOFTWARE AND MICRONUTRIENT
MALNUTRITION CASE STUDY
White M, Nsubuga P, Sunderland N, Parvanta I, Knowles J
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of International Health,
Epidemiology Program Office, 2877 Brandywine Road, Williams Bldg, 4th Floor, MS
K-72, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
The primary considerations in planning and conducting a nutritional survey
in a large population, particularly choosing the best survey methodology and
determining the appropriate sample size, challenge new health professionals.
The effect of the health professional’s choices weigh greatly on developing a
cost-effective and scientifically sound survey. The aim of this project was to
develop a training activity and demonstrate tools that assist in making
appropriate design choices by providing the necessary background in
biostatistics, illustrating the effect of choices made in determining sample size,
outlining design methodologies including cluster survey design, as well as a
general overview of the process of designing and conducting surveys. The
computer-based Micronutrient Malnutrition case study was based on an
actual national survey conducted in 1996 in Azerbaijan that covered, among
other health determinants, the rate of anemia in the population. The training
was coupled with RightSize, a computer software tool, which simplified the
statistical calculations in determining sample size. This tool reinforces the
choices and assumptions necessary to make the appropriate calculations by
requiring the user to input target population size and proportion, confidence
interval and coefficient, and for cluster surveys, the design effect and rate of
homogeneity. Users supply their own assumptions and see the effects on the
costs and precision of the survey in both text and graphs. The training was
formatively evaluated in applied epidemiology training programs in Central
America and Japan. The RightSize program has been used for over 5 years to
calculate sample sizes for national cluster surveys in the Philippines.
ABSTRACT NO. 163. CHALLENGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOOD
COMPOSITION DATABASES IN AFRICA
Makokha AO
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi,
Kenya
Quantitative data on the composition of foods is the basis for human
nutritional research and for food and nutrition policies at national and
international levels. It is also becoming increasingly important in international
trade. Widespread advances in information technology and computer
techniques have made the exchange of food composition databases among
African countries and regions feasible. However, the development of these
databases is very limited in Africa. Most of the existing databases do not
address important African foods, such as the frequently eaten composite and
mashed foods. For vegetables, nutrients are often given for fresh vegetables,
whereas they are usually cooked before consumption in most African
communities. There is a need for a systematic approach to the collection of
food composition data in Africa, and construction of new databases that are
compatible with other databases and systems. Even with the limited food
composition data available, development of such a systematic database is
impeded by variable data quality from different laboratories. Collaborative
studies among nutrition laboratories in African institutions, with standardized
quality assurance systems of the analytical data, should be encouraged. There
is also need for development of standard reference materials relevant to
African foods. Given the limited resources and the wide variety of foods
available, prioritization of the foods and nutrients to be analyzed
collaboratively need to be made.
ABSTRACT NO. 164. THE CHALLENGES OF SETTING UP AN AFRICAN
NUTRITION JOURNAL
Oniang’o RK, Makokha AO, Mutuku M
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi,
Kenya
S21

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 22
S22
Even with the advent of modern information technologies, the peer reviewed
journal remains an authoritative communication channel among
professionals. Most existing Nutrition Journals do not address issues that are
of specific interest to Africa. There is need to have journals where nutritionists
in Africa can share experiences relevant to Africa. A few attempts have been
made to set up such journals. This paper shares the experiences of setting up
the African Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences. Among the challenges
that were encountered are those of mobilising resources to meet the costs of
producing the journal. There were also problems of limited subscription
demand within Africa. There are still problems of efficient communication
among African based nutritionists and institutions even in this era of
electronic communication. There are language barriers such as those between
Anglophone and Francophone Africa. However, there are also interesting
opportunities which are fulfilling. Nutritional issues that are of relevance to
Africa have a place where they can be addressed. Conversely a number of
nutritionists who may not have had an avenue for publishing their work do
have one now.
ABSTRACT NO. 165. Distance Education: Masters in Nutrition Programme
Marais D, Herselman M, Blaauw R, Visser J, Labadarios D
Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of
Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7505,
South Africa
A unique, modularised, certificate-based Masters in Nutrition programme was
started via distance learning, by the Department of Human Nutrition,
University of Stellenbosch (Figure 1). This mode of learning offers the students
the opportunity to update their knowledge at an advanced level and/or to
complete a postgraduate degree according to what is possible/feasible for
them at any given time. The modularised Masters programme consists of four
Modules (6 months each), one of which, the fourth Module, takes the format
of a research project. As indicated in Figure 1, Module 3 has three options and
various study units can be chosen within each option. A manual (the “Reader”
and study guide) containing all the study material for each Module is
provided to each student soon after registration so as to overcome any
difficulties a student may experience in accessing the scientific literature. The
study guide for each Module also includes a baseline self-study activity in
order to ensure that each student is, as far as possible, brought up to the same
level of basic knowledge and guides the student through the module.
Additional written assignments have been purpose-designed for the rest of the
content of each Module and these make up the class mark for the module. A
3-hour examination is written at the end of the module. The programme is
completely presented via distance education and it includes Interactive TV
(ITV) and communication via e-mail and the Internet as well as
telephone/post.
Students hail from all over South Africa and internationally (USA, UK, Kenya
and Korea). There are currently 33 students registered for the first semester,
2002. A total of 21 students successfully completed their modules at the end
of the first year. Student dropout rates were attributed to the extra workload
of the post-graduate course together with full-time work commitments.
Students have provided positive feedback verbally and, most importantly,
suggested some improvements to the course, which were implemented in the
2002 programme. The programme content is revised every two years.
Figure 1. Modularised course structure.
Module 1
Nutritional status
assessment
Module 2
Nutritional
Epidemiology
Masters in Nutrition
Option A
Therapeutic
Nutrition
Module 3
Option B
Community
Nutrition
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
Option C
Food Service
Administration
ABSTRACTS
Module 4
Research
project
ABSTRACT NO. 166. Postgraduate distance education in nutrition
Marais D, Blaauw R, Labadarios D
Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of
Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7505,
South Africa
The mission of the department on distance education is aimed at making the
University of Stellenbosch (US) accessible to a geographically dispersed and
diverse student population. Core values and behavioural norms such as
quality academic products, integrity in service rendering and accessibility
provide cornerstones for the University’s distance education endeavours.
Recently, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) has become
compulsory for all South African health professionals including dietitians.
CPD is education and training undertaken beyond the requirements for entry
into the profession of dietetics. As new information and technology become
available at a rapidly growing rate, dietitians must continually improve their
knowledge and skills, be open to new ideas and advances in the field of
nutrition and dietetics.
Eighty-five dietitians from all over South Africa attended a 2-day CPD course
hosted by the Department of Human Nutrition, US, in June 1999. The
dietitians were asked to complete an evaluation form of the course regarding,
amongst others, distance education. Of the 63 completed questionnaires, 57
(90%) showed an interest in distance education. In terms of information
technology (IT) facilities available to them, 23% had access to e-mail, 32% the
telephone, 38% postal services and 5% Inter-active television sessions (ITV).
The preferred mode of presentation of such courses was given as 32% e-mail,
64% the printed educational material and 4% ITV. In June 2001, the
department hosted the first distance education CPD course. Of the 165
dietitians that registered for the CPD course, 120 attended the traditional
lecture-based course, whereas 45 dietitians from more distant locations in the
country opted for the distance learning option. Delegates attended ITV
sessions at 6 different centres around South Africa. Relevant printed learning
material was posted to all delegates beforehand and a 3-hour ITV session was
held during which the key aspects of the course were covered. Dietitians
obtained CPD points for attending the ITV session and completing the
multiple-choice questionnaires based on the articles that had to be studied in
their own time. Evaluation forms for the course were received from the
majority of delegates. All comments were extremely favourable, motivating
the department to continue and expand this method of training. The
department plans another CPD distance education course to run parallel to the
traditional lecture-based course in June 2002.
ABSTRACT NO. 167. The design for a self-teaching nutrition web page
Pietersen CD, Labuschagne I, Du Plessis K, Woodley HM, Labadarios D
NICUS: The Nutrition Information Centre at the University of Stellenbosch;
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Academic
Hospital, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
The mission of the Nutrition Information Centre of the University of
Stellenbosch (NICUS) is the provision of up-to-date, credible and authoritative
information in order to promote a scientifically sound nutrition culture. This
proves to be a challenge in an era of information overload, with the lay public
interested in whatever draws their attention. This challenge extends to the
Internet, which has become a battlefield of ideas and information between the
scientifically sound and the all too present quacks. South Africa is not immune
to this global battle and it is within this background that this web page has
been developed.
The web page is to be a self-teaching tool that would provide credible
information to the lay public (particularly in South Africa) balanced with
stimulating visuals. The intention is to impact and capture the attention of the
viewer with full-colour visuals within a few seconds and then to create a
lasting impression with credible and practical information.
Currently the web page provides an introduction to basic nutrition and the
varied diet in a self-teaching unit that systematically provides information
about various nutrition concepts, how to make good food choices, how to
implement them, and how to monitor these choices.
Future goals are to expand the web page so that it becomes relevant to more
diverse populations yet remains appropriate to the user in terms of depth of
knowledge, practicality and application. The webpage will diverge into
various areas, focusing particularly on the lay public as the target population,
including adults and children.

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 23
The ultimate aim is to make the web page an ever-evolving self-learning
system that provides credible information in a fun and interactive style that
remains relevant to the target population.
ABSTRACT NO. 190. Influence of new IT on food chemistry and human
nutrition course for students of pharmacy in Poland
Schlegel-Zawadzka M*, Przyslawski J**, Bertrandt J ***, Klos A***
*Department of Continuing Education and Postgraduate Studies, and Department of
Food Chemistry and Nutrition, Collegium Medicum Jagiellonian University, 9
Medyczna Str., 30-688 Krakow
**Chair and Department of Bromatology and Human Nutrition, Medical Academy, 42
Marcelinska Str., 60-345 Poznan
***Military Institute of Hygiene&Epidemiology, 4 Kozielska Str., 01-163 Warszawa;
Poland
Pharmacy education in Poland has a long tradition dating back to the 18th
century. The first pharmacy faculty was established at the Jagiellonian
University in 1783. Almost from the first years students (firstly only men and
in the end of XIX century also women) were taught about proper food and
adequate nutrition.
The XXI century gives a new opportunity to implement high information
technology for lecturing, preparing classes for students and their self-learning.
A new vision of Polish chemists and a role of pharmacists in health promotion
and pharmaceutical care need to use new sources of collecting information and
spreading it among patients.
Students of pharmacy in Poland have from 75 to 90 lecture hours (each hour 45
minutes) at the fourth year of study, a course which is called bromatology
(broma – food, logos – science in Greek), in English it is translated as food
chemistry and nutrition. This course is giving students a basic knowledge
about food, nutrition value of food, sources of nutrients, their influence on
human health and interactions between food and drug. Some departments in
Poland prepare special modules about civilization diseases and their
connection with nutrition. There are lectures and classes. During the last
semester (5th year) students should prepare the master thesis supervised by an
independent university teacher with a high degree. Moreover, during study
they have an informatics course at the first year.
Computers were implemented in bromatology for the first time in 19881. It was
a programme to teach the proper nutrition behavior to students of pharmacy.
BASIC language was used to write it. It calculated the daily intake of different
nutrients in diets. Later on students started to write their master work using
their own Amstrad’s or next PC computers. Statistical programmes were not
very popular at that time. Almost all statistical procedures were written by
teachers, who were fascinated by these new possibilities.
Last few years of Microsoft’s and StatSoft’s campaigns with decreasing prices
for official programmes allowed Universities to buy new academic versions.
Courses prepared by the Polish Center of StatSoft increased the number of
academic scientists to use in the routine such programme as Statistica work
with students. Almost all students in some bromatology departments are using
this programme during statistical estimation. Specially, some modules (tables)
are very useful for the nutrition questionnaire study. During classes,
programme FOOD prepared by the Polish National Food and Nutrition
Institute is used for seeking nutrient deficits in daily diets by students
themselves. An access to Internet databases free of charge for students gives
them opportunity to prepare special presentation, now more and more popular
with the use of the Power Point programme. An increasing knowledge how to
use computer is also visible during operating different apparatus –
chromatographs, atomic absorption apparatus. The first version of the specially
prepared programme on CD-ROM gives information about drug and food
interactions. It is very useful for both students and professionals.
All this opportunity will allow to prepare the students of pharmacy to be good
advisors for patients and to resolve previously unclear problems. But high
technology will never replace the pharmacists’ personal contact and chats with
patients, who in Poland have freedom to choose the most familiar pharmacy.
References.
1. Schlegel M, Zachwieja Z, Plewa J. Dydaktyczny program komputerowy do
nauczania zasad prawidlowego zywienia studentow farmacji. Probl Szkoln
Nauk Med. 1989, 14, 41-44.
ABSTRACTS
ABSTRACT NO. 194. USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO
DISSEMINATE NUTRITION MESSAGES RELATED TO HIV/AIDS TO
THE RURAL POPULATION IN MALAWI
Chawanje CM 1 , Chiwona-Karltun Linley 2
1 University of Malawi The Polytechnic P/Bag 303 Chichiri Blantyre 3 Malawi
2Department of Plant biology Swedish University of agricultural Sciences Box 7050
SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
The importance of good nutrition in the prevention of and coping with
HIV/AIDS is well recognized. Malawi has a population of 11 million people, of
which 77 % lives in the rural areas and 41 % is illiterate. HIV/AIDS is rampant.
Although printed information on nutrition as related to HIV/AIDS is readily
available, it cannot be assimilated by illiterate population. For example, the two
CD-Roms (Nutrition in Africa 1 and 2) for nutrition training of undergraduates
prepared by African professionals during a training programme in Sweden, are
not accessible to illiterate people. It is therefore essential to develop computerbased
learning material on nutrition as related to HIV/AIDS for such people.
We propose to develop computer based and animated nutrition learning
material using graphics and cartoons that convey messages on the relationship
between nutrition and HIV/AIDS that are readily assimilated by illiterate
people, particularly in rural areas where electricity is readily available. The
main objective is to use information technology to disseminate nutrition
messages to rural illiterate communities targeted at the prevention of and
coping with HIV/AIDS.
ABSTRACT NO. 198. NUTRITION EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL
INFORMATION HIGHWAY: USE OF ON-LINE APPLICATIONS AND
SELECTED PACKAGES.
Sigot Asenath J
Maseno University, P O Private Bag, Maseno Kenya
New and emerging information technologies provide opportunities for
nutrition educators to enhance communication efforts, which can improve the
health and well-being of all people. Computer technologies are providing
viable means of exchanging nutrition information among professionals and
informing and influencing the public. Nutrition education programmes are
available on diskettes, CD-ROM and laser disks that can be used at computer
workstations or stand-alone kiosks. The major types of nutrition education
computer programmes pertain to food composition, food service, nutrient
analysis, recipe management, menu planning, clinical nutrition, drug-nutrient
interactions, health risk assessment, food and nutrition games. In addition to
programmes specific to their field, nutrition educators are also assisted by
general production tools such as graphic packages, computer photo, clip art
collections, and presentation software. The software for public presentations
allows nutrition educators to enhance their talks by incorporating pictures,
sound, animation texts and video. Using word processing and desktop
publishing software, nutrition educators can create professional-looking
newsletters, booklets and educational materials such as posters, cards and
charts to meet diverse needs and give a more personalized image.
The use of on-line applications by nutrition educators is just emerging in
developing countries. With a computer that can communicate with other
computers through telephone line, satellite transmissions or network wires, the
nutrition educator can enter cyberspace or the global information highway.
Nutrition information can be exchanged through electronic mail, internet and
other computer networks; the World Wide Web, electronic databases, electronic
bulletin board systems, faxes and interactive non-commercial television
provide user friendly interface to the Net. Internet can also be used for
interactive teaching in health education promotion via on-line teaching and
interaction with off-campus students at the “Virtual Campus.” It can also
provide a means for communication networking and collaboration among
members of the international nutrition community.
ABSTRACT NO. 206. Training of health professionals in nutrition at the
university of Nairobi, Kenya: Opportunities and challenges in the use of
information technology
Thuita F
P.O. Box 178, Nairobi 00202, Kenya
Training of health professionals in public health nutrition is aimed at equipping
them with knowledge and skills necessary for tackling malnutrition both at
S23

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 24
S24
health facility and community levels in Kenya. Within the university of
Nairobi, Public health nutrition training is given to; undergraduate medical
students, Post graduate Masters in Public health trainees and Senior health
managers who annually undertake a short course in Applied Epidemiology.
Different aspects of information technology are being utilized in training and
conducting research with these groups. Various challenges have also been
experienced.
Linkage of the departmental computing network on a fulltime basis to the
Internet has led to a significant improvement in the quality of teaching
nutrition for all groups. This is mainly through improved access to the latest
materials and information in the field of nutrition. The Internet is being used in
conducting literature search for nutrition related research, assignments and
thesis preparation and write up. Staff and Postgraduate students are utilizing
nutrition software available -SPSS and EPI-INFO to prepare research
instruments and to analyze data from community nutrition surveys. Access to
the Internet has facilitated acquisition of up-to date nutrition materials
(including CD’s) through ordering for publications or downloading. This
opportunity is also being utilized to stock up the nutrition section of the
departmental resource center with up-to- date nutrition materials. Individuals
have also signed up with strategic organizations for notification of nutrition
related meetings and new materials as they become available through the net.
Constraints experienced have centered around increasing numbers of students
vis a vis available facilities and lack of some crucial hardware to facilitate use
of available nutrition related CD’s.
ABSTRACT NO. 207. NUTRITION NETWORKING IN AFRICAN
COUNTRIES, 2002
Bukania ZN
College of Agriculture and veterinary sciences, Department of Food Technology and
Nutrition, Applied Nutrition Programme University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053
Kabete Kenya
Nutrition networking is when a group of people, organizations and institutions
exchange information in the form of literature and data for professional
purposes in the field of nutrition, health and diseases, using a chain of
interconnected computers, or connected for a simultaneous broadcast of
programmes in order to operate interactively. Nutrition issues, including
promotion of food supply, nutritional conditions, and deficiencies in relation to
health issues are widely experienced by private and public institutions as well
as individuals. Organizations at community level, deal to a larger extent with
the largest population and are able to identify basic causes of nutritional
problems. On the other hand, institutions such as hospitals receive persons
affected by nutritional deficiencies and diseases that require nutritional
interventions. With networking through established nutrition programmes and
databases, organizations at community level make available information and
data on nutritional issues. This helps those at institutional level such as
hospitals relate perceived conditions and the way they affect nutritional status
of individuals and populations. Creating common websites to interlink
institutions and organizations that deal with nutrition and health related issues
will ensure that nutrition professionals have access to the latest research
information and data of different regions.
This kind of networking will allow professional interaction and sharing of
experiences and this may allow inter-institutional training in the field of
nutrition with a common aim solving nutrition related problems.
ABSTRACT NO. 208. USE OF THE MALIAN FOOD COMPOSITION
TABLE AND DATABASE FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF
EXCHANGE SOFTWARE TO USE IN WEST AFRICA COUNTRIES.
Barikmo I 1 , Ouattara F 2 , Oshaug A 1
1 Akershus University College, Ringstadbekkv 105, 1356 Bekkestua, Norway,
2 Institut National de Recherche en Santé Publique, Bamako, Mali
The development of personal computers, software and Internet has opened up
new possibilities for developing and using food composition databases.
A new hard copy of Food Composition Table for Mali will be published in 2002.
In connection to this a further development of the database management
system and software with a user-friendly interface should continue. This is
inadequately developed in West Africa.
One of the challengers is how to use software and IT with an interface facilitate
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
exchange and use of food composition data between researchers, teachers,
organisations, public health workers, authorities and others working with food
and nutrition security and assessment.
Another challenger is how can food composition databases reflect the local
nutrient variation of the different foods? A hard copy of a food table usually
gives each food item an average value for the different nutrients, and at best
indicating the variations. The food samples from Mali showed however such a
big local variation for example in yellow maize, namely for iron 0.4mg/100g to
16.1mg/100g, that it is obvious that using an average of 5.5mg/100g will in
most cases be wrong.
A database for exchange should be linked to a software, accessible on the
Internet, making it possible to develop a food composition table with the food
items from a specific area (or different areas), adapted to the need of the users.
This is a possible future development for the Malian Food Composition
Database.
ABSTRACT NO. 210. PAEDIATRICS DATABASE TO IMPROVE THE
CLINICAL CARE AND RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY TEACHING
HOSPITAL IN LUSAKA ZAMBIA
Bhat G1 , Kankasa C1 , Campbell J1 , Tumeo R1 , Bwale J1 , Hirota M 2 , Mitchell C 3 ,
Klaskala W 3
1School of Medicine and University Teaching Hospital (UTH) P.O. Box 50110 Lusaka,
Zambia
2 JICA PHC Project LDHMT Lusaka
3 University of Miami School of Medicine Miami, USA
Over the past four years the paediatrics admissions at UTH in Lusaka Zambia
have ranged from 21,185 to 24, 263 with an average hospital mortality of 16.4%.
To improve the clinical care and access to research, a Paediatrics Patients
Database (PPDB) was established in February 2000 in collaboration with the
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Primary Health Care (PHC)
project, Lusaka District Health Management Team (LDHMT), University of
Zambia School of Medicine (SOM), and the University of Miami International
Training in Medical Informatics (ITMI) program. A Medical Informatics
Working Group (MIWG) was established to oversee the development of the
PPDB. Twenty data entry persons have been trained in the computer usage
and data entry of medical records; A server and five work stations in
conjunction with the establishment of a local area network (LAN) at the UTH
paediatrics wing are currently being utilized as part of the PPDB in order to
accomplish the goals set by the MIWG.
Two supervisory staff members were trained for six months and one more staff
member is currently being trained in the USA. The PPDB has resulted in
providing three feedback reports to the community health centers through the
LDHMT-JICA PHC. Record keeping and access to basic health information has
improved and there has been a slight reduction in hospital mortality from year
2000 (17.1%) to year 2002 (15.5%), however this is not statistically significant.
All collaborating partners are committed to strengthening the PPDB to improve
child survival in Zambia.
ABSTRACT NO. 211. INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECH-
NOLOGY: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR DELIVERY OF
NUTRITION EDUCATION AMONGST RURAL COMMUNITIES IN
KENYA
Wagah Margaret Akinyi
Department of Educational Communication &Technology, Kenyatta University, P.O
Box 43844, Nairobi, Kenya
Despite the glaring fact that Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) is spreading rapidly worldwide, there is still a conspicuous gap between
the information have’s in the North and the information have not’s in the
South, and this gap is seemingly affecting a every aspect of socio-economic
development and health and nutrition has not been spared.
Indeed, utilization of ICT amongst professionals in health and nutrition as tools
of communicating health and nutrition messages is dismal. Worse still,
utilization of ICT amongst local communities is non-existent. Amongst
professionals and para-professionals alike, ICT remains abstractive. Worse still,
it is out of reach for the rural populations whose major preoccupation remains
the struggle for basic needs as food. To talk of an ICT to an impoverished rural
Kenyan is to talk of an idea whose time has not yet come.
Yet it’s now becoming increasingly clear that the benefits of ICT as a

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 25
communication tool is insurmountable. According to a report by IDRC (1997),
knowledge is key to sustainable development hence improvements in human
well-being depends on its production, its distribution, ownership and wise
application. ICT is clearly a vehicle through which all communities and
professionals can strive to attain sustainable development. Further, ICT has a
great potential in connecting nations, countries and communities on a global
scale.
But while talk on benefits of ICT continues unabated, one factor that is
abundantly clear is that the food and nutrition situation in sub-Saharan Africa
is wanting. Overall, trend analysis show declining nutritional status while the
food security status is equally cutting. Despite efforts and interventions
towards achieving nutrition and food security, little evidence by way of
improvement is underway. What then should be the way out? The big
challenge now is on nutrition knowledge management. How to take ICT to
communities in a manner that will address their nutritional needs will be
critical to this discussion paper. Of course, it is needless to say that this
proposed discussion would be the first of its kind in this country to determine
how application of ICT can address nutritional problems in society.
As well, this discussion paper believes that the university professionals can
longer remain distanced from community development rather they are capable
of transforming communities by designing, packaging and disseminating
appropriate nutrition messages using information technologies in a
stimulating, user friendly, culturally acceptable and effective manner. At the
moment however, it is sad to note that local communities are not in a position
to access relevant and appropriate nutrition education and information in an
interactive manner.
This paper will therefore offer a critique on utilization of ICT for community
nutrition, but most importantly, it will propose how ICT’s set up in rural
communities can enhance nutritional knowledge and consequently nutritional
well-being.
ABSTRACT NO. 214. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AS PERTAINS TO
FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION IN EASTERN NIGERIA
Nneoma Elechi Nyelucheya
Dept. of Food Science and Technology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,
Abia, State, Nigeria
This paper reviews information technology as an essential tool necessary for
research and development in every civilized society. It also considers the
benefits of adequate exploitation of information technology in good science
and nutrition in Nigeria, such as the enhancement of technological
advancement, enablement of effective processing and preservation of our
abundant food products, and the control of nutrition related diseases. It also
considers the unfortunate situation in the eastern part of our country where
most universities and research institutes lack computers and subsequently are
not linked to the Internet. Also electronic and other journals that have needed
information are not available. Subsequently experiments/researchers are
repeated and often with outdated methodologies. This also leads to lack of
continuity of researches. Finally, this paper also considers possible solutions to
these problems. These include the need to organize workshops and seminars
on the necessity of information technology in Food Science and related fields,
seeking of foreign aids, and getting the government sensitized on the need to
adequately fund the acquisition of information technology in these.
ABSTRACT NO. 217. INTERNATIONAL MICRONUTRIENT EDITION OF
CDCYNERGY: A GUIDE TO COMMUNICATION PLANNING
L’édition internationale de micro nutriment CDCynergy: un guide de
planification de la communication
Anderson, B 1 Bobrow EA 1 , Parvanta I 1 , Parvanta C 2 , Brandon V 2 , Cole G 2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Nutrition and Physical
Activity 1 and the Office of Communication 2 , 4770 Buford Hwy NE, MS K-25, Atlanta,
GA 30341 USA
CDCynergy is a CD-Rom based tool that provides a systematic framework for
planning, implementing, managing, and evaluating health communication
programs within a public health context. The International Micronutrient
Edition of CDCynergy contains a basic planning framework with a tutorial
which provides written and video instructions plus six case studies adapted
from international micronutrient communication projects conducted by
various agencies (vitamin A supplementation, salt iodization, folic acid
fortification, iron supplementation, dietary improvement and multinutrient
supplementation), a media library with materials from the highlighted
ABSTRACTS
programs, documents and research publications, and a planning workbook.
Users are guided through 6 phases: 1) Problem Definition and Description
(descriptive epidemiology used to define scope and severity); 2) Problem
Analysis (analytic epidemiology utilized to examine at-risk populations and
causal factors); 3) Identifying and Profiling Audiences (based on research); 4)
Developing Communication Strategies and Tactics (to test concepts, messages
and materials); 5) Developing an Evaluation Plan (to integrate evaluation with
the overall program); and 6) Launch/Feedback.
This product is unique in the world of health communication planning tools in
several regards, since it demonstrates the linkage between descriptive
epidemiology, analytical epidemiology, program planning, and evaluation, it
does not assume that communication will be the dominant intervention, it
provides examples of how different countries planned their program,
conducted and interpreted formative research, produced media and evaluated
results, it places program documents, real media, and reference materials on a
CD-Rom, and, it features international program managers and scientists in a
manner that will motivate others to strive for excellence.
ABSTRACT NO. 221. NESTLE NUTRITION INSTITUTE AFRICA: CPD
INITIATIVE
de Beer Anne-Marie 1 , Blaauw R 2
1 Nestlé Nutrition Institute Africa, South Africa
2 University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
The cornerstone of any profession is the continual pursuit of knowledge and
skills. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is education and training
undertaken beyond the requirements for entry into that profession. CPD is
important to maintain and enhance the image of professionals who are
credible, responsible and accountable for maintaining high standards of
professional practice. It offers members opportunities to move from their
present level of practice to a higher level of practice through planned
professional growth. New legislation in South Africa requires that health
professionals (dietitians and medical practitioners) registered with the Health
Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) needs to comply with certain
guidelines regarding CPD in order to remain registered and be allowed to
practice their professions.
Nestlé South Africa, through the Nestlé Nutrition Institute Africa (NNIA),
participated in the CPD activities for dietitians and medical practitioners
registered with the HPCSA since September 2001. The CPD initiative consists
of two different methods, the first of which have already been implemented. All
registered dietitians and selective specialist groups of medical practitioners
have received articles, with questionnaires accredited for CPD points, by post.
After studying the articles, the completed questionnaires have to be send back
for marking. Up to the end of February 2002, approximately 550 dietitians and
58 medical practitioners have already participated in one or more of these
activities. The overall feedback is very positive and appreciative of the
opportunities provided to them. Furthermore we now have a database of who
have access to the Internet and are using it. Of all our respondents 33% of the
dietitians and 72% of the medical practitioners are using their Internet and email
facilities. Points allocation is accredited in hours spend on the particular
activity. The aim is to provide 24 points for the dietitians per year and 18 for
the medical practitioners this varies between a 1/3 rd and half of the points
required per year by the health worker to stay registered with the Health
professionals council.
Secondly, new articles will be added to the Nestlé nutrition website
(www.nestlenutrition.co.za) every second month as of April 2002. The topics
will alternate between clinical and paediatric nutrition. Participation to the
latter CPD venture will be by registering on the website free of charge. The
practitioner can download the articles and when ready, the questionnaire can
be completed directly on the website. Feedback on the answers will be
provided immediately.
We trust that health professionals will benefit from this system, not only by
obtaining the necessary CPD points, but also by their own professional growth.
ABSTRACT NO. 222. Computer-aided learning in disadvantaged communities
in the Southern Cape and Karoo: A nutrition education initiative
Venter I 1 , Marais D 2 , De Muynk R 3 , Shedden A 3
1Department of Food and Nutrition, School of Life Sciences, Cape Technikon, PO Box
652, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
2Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of
S25

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 26
S26
Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Hospital, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
3 Directorate of Media Services, Western Cape Education Department, PO Box 13266,
Mowbray, 7705, South Africa
According to several studies, the computer is accepted as an instructional
medium that may stimulate interest or motivation1 and has become an
important basic tool for education2 . Nutrition and health education, however,
have made limited use of this tool2 . Computer-Aided Learning (CAL) is a
learner-centered environment having the potential to increase both the
effectiveness and efficiency of nutrition education and to improve student
interest and learning retention2,3 . Studies comparing CAL with traditional
methods have found that it can be as effective or superior1 , especially regarding
having a more positive attitude towards learning4 . It promotes active,
individualised learning1,2,4 and many students reported a preference for CAL
because it is convenient and provides constant interaction2 . By adopting
computers in nutrition education, the opportunity for better use of professional
and client time is provided. Similarly, computerised nutrition education
programs could be a productive use of the time that patients spend in waiting
rooms. Also, clients could benefit from nutritional guidance even when
qualified nutrition educators are not present. The decreasing cost of computers
and the increasing cost of professionals’ time make computers practical today
and likely to become even more practical in the future1. The objective of the
study was to evaluate the efficacy of a Computer-aided learning (CAL)
nutrition module. A pre-test/post-test (immediate and follow-up post-testing)
design was used to evaluate the impact of the CAL nutrition module, using
validated multiple-choice questionnaires. The module consisted of 5
interactive sub-modules each covering a single concept of nutrition (5 to 10
minutes in duration). The total sample was 141 low-income Afrikaansspeaking
adults with low literacy levels attending clinics involved in the
literacy programme in the Southern Cape and Karoo. To evaluate the impact
of the CAL nutrition module regarding knowledge, attitude and behaviour, the
differences between pre- and post-test scores were used. A one-tailed z-test for
comparison of knowledge and attitude scores and a Chi-square test for
responses to behaviour questionnaires were used to determine statistical
significance. The improvement in acquired and retained mean knowledge and
attitude scores was highly significant (p=0.002). Behaviour improved
significantly and was retained for at least a month regarding more meals
(p=0.005), milk intake (p=0.005) and legumes intake (p=0.01). In conclusion, the
study found the use of the interactive CAL nutrition program to be a viable
method of delivering nutrition education to a low-income, low-literacy adult
audience. Viewing the modules resulted in positive changes in knowledge,
attitude and behaviour. Use of the computer and the software material resulted
in the retention of the positive changes in knowledge, attitude and behaviour.
It seems that the benefits of using computers in the clinics may outweigh the
drawbacks. Besides financial implications, the cited drawbacks include the
“non-human” nature of the computer which may have clients feeling that they
have been abandoned by the health personnel and a general dislike for
mechanization or automation, often felt by older persons. Most clients have
affection for the health personnel. Combining the computer and personal
interaction would possibly be the most appropriate method. The CAL
nutrition program was also positively received by the health personnel. The
success of the CAL nutrition program is also illustrated by the request from the
clinic sites on completion of the project for the availability of the program in
English and Xhosa. The program has since been translated into English and
Xhosa.
1. McMurray P and Hoover LW. The Educational Uses of Computers:
Hardware, Software and Strategies. J Nutr Educ 1984; 16(2):39-43.
2. Byrd-Bredbenner C & Bauer K. The Development and Evaluation of
Computer Assisted Instruction Modules for an Introductory, College Level
Nutrition Course. J Nutr Educ 1991; 23(6):275-283
3. Magnus MH & Roe DA. Computer-Assisted Instruction on Drug-nutrient
Interactions for Long-term Caregivers. J Nutr Educ 1991; 23(1):10-16
4. Schroeder L & Thiele VF. Renal Diet Therapy – A Computer-Assisted
Instruction Model. J Nutr Educ 1981; 13(1):S111-S114
ABSTRACT NO. 225. MAPIT – MICRONUTRIENT ACTION PLAN
INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL. A COMPUTER-BASED TRAINING TOOL
ABOUT MICRONUTRIENT MALNUTRITION, 2002
Elbon Suzanne M, Knowles J, Bobrow EA, Timmer A, Nsubuga P
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of International Health,
Epidemiology Program Office, 2877 Brandywine Road, Williams Bldg, 4th Floor, MS
K-72, Atlanta, GA 30341
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
Although micronutrient malnutrition (MM) affects nearly one third of the
world’s population, epidemiologist training programs typically do not include
training on this topic and participation of epidemiologists in MM elimination
programs is generally low. The aim of this project was to develop a training
tool to increase understanding of, and involvement in, MM elimination
programs. We conducted an initial training needs assessment using a
convenience sample (N=26) of Applied Epidemiology Training Program
(AETP) program leaders (42%), AETP participants (16%), and U.S. Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) personnel familiar with MM and/or training
development (42%). Results was conducted indicated that: 1) nearly all the
leaders (89%) and participants (89%) had an entry level of skill related to MM;
2) few AFETP programs (46%) include MM training; and 3) self-study was the
most frequently suggested method (46% of responses) for delivery of new
training materials. We then developed a tool that describes an overview of MM
elimination programs. An interactive CD-ROM format was selected because it
accommodates self-study tools. The Micronutrient Action Planning
Instructional Tool (MAPit) centers on a graphical model of key phases of an
MM elimination program. From this model, users are linked to information
about steps taken at each phase. The CD-ROM contains a database that can be
searched by keyword and sorted by title or author. Following final
development, an evaluation will be conducted on content, navigation, and
usability issues. MAPit provides an innovative approach to instruction that is
interactive and engaging, compact, and economically reproducible.
ABSTRACT NO. 226. WEB-BASED NUTRITION EDUCATIONAL
MATERIAL FOR UNDER-GRADUATE STUDENTS – A PRODUCT OF
GLOBAL NUTRITION 2001
Joseph, Bobby
Department of Community Health, St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore 560034,
INDIA
The Global Nutrition Course for the year 2001 was the third of its kind held by
the Department of Medical Sciences, Nutrition at the Uppsala University,
Sweden. The difference being that this was the first group from Asia. There
were a total of 26 participants from 11 Asian countries.
Briefly – the GN2K1 Programme started on 26th February 2001 and closed on
30th March 2001 – this was termed Phase I. Phase II consisted of a period of
about 6 months at the participant’s home university where preparations were
made in groups for modules to be published in the CD based learning material.
Phase III was the follow-up meeting at Dhaka.
With regard to the educational material that was proposed to be the outcome of
the programme – the group decided to make CD based – Web assisted modules
on selected topics of nutrition with specific relevance to Asia. As with the
previous courses, a listserver facility was installed on 26th March 2001 - a
facility to maintain lines of communication between the group members.
However at the second meeting of the group at Dhaka, the group decided to
use an interface called the Virtual Training Studio to develop its modules.
The process of development of the Virtual Training Studio is discussed in the
paper. The course developer’s perspective is highlighted – detailing the
processes involved in preparing the material for teaching purposes and the
steps in uploading the same on to the Virtual Training Studio. The successes
and failures encountered in the process of developing the new training
interface, from the point of view of the course developing team is discussed in
the paper.
ABSTRACT NO. 228. WEB-BASED NUTRITION COURSES: CASE STUDY
FROM FIRST NATIONS AND INUIT COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN
CANADA
Trifonopoulos M 1 , Martin J 1 , Hamilton S 1 , Collier A 1 , Kishchuk N 1 , De Roose E 2 ,
Johns T 1 And Kuhnlein HV 1
1Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment (CINE), Macdonald
Campus of McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec,
H9X 3V9, Canada
2Department of Health and Social Services, Government of the Northwest Territories,
Box 1320, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2L9, Canada
The needs of and constraints facing health-related field workers in Northern
Canada have relevance in an African context. Many workers in northern
indigenous communities wish to upgrade skills and knowledge in the areas of

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 27
nutrition, environment and health. Barriers to attending face-to-face courses
include the cost of travel and the difficulty spending time away from home.
The emergence of the Internet has created an opportunity to respond to this
need by providing quality training through online courses that are flexible,
learner-centered, and adapted to the needs (e.g. culture, language, literacy) of
target learners.
The Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment (CINE)
collaborated with the Department of Health and Social Services of the
Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), to develop, deliver and
evaluate online training for NWT Canada’s Prenatal Nutrition Program – First
Nations and Inuit Component. A steering committee representing Aboriginal
organizations, regional nutritionists, as well as CINE and GNWT, assisted in all
phases of the project. Key components of the online course, Traditional Food and
Nutrition for Northern Aboriginal Women, included presentation of nutrition
information through story-telling, online quizzes, and time-independent online
discussions in the web site “Meeting Room”. Formative and summative
evaluations included consulting the target audience during course
development and at the end of the course.
In spite of challenges such as unreliable computer and Internet access,
participants found the course a very positive learning experience. More
knowledge of what is involved in developing effective online training for NWT
CPNP workers has resulted, especially with regards to ensuring workers have
the incentive, motivation, and support they need to participate successfully.
The online course provides a model that can guide the development and
delivery of future courses related to nutrition and health for Indigenous
communities across Canada and to health-care professionals in other countries.
ABSTRACT NO. 229. A Wellness On-line Program (WOLP) between
Australia and Malaysia
Omar A, Wahlqvist M, Savige G, Kouris-Blazos A
Monash Asia Institute, PO Box 11A, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
The convergence of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the
health care industry have substantial advantages for users in improving the
quality of lives. Promoting wellness online in primary health care is one
example of how ICT may integrate health care through this ICT application.
WOLP can be disseminated to health professional and patients as well as to the
public at large as part of a broader Telehealth environment. Telehealth can
enable self health-management in partnership with health care providers.
Telehealth refers to the integration of information technologies, medical and health
technologies, telecommunication technologies and human-machine interface
technologies to deliver health care and to promote the health status of the people1,pg.2 . It
is a means of delivering healthcare, which can support the “wellness”
paradigm. With informed patients and public, illness prevention at an early
stage can increase their wellness prospects and with reduced costs, shortened
lengths of hospital stays, and enhanced economic productivity, which together
can build healthy nations1,2 .
The present study aims to assess users’ acceptance of WOLP and the role of
these programs in wellness management, which is Self-Driven or Primary
Health Care-Driven. The Internet and Automated Digital Telephones (ADT) are
the information technology devices for this study. The Technology Acceptance
Model 3,4,5 , will be adapted to measure acceptance of the WOLP. Behavioral
changes6, including physical activity and food intake, and factors associated
with emotional health are program elements. The engagement of doctors is
taken into consideration in the primary health care option. Cross-cultural
differences between Australia and Malaysia are of interest in this study. The
study will evaluate the determining factors of user acceptance and impact of
WOLP in relation to “hierarchy of technology”, “engagement in the healthcare
system” and “cross cultural difference”.
References
1. Ministry of Health Malaysia. MSC Telehealth Flagship Application: Integrated
Telehealth. Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 2000: 1 – 8.
2. Anonymous. Managing patient care needs in the 21st century. Health
Management Technology, Atlanta 1998; 19(7): 65 – 66.
3. Davis FD. Perceived usefulness perceived ease of use, and user acceptance
of information technology. MIS quarterly 1989; 13(3): 319 – 340.
4. Agarwal R., and Prasad J. Are individual differences germane to the
acceptance of new information technologies. Decision Sciences 1999; 30(2):
361 – 391.
5. Kieran M, Peacock E, and Chin WW. Extending the technology acceptance
model: the influence of perceived user resources. Database for advances in
information systems 2001; 32(3): 86 – 112.
ABSTRACTS
6. Powers SK, and Dodd SL. The essentials of Total Fitness: exercise, nutrition, and
wellness. United States: Allyn and Bacon, 1997.
ABSTRACT NO. 230. IT AND NUTRITION EDUCATION IN AFRICA, 2002
Kilungu OM
Department of Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844,
Nairobi, Kenya
There is an important three-way link between education, technology and
development that is becoming critical in the age of globalization. Technology
has always been a major nutrition educator to enhance communication efforts,
which can improve the health and well being of people everywhere. Computer
technologies are providing viable means of exchanging nutrition information
among professionals and informing and influencing people.
Computer programmes have been developed that run without telephone,
television, satellite or other electronic transmissions, these programs are of
great use for nutrition educators. Nowadays computer and also at
workstations. There are many programs that have been developed for
nutrition to date they include anthropometrical analysis, nutrient analysis,
menu planning, clinical nutrition, food and nutrition library and many more.
Most of these programmes have been developed by the developed countries
and they are available in every part of the world.
In Africa information technology is picking up slowly despite the development
of user-friendly nutrition programs. Most of the nutrition educators are not
aware of these programs and more so they are computer illiterate, hence
nutrition programs have been under utilized in Africa. This paper seeks to
address the importance of information technology in nutrition education,
nutrition programs available, the importance of Internet in nutritional
education, the need of African nutrition educationist to develop their own
nutrition programs anthropometrical and nutrient analysis and the
shortcoming of information technology in Africa.
ABSTRACT NO. 232. THE IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS ON COMMUNAL AND
COMMERCIAL FARMING COMMUNITIES IN NAMIBIA
Lipinge Scholastika N
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Namibia. Windhoek, Namibia
A study was commissioned by FAO in conjunction with the Ministry of
Agriculture, Water and Rural Development in Namibia in 2001. The University
of Namibia was contracted to conduct the study in seven regions of Namibia.
In total four hundred and twenty six respondents were interviewed using a
questionnaire and twenty focus group discussions were held with the farming
communities using a focus group interview schedule
The study looked at the following aspects, namely the effects on social
structures such as rural institutions and associations and the family structure;
the impacts in relation to health; labour and income; land ownership, access
and property inheritance; effects on agricultural productions.
The study came to the following conclusions: death and sickness rob
households of people who have gained important education from mutual
assistance organisations on how to practice farming techniques. Death and
sickness also rob organisations of individuals that initiate and reach others
methods of agricultural production.
HIV/AIDS might, through death and sickness, lead to poor attendance of
meetings that upgrade agricultural skills among members of mutual assistance.
HIV/AIDS deaths are affecting a wide range spectrum of communal farmers
and lesser extent commercial farmers especially so in the northern part of the
country.
Older children that take charge of other children cannot sustain agricultural
production at the same level as their parents because they have less knowledge
and experience of farming. Thus, the use of child labour comprises the quantity
and quality of production.
Parent’s death interrupts the socialisation of younger children and their formal
and non-formal education. Interrupted education will create less able farmers
for the future.
All communities are affected by the disease personally or socially. The
responsibility of caring for the sick in the family lies primarily with women
who are the backbone of agriculture production, especially in the communal
areas.
S27

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 28
S28
Community support systems for the persons affected by HIV/AIDS are not
well established in the farming communities.
The level of stigma is still high in some communities and this may hinder the
health seeking behaviours of the affected and infected persons.
HIV/AIDS infection has contributed to the reduction of labour inputs on
various farm enterprises and operations in communal and some commercial
farms. The consequences of the reduction of labour inputs are reduced area
cultivated, increase use of child labour, changes in the crops grown and less
intensive husbandry practices.
The sale of livestock to cover medical bills will result in a decline amount of off
take especially from the from the northern and north-eastern parts of the
country. At the international level, this will mean reduced sales of beef by
Namibia to south Africa and the European Union.
In commercial farms, the security of land and property, in terms of inheritance
assures continuity of agricultural production after the death of a husband due
to HIV/AIDS.
Gains in increased agricultural production are threatened by the HIV/AIDS
pandemic as the elderly and weakened members of the extended family have
not only to feed themselves but also increasing orphans.
From all these conclusions, various recommendations were formulated to
address the impact of HIV/AIDS on the farming communities in Namibia.
ABSTRACT NO. 247. Development of Nutrition policy analysis and
advocacy in Nigeria using PROFILES
Oguntona Tunde*, Aminu Francis**, Williams Abimbola** and Aguayo
Victor***
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta*
BASICS II Nigeria**
HKI Africa***
Infant and child mortality rates in Nigeria are among the highest in Africa and
52% of these deaths are caused by malnutrition. PEM is an old problem in
Nigeria (35% of U-5 are underweight, NDHS, 1990) with prevalence rates
higher than those of many African countries. Micronutrient deficiency rates are
also high. Available data indicate that anemia afflicts 25% of women and in
some areas VAD rates are higher than 16%. Given these high malnutrition rates,
there was need for effective advocacy to effect changes in policies and
programs in favor of nutrition in the country.
PROFILES was employed for analysis of the nutrition situation of mothers and
children. The analysis reveals great benefit for survival and the economy if
appropriate actions were to be taken now. In the next ten years, benefits to
Nigeria’s economy would amount to 1.5 billion dollars due to the elimination
of IDD, 1.1 billion dollars due to reduction of child stunting and 0.4 billion
dollars due to reduction of anemia in women of reproductive age. Additionally,
over 10000 lives of mothers will be saved by reduction of anemia in women,
over 63000 children lives will be saved by reduction of PEM and 155000 others
from elimination of VAD. Using these data, PROFILES was then used to
develop a nutrition advocacy for policy makers in the health sector. The
objectives were to demonstrate why good nutrition should be considered as an
input into development process rather than just an outcome. It was also to
present cost effective interventions. It was hoped that this will generate
political, institutional and financial support for increased investment in
nutrition programs in Nigeria.
ABSTRACT NO. 248. Microbiological contamination of household food and
water in displaced areas in Sudan
Osman, Faiza
Epidemiology and Clinical Studies, University of Khartoum, Sudan
Background
Food contamination can play a critical role in the etiology and pathogeneses of
many diseases, especially among poor population. All types of food
contaminants (MICROBIAL, CHEMICAL) can happened naturally or due to
exposure to bad environment or unhygienic situations. In poor areas with bad
environmental conditions and low socioeconomic status many types of food
spoilage, poisonings and microbiological diseases can occur among the
population, so the detection, identification and classification of different type of
these microorganisms can give us a good picture about the expected health
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
problems. The aflatoxins for example have been shown to be toxic in many
foods and produced great hazards to human health.
Objectives
To identify different types of microbial contaminants in food.
To study the effects of food handling, preparation and processing, and
consumption of food contaminants.
To investigate the relationship between food products, additives and their
constituents for the presence of potential spoilage of food.
Material and methods
Twenty different types of household foods were chosen randomly from houses
in displaced areas in Sudan during the cross sectional survey done for food,
water and nutrition evaluation. The raw and processed food materials were
collected according to dominant food items.
Different microbiological examinations were done. Different microbiological
methods were used for microbiological isolation and identification and
evaluated according to the international guides for food safety and hygiene.
Chromatographic tech. was used for aflatoxin determination, and
microbiological analysis of water samples were carried out according to
APHA/ AWWA / WPCF. Accordingly, total bacterial count, coliform bacteria,
yeast and moulds and staphylococci were determined.
Results and discussion
The microbiological tests show that the majority of food was contaminated
with different types of microorganisms. Salmonella species also were also
found which is a result of unhygienic practices of food preparation and
handling.
The microbiological examination of tape water is below the normal standard
according water safety guides. The water from storage containers and ice water
was found to be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, which indicated that
the contamination can happen due to contamination from environment and
bad use of storage containers.
Conclusion
The number of organisms in a particular food substances at any given time will
depend on the nature of the food stuff, its temperature, processing and keeping
quality, however pathogens in food do not usually change the appearances test
or flavors of it.
ABSTRACT NO. 249. NUTRITION IN AFRICA IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY:
PERSPECTIVES, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Kinabo Joyce
Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Food Science and Technology PO
Box 3006, Morogoro Tanzania
This review provides an overview of the nutritional situation in Africa and
discusses briefly some of the factors that influence nutritional status of the
different age groups of the population. Malnutrition in Africa is increasing due
to various factors, some of which involve the changing global economic
policies. Perspectives of globalisation in relation to nutrition in Africa and the
opportunities and challenges faced by nutritionists and people working in the
field of nutrition are presented. Globalisation is affecting food patterns and
diseases patterns in Africa hence changing the scenario of the nutrition
problems in Africa. Africa is now facing a double burden of having to deal with
the traditional nutritional problems associated with under-nutrition and the
emerging problems of over-nutrition in ailing African economies characterised
by poor physical and information technology infrastructure, unskilled and
unmotivated workers and increasing poverty. Africa has a long way to go to be
able to participate in the global economy and therefore improve the nutritional
status of its people. To do so it will need to revamp skills and invest
significantly in human development including improving the nutritional
status of the people who are an essential element for production and
productivity.

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 29
Poster Presentations: Contents
ABSTRACTS
Abstract No. Title
40 Immunocompetence and hypocholesterolaemic potentials of Tinospora cordifolia and Eclipta alba on post-menopausal
women
Les potentiels d'immunocompétence et d'hypercholestérolémie de Tinospora cordifolia et Eclipta alba sur les femmes post-ménopausées
Haripriya Sundaramoothy, Chandrasekhar Usha. Avinashilingam Univ, India
41 Carotene content of commonly consumed vegetables subjected to dehydration
Contenue de carotène dans les légumes couramment consommés sujets à la déshydratation
Balasasirekha Ramanujam, Kowsalya S. Chandrasekhar Usha, Avinashilingam Univ, India
44 Household food security: copying strategies of low resource households in Khayelitsha to ensure food security
Sécurité alimentaire des ménages: stratégies de survie des ménages à peu de ressources à Khayelitsha pour assurer la sécurité
alimentaire
Maliwichi Lucy Lynn, Univ of Venda, South Africa; Bourne L, Medical Research Council, South Africa; Sukwana V, Univ of the
Western Cape, South Africa
45 Prevalence of aflatoxins and fumonisines in Western Burkina Faso
Prévalence des aflatoxines et des fumonisines dans le maïs de l'Ouest Burkina Faso
Sanou Dia, Université de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Burkina Faso; Nikiema PA, Université
de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Turner PC, Univ of Leeds, UK; Traore AS, Université de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
47 Factors influencing the stability of iodine in iodized salt in the distribution chain in Burkina Faso
Facteurs influençant la stabilité de l'iode du sel iodé au cours de la distribution au Burkina Faso
Sanou Dia E, Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Burkina Faso; Sanon LS, Centre National pour la Nutrition, Burkina Faso;
Ouedraogo AM, Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Burkina Faso
55 Chemical composition and energetic value of main weaning food used in the urban area of Yaounde, Cameroon
La composition chimique et la valeur énergétique des principaux aliments de sevrage utilisés en zone urbaine de Yaoundé, Cameroun
Teugwa Mofor C, Kana Sop MM, Kuate JB, Boudjom CG, Amvam Zollo PH. Univ of Yaoundé I, Cameroon
56 Market survey: fortification of domestic sugar with vitamin A - a strategy for combating vitamin A deficiency in Swaziland,
2000
Etude de marché: la fortification du sucre domestique en Vitamine A. Une stratégie de lutte contre carence en vitamine A au Swaziland,
2000
Sithole Moses M, Silaula S.M. Univ of Swaziland, Swaziland
58 Minerals characterization of table salt in Morocco
Les caractéristiques des minéraux du sel de table au Maroc
Bahbouhi Imane, Belahsen R. Chouaïb Doukkali Univ, Morocco
59 Lipid profile and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a population of women of Morocco
Le profil lipidique et la prévalence des facteurs de risque cardiovasculaire chez un groupe de femmes au Maroc
Belahsen Rekia, Chouaïb Doukkali Univ, Morocco; El Ayachi M, Chouaib Doukkali Univ, Morocco, Laboratoire de Nutrition Humaine
et Lipides, France; Mziwira M, Chouaib Doukkali, Univ Morocco; Lairon D, Laboratoire de Nutrition Humaine et Lipides, France
73 Family involvement in growth monitoring and Nutrition
L'implication de la famille dans le suivi de la croissance et de la nutrition
Hamedy Parvin, Kolahdooz F. NNFTRI, Iran
86 Creation of a nutrition data base of infant feeding in Chad
Projet de création de bases de données de nutrition alimentaire infantile au Tchad
Beninga Deouro Francis. Univ of N’Djamena, Chad
89 The effect of Deferral on the amount of iron, ferritin, TIBC, transferrin, albumin, total protein, globulin and cholesterol in
patients with Thalassemia major
L'effet de Desferral sur le niveaux de fer, férritine, TIBC, transférrine, albumine, protéines totaux, globulines et cholestérol dans les
malades de Thalassémie majeur
Jahanlu Alireza Shahab, Keshavarz A, Jahanlu HR, Jahani J. Hormozgan Univ, Iran
106 All the statistical tables you need at hand on your PC with StaTable
Tous les tableaux statistiques à l'apport sur votre PC avec StaTable
Tylleskär Thorkild. Univ of Bergen, Norway; Wentzel-Larsen T. Haukeland Univ Hosp, Norway
113 An assessment of the adequacy of school meals in meeting the nutritional requirements of girls in boarding secondary
schools in Nairobi, Kenya
Une évaluation des menus scolaires dans des écoles secondaires à internat à Nairobi, Kenya
Buluku Elizabeth. Kenyatta Univ, Kenya
129 In-vitro-determination of dialysable iron in some Cameroonian complementary feeds: correlation to other nutrients
Détermination "in vitro" des taux de fer dialysable de quelques aliment de sevrage Camerounais: corrélation avec les autres nutriments
Kana Marie M, Bell A, Amvam Zollo PH. Univ of Yaoundé I, Cameroon
S29

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 30
S30
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
Abstract No. Title
130 FoodFinder dietary analysis software - the old vs. the new
Le logiciel d'analyse diététique FoodFinder: l'ancien versus le nouveau
Humphreys Joelaine M, Wolmarans P. Medical Research Council, South Africa
141 Infant nutrition and care in Uganda: Data from IMCI baseline survey in the year 2000
Nutrition infantile et soins en Ouganda: Données d'une étude de base IMCI en 2000
Wamani Henry, Ministry of Health, Uganda, WHO, Centre for International Health, Norway; Nsungwa Jesca, Minstry of Health,
Uganda; Peterson Stefan, Karolinska Institute, Sweden; Tylleskar Thorkild, Centre for International Health, Norway
150 Nutrition in Mali: investing today for a sustainable development
Nutrition au Mali: investissons aujourd'hui pour un développement durable
Diarra Modibo M, Minstry of Health, Mali; Quattara F, INRSP, Mali; Aguayo V. HKI, Mali
151 Does chicken make a significant contribution to the African diet?
Le poulet, contribue-t-il significativement dans l'alimentation africaine?
Schönfeldt HC, van Heerden SM. Animal Nutrition and Animal Products Institute, South Africa
152 Is milk a homogenous product?
Est-ce que le lait est un produit homogène?
Schönfeldt HC, Smit Louwrens E, Smith MF. Agric Research Council, South Africa
168 Assessment of food patterns in hypertensive men
Evaluation des habitudes alimentaires chez les hommes hypertensifs
Kooshki Akram, National Nutr & Food Technology Res Institute, Iran; Movahedi A, Shaheed Beheshti Med Sc & Health Services
Univ, Iran
170 Harnessing social capital for African development in the computer age: a preliminary theoretical approach
L'exploitation du capital social pour le développement africain à l'ère de l'informatique: approche théorique préliminaire
Babatunde Emmanuel. Lincoln Univ, USA
184 Nutritional status of school children in Kenya: the place for information technology
Le statut nutritionnel des enfants scolarisés au Kenya: la place de la TI
Waudo Judith. Kenyatta Univ, Kenya
185 Studies on the production of beta-galactosidase by Kluyveromyces Cerevisia and Kluyveromyces Fragilis - properties and
applications of beta-galactosidase
Etudes de la production de beta-galactosidase par Kluyveromyces Cerevisia et Kluyveromyces Fragilis - caractéristiques et usage de
beta-galactosidase
Alani, SR, AL-Rawi AT, Sajet AS. Agric & Biol Research Centre, Iraq
193 The microbial ecology of selected foods with specific reference to Bacillus cereus
L'écologie microbienne des aliments sélectionnés avec référence spécifique au Bacillus cereus
El-Mansy Hamdy A, Zagazig Univ, Egypt; El – Desouky AI, Univ New South Wales, Australia, Zagazig Univ, Egypt; Cox JM, Univ
New South Wales, Australia
196 Intra-household meat allocation, nutritional need and modernization among the Yoruba in Southwestern Nigeria
Distribution de la viande à l'intérieur du ménage: besoin nutritionnel et modérnisme chez les Yoruba au Sud-Ouest du Nigeria
Setiloane Kelebogile. Univ of Delaware, USA
199 Dairy production: a nutrition intervention in a sugarcane growing area in Western Kenya
La production laitière: une intervention nutritionnelle dans une région cultivant du sucre au Kenya de l'ouest
Mbagaya GM, Odhiambo MO. Moi Univ, Kenya
200 Nutrition interventions among HIV/AIDS patients in poor resource settings in Sub-saharan Africa
Interventions nutritionnelles chez les patients atteints de VIH/SIDA dans les zones pauvres de l'Afrique Subsaharienne
Waswa JK, Kenyatta Univ, Kenya
201 Dietary implications of dairy development in Vihiga District, Kenya
Les implications diététiques du développement d'une industrie laitier dans le district Vihiga, Kenya
Walingo MK. Maseno Univ, Kenya
202 Gene and information technologies in foods and nutrition: the twin challenges for Africa
Gène et TI en alimentation et nutrition: les défis jumeaux pour l'Afrique
Limo MK. Egerton Univ, Kenya
203 Strain in improvement of selected mushroom by hybridization and radiation
Variété améliorée de champignons sélectionnés par hybridisation et irradiation
Natheer Adel M, Hassan AA. Agric Research Centre, Iraq
204 The nutrition information centre at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Le centre d'information nutritionnelle à l'université de Stellenbosch, Afrique du Sud
Labuschagne Irene, Labadarios D. Nutrition Information Centre at the University of Stellenbosch (NICUS), South Africa
205 The detection of Salmonellae Typhi in a population of public high school food vendors in Ikorodu Local Government of
Lagos

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 31
ABSTRACTS
Abstract No. Title
La détection de Salmonella Typhi parmis les vendeurs de nourriture aux écoles secondaires à Ikorudu, Lagos
Abidoye Rotimi O, Olaitan OF, Akinkuade Robert A, Smith S. Bambala, Nigeria
209 Reducing childhood malnutrition through community-based growth monitoring and promotion in Zambia
Réduction de la malnutrition à travers une promotion de suivi de la croissance au niveau communautaire en Zambie
Bhat Ganapati, School of Medicine, Zambia; Mubanga F, Nat Food & Nutr Commission, Zambia; Kabongo J, Min of Agriculture,
Food & Fisheries, Zambia; Lungu R, Zambia Intetrated Health Proj, Zambia
212 Prevalence and risk factors of Vitamin A Deficiency amongst pre-school children in Gichugu Division, Kirinyaga district,
Kenya
Prévalence des facteurs de risque de la carence en vitamine A chez les enfants d'âge préscolaire dans la division de Gichugu, district de
Kirinyaga, Kenya
Mugambi RM, Imungi JK, Wambui – Kogi Makau. Univ of Nairobi, Kenya
213 A Kenyan perspective of school health and nutrition in relation to education performance situation analysis ,1997
Une perspective kenyane de santé et nutrition scolaires en relation avec une analyse situationnelle de la performance de l'éducation en
1997
Waweru RN. School and Dropout Science, Kenya
215 Evaluation of serum zinc in different kinds of malignancies
Evaluation du zinc dans le sérum chez les malades affectés de différentes tumeurs
Keshavarz Ali, Jahanlu A.sh, Jahanlu H, Jahani J. Tehran Univ & Med Univ Bandarabbas, Iran
216 The use of armspan measurement to assess the nutritional status of adults in four Ethiopian ethnic groups
L'utilisation des mesures de la longueur des bras pour évaluer l'état nutritionnel des adultes chez quatre groupes ethniques en Ethiopie
Fikru Tesfaye, Addis Ababa Univ, Ethiopia; De Lucia Emanuella, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Med, UK; Lemma Ferew,
Jimma Univ, Ethiopia; Ismail Suraiya, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Med, UK
217 Model program of the care and assessment of nutrition and growth of children orphaned from AIDS living in a familystyle
group home
Un programme modèle de soin et d'évaluation de nutrition et de croissance parmis des enfants orphanés par le SIDA vivant en foyers
similaires aux familles
Ernst Judith, Ochieng T, Hidinger C, Heiser C, Odongo J. St Anne’s Children’s Home, Kenya, and Indiana Univ, USA
223 A study on the prevalence of Salmonella in food from road-side cafes in the Buea District of Cameroon
Etude de la prévalence de Salmonella dans les aliments des cafés de rue dans le district de Buea au Cameroun
Nkuo Akenji Theresa K, Aduh J, Ndip RN. Univ of Buea, Cameroon
227 Food crisis in dry land agriculture of the Sudan
La crise alimentaire dans les terres arides d'agriculture au Soudan
Fadwa Ibrahim. Care International, Sudan
231 Effective communication for eradication of endemic goitre
La communication efficace pour l'éradication du goitre endémique
Onimawo IA. Okpara Univ, Nigeria
233 Effect of processing on polyphenol content in cereals & legumes and on in-vitro iron accessibility in high-tannin cereals
L'effet de traitement sur le contenu de polyphénoles dans les céréales et les légumineuses et sur l'accessibilité de fer dans les céréales à
haute ténue de tannins
Towo Elifatio, Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, Tanzania; Matuschek E, Svanberg U, Chalmers Univ of Tech, Sweden; Ndossi G,
Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, Tanzania
234 Plasma levels of retinol, carotenoids and tocopherols in relation to dietary pattern among pregnant Tanzanian women
Les niveaux sériques de rétinol, caroténoïdes et tocophérols en relation avec l'alimentation chez les femmes enceintes en Tanzanie
Mulokozi G, Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, Tanzania; Lietz G, Univ of Newcastle,UK; Svanberg U, Chalmers Univ of Techn,
Sweden; Mugyabuso JKL, Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, Tanzania; Henry CJK, Oxford Brookes Univ,UK; Tomkins AM, Centre
for International Child Health, UK
235 Plasma levels of calcium, phosphate and magnesium in malaria patients in Cameroon
Profil phospho calcique & magnésien des paludéens Camerounais
Gouado Innocent, Pankoui MNJ, Fotso KH. Cameroon
236 Hunger in the making in rural Western Kenya: special research report on anatomy of food insecurity and futures beyond
famine through information technology - the Profiles in Katolo Famine imminente au Kenya de l'Ouest rural: rapport de
recherche spécial sur l'anatomie de l'insécurité et le futur au delà de famine par la technologie - Profiles à Katolo
K'Okul Richard NO. Kenyatta Univ, Kenya
237 Serious deterioration of the nutritional status of the local population in comparison to the populations displaced by war in
Kinshasa, DR Congo
Grave détérioration de l'état nutritionnel des populations locales par rapport aux populations déplacées de guerre à
Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo
Banea-Mayambu Jean-Pierre, Univ of Kinshasa, Centre National de Planification de Nutrition, Kinshasa I; Ntambwe-Kibambe T,
Nahimana-Gitebo D. Centre National de Planification de Nutrition, Kinshasa I DR Congo
S31

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 32
S32
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
Abstract No. Title
238 Exchange of Nutritional Data on an International Level: Challenges
Défis de l'échange international de données nutritionnelles
Makhumula-Nkhoma Philip J. Univ of Malawi, Malawi
240 Countering the negative effects of information technology in nutrition
Contrecarrer les effets négatifs de la TI en nutrition
Mokua Jacqueline K. Univ of Nairobi, Kenya
242 Assessment of better practices in community nutrition programmes: a case study of Ssembabule Child Survival Project,
Uganda
Une évaluation des habitudes améliorées par des programmes de nutrition communautaire : Le cas du Projet Survie de l'Enfant de
Ssembabule, Ouganda
Sentumbwe Juliet, Kazibwe S. Ministry of Agric, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda
243 Nutritional assessment of hospitalised elders in Abeokuta, Nigeria
Evaluation de l'état nutritionnel des personnes âgées hospitalisées à Abeokuta, Nigeria
Aboaba, Ibiyemi. Univ of Agric, Abeokuta, Nigeria
244 The impact of maternal nutrition education on nutritional status of children under five years old in Butere Division, Kenya
L'impacte de l'éducation nutritionnelle de la mère sur l'état nutritionnel de l'enfant âgé moins de cinq ans dans la Division de Butere,
Kenya
Shihundu DA. Kilimambogo Teachers College, Kenya
245 Resource service for educational materials on nutrition and hygiene of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus
Service de ressources de L'Eglise Evangélique Ethiopienne Mekane Yesus sur des matériaux éducatifs sur la nutrition et l'hygiène
Loha Tadelech. Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, Ethiopia
246 The integrated village development project
Le projet intégré de développement rural
Gobezie Abeba. Ministry of Health, Ethiopia
251 Dietary planning for low-income strata in Egypt
Planning alimentaire pour les couches à pauvre revenu en Egypte
El-Asfahani Aida, Sultan Qaboos Univ, Sultanat of Oman; Abdou Amin I, National Res Centre, Egypt; Ibrahim Khalid R, Helwan
Univ, Cairo, Egypt
301 Use of dried and preserved bovine blood for the fortification of bean sauce as a food-based strategy to combat iron
deficiency anaemia in Uganda
L’usage du sang bovin séché et préservé pour la fortification de sauce des haricots comme une stratégie alimentaire en Ouganda pour
combattre l’anémie
Kikafunda Joyce K, Sserumaga P. Makerere Univ, Uganda
302 Malnutrition in HIV Seropositive Children Aged 6 to 59 Months: A Case of Institutional and Home-Based Care in Nairobi,
Kenya
Malnutrition chez les enfants âgés 6-59 mois: un cas de soins à l'institution et à domicile à Nairobi, Kenya
Peninah Masibo, Moi Univ, Kenya
303 The Global NutrITion Programme: Incorporating Information Technology in capacity building of academicians and
students in tertiary education in the South
Le programme "Global NutrITion": Incluant la TI dans le developement de la apacité umaine dans le cadre académique et
armis les étudiants dans les universités du sud
B Ogle, L Hambraeus, G.Westman, L Chiwona-Karltun, T Tylleskär,
The Swedish Univ of Agricultural Sciences and Uppsala Univ, Uppsala, Sweden

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 33
ABSTRACT NO. 40. Immunocompetence and hypocholesterolemic
potentials of Tinospora cordifolia and Eclipta alba on post menopausal
women
Haripriya S, Chandrasekhar Usha
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Avinashilingam University, Coimbatore
641043
Menopause is of increasing importance to the health professionals in terms of
both preventive and clinical care of women in their later years of life. With
increase in life expectancy the average woman now lives approximately one
third of her life in postmenopausal period. Several irritable symptoms
attributed to menopause are often encountered during this later years in life
and freedom from related symptoms and comfort could add life to years.
Lowering of Immunocompetence and hypocholesterolemic are two of the
identified symptoms in postmenopausal women and the main aim of the
present study was to evaluate the immunocompetence and hypocholesterolemic
potentials of Tinospora cordifolia and Eclipta alba respectively
in post menopausal women. A group of 400 postmenopausal women were
selected and divided into two groups A and B of 200 women each. In both
groups 100 women served as the experimental group and the remaining 100
women served as the control. The experimental group A consisted of
postmenopausal women with low Immunocompetence and was treated with
525 mg/day of Tinospora cordifolia. Experimental group B consisted of
postmenopausal women with hypocholesterolemia and hence was treated
with 750mg/day of Eclipta alba. The control groups were placed on placebo
treatment. The impact was studied in terms of weight changes and
biochemical parameters representing the symptoms in question over a period
of six months. Findings as related to Immunocompetence and hypocholesterolemia
revealed that Tinospora cordifolia and Eclipta alba proved to
be an excellent immuno-modulator and hypocholesterolemic agent
respectively.
ABSTRACT NO. 41. CAROTENE CONTENT OF COMMONLY
CONSUMED VEGETABLES SUBJECTED TO DEHYDRATION
Balasasirekha R, Kowsalya S, Chandrasekhar Usha
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Avinashilingam University, Coimbatore
– 641 043, Tamil Nadu, India
The total and beta-carotene retention in selected commonly consumed
vegetables subjected to various dehydration methods was studied. The
vegetables selected for the study included carrot, pumpkin, sweet potato and
yam. The dehydration methods selected for the study were sun drying, oven
drying, microwave drying, vacuum drying and solar drying. All the
vegetables were estimated for its moisture content, total carotene and betacarotene
in their raw and dehydrated forms. The total carotene was analyzed
using spectrophototmetry and beta-carotene using high performance liquid
chromatography. Results indicated that microwave dried samples had a
maximum retention of 94 and 91 per cent of total and beta-carotene
respectively. The retention of total and beta-carotene varied significantly
(P

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 34
S34
partant ; la production des mycotoxines.
Le présent travail rapporte les résultats d’une étude réalisée dans 5 villages de
l’Ouest du Burkina. Les résultats montrent un taux général de contamination
de 34,62% (aflatoxines et ou fumonisines). Les aflatoxines sont présentes dans
19,23% des échantillons avec des teneurs variants entre 42,8 et 1949,9 µg/kg.
La fumonisine B1 a été détectée dans 26,92% des échantillons avec des niveaux
variant entre 10,1 et 93,5 µg/kg. La présence simultanée des aflatoxines et des
fumonisines a été mise en évidence dans certains échantillons soit 11,54%.
Compte tenu de l’importance de la consommation de mais dans la zone, de
l’implication de ces deux toxines dans l’étiologie de certaines maladies
humaines telles que le cancer et leur interférence avec les hépatites virales; il
apparaît que les populations sont exposées à long terme au danger des
mycotoxines à travers le régime alimentaire. Toutefois, le niveau d’exposition
reste imprécis d’où la nécessité d’entreprendre des travaux supplémentaires
afin d’estimer la quantité de toxines ingérées et leur proportion dans le sang
chez les personnes exposées.
ABSTRACT NO. 47. FACTORS INFLUENCING IODINE STABILITY IN
IODIZED SALT ALONG THE DISTRIBUTION CHAIN IN BURKINA
FASO
DE SANOU1 , LS SANON2 et AM OUEDRAOGO1 1 Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, 09 BP 24 Ouagadougou 09, Burkina Faso
2 Centre National pour la Nutrition, Burkina Faso
In the fight against iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), Burkina Faso has
adopted a WHO conform regulation of the salt trade. The remaining problem
is to maintain the levels of iodine in the salt so that the consumer can cover its
need of iodine. It has been estimated that in Africa, an important part of the
iodine initially present in the salt is lost between the production and the
consumption.
We report a study of the factors influencing the loss of iodine of iodized salt
from the import to the household. The study was done on three different types
of salt (GHA, SEN, FRA) sampled at different levels (whole-sale, retailer and
household). The results demonstrate a loss of iodine between the whole-seller
and the household. The iodine concentration goes on average from 37 to 29
ppm for the GHA salt, from 132 to 78 ppm for the SEN salt and from 9 to 5
ppm for the FRA salt; which means losses of 20%, 36% et 50%, respectively.
The analysis of the content of iodine in relation to handling shows that the
most important factors for the retention of iodine in the salt were: the storage
duration, the practices of the retailer, type of packing and the physical qualities
of the salt. Multivariate analysis showed that no single factor is important
alone. It is the combined action of several factors leading to important losses
observed. We conclude that even if the salt was initially iodized at a high
concentration, the consumer may consume insufficient quantities of iodine;
especially since other factors like cooking and goitrogenic factors in the diet
may result in further losses.
FACTEURS INFLUENCANT LA STABILITE DE L’IODE DU SEL IODE
AU COURS DE LA DISTRIBUTION AU BURKINA FASO
DE SANOU 1 , LS SANON 2 et AM OUEDRAOGO 1
1 Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, 09 BP 24 Ouagadougou 09, Burkina Faso
2 Centre National pour la Nutrition, Burkina Faso
Dans le cadre de la lutte contre les carences en iode, le Burkina Faso a adopté
une réglementation sur la commercialisation du sel iodé conformément aux
normes de l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS). Le problème reste
cependant le maintien de l’iode dans le sel de façon à ce qu’il parvienne au
consommateur en quantité requise pour couvrir les besoins de l’organisme.
On estime en effet qu’en Afrique, une partie importante de l’iode initialement
présent dans le sel se perd entre sa production et sa consommation effective.
Le présent article rapporte les résultats d’une étude sur les facteurs de
déperdition de l’iode du sel iodé depuis l’importation jusqu’au ménage.
L’étude a porté sur trois types de sel (GHA, SEN, FRA) prélevés à différents
niveaux (grossiste, détaillant et ménage). Les résultats montrent que la teneur
du sel en iode diminue entre le grossiste et le ménage. Elle passe en moyenne
de 36,93 à 29,4 ppm pour le sel GHA, de 131,9 à 77,5 ppm pour SEN et de 9,1
à 4,57 ppm pour FRA ; soit des pertes respectives de 20,39%, 35,97% et 49,78%.
L’analyse de la teneur en iode en fonction des conditions de traitement et de
commercialisation montre que les facteurs les plus déterminants pour le
maintien de l’iode dans le sel sont : la durée de stockage et de conservation, les
pratiques de vente au détail, le type d’emballage, la nature des récipients de
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
conservation, la qualité physique du sel. L’analyse multivariée révèle
qu’aucun facteur n’agit isolement. C’est leur action combinée qui justifierait
l’important taux de déperdition observé. Il ressort donc que, même
initialement présent dans le sel à forte concentration, l’iode peut parvenir au
consommateur en quantité insuffisante surtout que d’autres facteurs comme la
cuisson, les substances alimentaires goitrigènes peuvent entraîner des pertes
supplémentaires.
ABSTRACT NO. 55. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ENERGETIC
VALUE OF MAIN WEANING FOOD USED IN THE URBAN AREA OF
CAMEROON – YAOUNDE
Teugwa Mofor C, Kana Sop MM, Kuate JB, Boudjom CG, Amvam Zollo PH
University of Yaoundé I – PO Box 812 Yaoundé Cameroon
The objective of the study was to assess the chemical composition and
energetic value of main Cameroonian weaning food, identified during
enquiries near 300 mothers, with weaning babies up to 30 months, in order to
fight against protein energy malnutrition and micronutrients deficiency
within pre-school children in Cameroon. The receipts were selected for their
frequent consumption, cooked in triplicate as described by mothers and kept
at –20°C for chemical analysis. The dishes were 5 corn gruels, 5 Irish potatoes
purée enriched or no by groundnuts, egg yolk, soybean, carrots, fish, legume
and 3 family dishes accompanied by gluey sauce. These dishes were rich in
carbohydrate ranging from 50.74 ± 3.61 to 95.60 ± 0.46 % DWt. A part from
corn gruel (0.87 ± 0.59 % DWt) and corn gruel enriched with soybean (5.25 ±
1.13 % DWt), the others meals analysed were high lipid content ranging from
13.75 ± 3.37 to 28.75 ± 2.35 % DWt. The protein content were ranging from 3.34
± 0.21 to 10.15 ± 0.86 % DWt with exception of soybean gruel (22.04 ± 1.30 %
DWt) and Irish potatoes purée with fish (13.17 ± 2.31 % DWt). They were high
energy content, from 402.76 Kcal % DWt (corn gruel) to 519.31 Kcal % DWt
(Irish potatoes purée with egg yolk). These weaning foods were very poor in
Mn, Cu and Zn, and poor in phosphorus and b-carotene; rich in Na, K, Ca and
Mg. The couscous corn accompanied by Corchorus olitorius and Hibiscus
esculentus sauce were good nutrients sources both macronutrients and
micronutrients. The corn gruel – egg yolk and Irish potatoes – egg yolk gruel
were good mineral sources. Soybean gruel and Irish potatoes - fish were good
macronutrients foods.
ABSTRACT NO. 56. MARKET SURVEY: FORTIFICATION OF DOMESTIC
SUGAR WITH VITAMIN A - A STRATEGY FOR COMBATING VITAMIN
A DEFICIENCY IN SWAZILAND, 2000
Silaula SM 1 , Sithole MM 2
Departments of Home Economics 1 and Agricultural Economics and Management 2 ,
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Swaziland, P.O. Luyengo, Swaziland
It has been demonstrated by the Academy for Educational Development for
the Micronutrient Initiative (1999) that reducing Vitamin A malnutrition has
quantifiable socio-economic benefits. It has been shown that in Swaziland the
Vitamin A status is marginal among 46% and deficient in 7.7% of children
(UNICEF, 1995). In 1999, 45, 480 individuals were diagnosed with various eye
disorders by various health facilities (MOHSW, 1999). The study being
reported in this paper sought to document facts about consumer
demand/preference and/or outlook of sugar fortified with Vitamin A. It also
assessed the level of commitment and/or support for this intervention by the
key stakeholders such as Government, sugar industry, and departments or
agencies that are active in health and nutrition issues. The results revealed that
a significantly high proportion (82.9%, P

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 35
ABSTRACT NO. 58. MINERALS CHARACTERIZATION OF TABLE SALT
IN MOROCCO
Bahbouhi I, Belahsen R
Training and Research Unit on Food Sciences. Laboratory of Physiology Applied to
Nutrition and Alimentation. Chouaïb Doukkali University. School of Sciences P.O.
Box 20. El Jadida, 24000, Morocco
The table salt used in Morocco is from different sources: rock salt, sea salt and
refined salt iodized or not iodized. The rock salt is consumed by the
population in the mountain areas. Mineral composition of rock salt is different
according to the location and the environment of the mines. The fact that the
content of some trace elements or micro nutrients could be higher or lower
than those recommended will have consequences on health. In this study the
goal was to characterize different samples of salt by evaluating and comparing
their chemical composition especially their content in some elements (Cl, Na,
Mg, K, SO 4, I 2, Cu, Pb) and physical properties. This characterization is
important for salt fortification with micronutrient such as iodine. The results
are discussed on the basis of the improvement of the salt composition for
dietary use.
ABSTRACT NO. 59. LIPID PROFILE AND PREVALENCE OF
CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN A POPULATION OF WOMEN
OF MOROCCO
E l Ayachi M 1,2 , Mziwira M1, Belahsen R 1 , Lairon D 2
1 Laboratoire de Physiologie appliquée à la nutrition et à l'AlimentationUnité de
Formation et de Recherche "Sciences de l'Alimentation"Université Chouaïb
DoukkaliFaculté des Sciences
El Jadida, Maroc
2Laboratoire de Nutrition Humaine et Lipides, U476, INSERM, Centre Viton,
Marseille, France
The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein
profile, the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and to examine its
relationship with age in urban population of adult women from El Jadida city
in Morocco. A sample of 219 women, 25-55 years old were included in this
study. Lipid profile parameters were determined including triglyceride-rich
lipoprotein triglycerides (TRL), triglyceride-rich lipoprotein cholesterol, total
triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (CT), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, apo lipoprotein
AI, B, B48, CIII, and E, and glycaemia. The results showed that the risk of
cardiovascular disease was characterized by limiting and increased total and
LDL-C cholesterol levels in 10% and 19.4% respectively; decreased HDL-C
levels in 43.3%; increased triglyceride levels in 11.9%, and increased glucose
levels in 24.6%. TRL-CT level higher than 0.6 mmol/l was presented in 13.4%.
TRL-TG level higher than 0.8 mmol/l was presented in 16.6%. Triglycerides
and glucose concentrations were increased with age APO CIII and TRL-TG are
all closely correlated with total triglycerides (R=0.52, P=0.0001 and R=0.86,
P=0.0001, respectively).
The study showed that there is a high prevalence of some risk factors of
cardiovascular diseases associated with an altered lipid profile which is age
dependant in the Moroccan population of women studied.
ABSTRACT NO. 73. Family involvement in growth monitoring and
nutrition
Hamedy P, Kolahdooz F
NNFTRI, Iran
It is now accepted that family involvement is central to any effective health
education activity. Growth monitoring and Nutrition education have been less
successful than they should have been because the family has not been
involved family members need to be able to assimilate and act upon the in
formation received. Unfortunately many growth-monitoring programmers
have neglected or at least only nominally involved these key personnel
particularly the influential family members many Nutrition education
programs have concentrated on transferring the message not considering
appropriateness or feasibility. The audience is often perceived as ? having a
ABSTRACTS
problem ? namely ignorance. They are the victims. Using key technical areas
for involvement such as providing a sufficient energy concentrated diet for
young children this paper suggests mechanism for enabling family members
to become participatorier. Methods for more active involvement of parents
and the community in the growth process direct weighing, their ability to
interpret the growth curve and decide what action to initiate are discussed.
F.G.D. (Focus group discussion) is the best way to facilitate family members
and the wider community in having more Autonomy in their lives.
ABSTRACT NO. 86. A PROJECT FOR CREATING AN INFANT
NUTRITION DATA BASE IN CHAD
Francis Beninga Deouro
Faculté des Sciences BP 1027 N’Djaména, CHAD
Chad has several geographical zones reflected in the diet like this:
- in the South, the diet is dominated by roots and tubers (cassava, sweet potato,
yam) and by white sorghum;
- in the Central South, the diet is based on sorghum (red and white) and on
rice;
- in the Central part, the diet is based on sorghum (red and white) and millet;
- in the North the diet is based on millet and dates.
As a complement to the different sorghums and roots and tubers, which serve
to prepare the staple paste, a sauce with vegetables, meat or fish is served.
Cattle or camel rearing also dominates the country. The diets of the infants
conform to this dietary diversity. The young children have for the first three
months a diet based on breast milk. From 3 months of age the breast milk is
complemented by thin gruels. The gruels are based on sorghum, roots and
tubers, dates, peanut butter and water.
From six months the gruel is made thicker and the infants are also given meat
sauces, vegetables and fish. At 18 months the breastfeeding is discontinued
and the child is served the same food as the rest of the family.
PROJET DE CRÉATION DE BASES DE DONNÉES
DE NUTRITION ALIMENTAIRE INFANTILE AU TCHAD
Francis Beninga Deouro
Faculté des Sciences BP 1027 N’Djaména
Le Tchad est un pays ayant une spécificité géographique liée à l’alimentation,
qui est repartie comme suit:
- à l’extrême sud, elle est dominée par les tubercules (manioc, patate, igname)
et du sorgho mil blanc ;
- au centre sud, l’alimentation repose essentiellement sur le sorgho mil (rouge
et blanc) et du riz ;
- au centre du pays, l’alimentation est basée sur le sorgho (mil blanc et rouge,
le béré-béré, le petit mil ou pénicillaire) ;
- au nord et extrême nord l’alimentation est basée sur le mil et les dattes.
Comme complément de ces différents sorghos et tubercules qui servent à
préparer la bouillie ou boule à base des farines, on complète avec la sauce de
légumes, viandes ou poisson.
L’élevage prédomine également dans le pays, la densité d’élevage du bovin et
ovins diminue du centre vers le sud ou le nord. Au nord c’est l’élevage des
chameaux qui est fait.
Conformément à sa diversité alimentaire, la nutrition infantile suit exactement
cette diversité. Les jeunes enfants tchadiens ont exclusivement à la naissance
une alimentation basée sur le lait maternel jusqu’à l’âge de trois mois. A partir
de trois mois, on complète le lait maternel par la bouillie légère. La préparation
de la bouillie est constituée de la farine (sorgho, tubercule, datte), de la pâte
d’arachide et d’eau qui représente 80 % de la constitution.
A partir de 6 mois le volume d’eau diminue à 60% pour faire place à
l’augmentation du volume de la farine et de la pâte. A cette âge on commence
à donner le jus de la viande, de légume ou du poisson. La boule (couscous de
farine de sorgho ou tubercule) est la nourriture de base. A 18 mois on arrête
l’allaitement de l’enfant, et l’enfant est servi intégralement la nourriture de la
famille.
S35

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 36
S36
ABSTRACT NO. 89. The effect of Desferral on the amount of Iron, Ferritin,
TIBC, Transferrin, Albumin, Total protein, Globulin and Cholesterol in
patients with Thalassemia major
Jahanlu AS, Keshavarz A, Jahanlu HR, Jahani J
Bandarabbas College of Medicine-Tehran Medical University-High Center of Research
and informatics-Bandarabbas pediatric Hospital
Thalassemia Major is a genetic disorder which cause increased Iron
participation in Soft Tissue. To decrease Iron in such patients Deferral is used.
This study selected two groups’ patients with Thalassemia Major.
One on Deferral and the other group not on Deferral. Thirty-nine patients are
randomly selected from each group and are categorized into 13 age groups. In
each group there are 3 patients on Deferral and three other not on Deferral.
Age group is selected from 2-year-old to 13 years old patients. The date is
analyzed by SPSS, through Two-way analysis of variance. The results show
that with regard to taking and not taking Deferral, There is significant in
serum ferritin and Globulin (P value < 0.01). Regarding to age and the two
groups, there is no significant in serum Iron, Transferrin, Albumin,
Cholesterol, Total protein and TIBC. Negative Correlation is observed between
age and serum Cholesterol level in-patients on Deferral (r=30) and in-patients
nit on Deferral (r=0.27). Positive correlation is observed between age and TIBC
in-patients on Deferral (r= 0.46) and between age and Transterrin in-patient on
Deferral (r=0.26). There is correlation between Iron and Ferritin in patients not
on deferral (r=0.29), while there is not the same in patients on Deferral. In
short, it is observed that Deferral affects on a rise in serum Globulin and a drop
in serum ferretin and it doesn't have any effect on the rest of measured
variables.
ABSTRACT NO. 106. ALL THE STATISTICAL TABLES YOU NEED AT
HAND ON YOUR PC WITH STaTable
Tous les tableaux statistiques à l’apport sur votre PC avec Sta Table
Tylleskär T1 , Wentzel-Larsen T2 1Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Armauer Hansen Building,
NO-5021 Bergen, Norway, e-mail Thorkild.Tylleskar@cih.uib.no
2Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, NO-5021 Bergen,
Norway
In the training of statistics in the nutritional sciences it has been customary to
have a number of statistical tables at hand for calculation of for instance
confidence intervals. In the statistical training of our students in inter-national
health at the University of Bergen we have replaced these tables with a small
freeware program called StaTable for Windows 2000/NT/98/95. It may also
be used on PalmTop computers. The full name is StaTable, Electronics Tables
for Statisticians and Engineers, version 1.0.1, © Cytel Software Corporation.
According to information at the Cytel web site, the program may be
downloaded for free from “www.cytel.com”. Select Demo/Downloads on the
top menu. Cytel Software was founded by teachers from Harvard and MIT.
In the StaTable program most of the statistical tables you need in nutrition
research are available. The program is one single window with about 5 squares
where you feed in the information in some of the squares and then let the
computer compute the remaining figures. An example: What is the z-value
that gives a two-tailed probability of 0.05 in a normal distribution with a mean
of 0 and a SD of 1? Select the normal distribution, enter the mean 0 and SD 1
and the 2-tailed probability of 0.05. When pressing enter, the z-value of 1.96 is
immediately presented.
It covers tables for both continuous, non-central and discrete distributions.
The continuous distributions provided are: Normal, Bivariate Normal, Chisquare,
Student’s t, F, Exponential, Gumbel, Beta, Gamma, Lognormal,
Triangular, Uniform, Logistic, Weibull, Pareto, and Cauchy. The non-central
distributions are: Chi-square, Student’s t, F and finally the following discrete
distributions are covered: Binomial, Multinomial, Poisson, Negative Binomial,
Hypergeometric, and Geometric.
ABSTRACT NO. 113. AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ADEQUACY OF
SCHOOL MEALS IN MEETING THE NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
OF GIRLS IN BOARDING SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NAIROBI,
KENYA
Buluku E
P.O. Box 4286, Nyayo Stadium 00506, Nairobi, Kenya
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
Proper nutrition implies receiving adequate foods and supplements to convey
the nutrients required for optimal growth and development of individuals. In
boarding institutions, meals must cover all the students' requirements for
nutrients in order to sustain a vigorous and healthy life. A descriptive crosssectional
survey was used. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were
used to summarize the data and to test for differences between groups
respectively. Save for energy the school meals did not meet the Recommended
Dietary Allowances (RDA) for protein, calcium, iron and vitamin A. The most
deficient nutrient in the school meals provided was calcium. Students had
negative attitudes towards school meals due to poor preparation, limited
variety, and flavor of school meals. A majority of the students snacked to
satisfy hunger, implying that school meals were inadequate in quantity. The
nutritional status of the students based on the BMI indicated that a majority
(65%) of the students was well nourished as they fell within the optimum
range (18.5 -25.0). Three percent of the students were severely underweight
while 4% were obese. Significant differences were observed between energy
(x 2 =271.339), calcium (x 2 =745.675) and vitamin A (x 2 =384.867) provided in the
school meals and the RDA at p >0.05. Apart from energy, there was no
significant difference among the school meals provided. The study concluded
that school meals in girls' boarding schools in Nairobi are inadequate in
quantities of nutrients provided in relation to RDA for protein, calcium, iron
and vitamin A. The study recommends nutritional education for meal
planners in boarding institutions and the formation of a regulatory body to
ensure adherence to the minimum dietary requirements of students.
ABSTRACT NO. 129. IN VITRO DETERMINATION OF DIALYZABLE
IRON OF SOME SUPPLEMENTARY FOODS IN CAMEROON:
CORRELATION WITH OTHER NUTRIENTS
S.M.M. Kana, A. Bell and P.H. Amvam Zollo
Université de Yaoundé I, Département de Biochimie BP 812 Yaoundé
Eleven different foods for supplementary feeding of infants and children were
selected for this study. They were based on fermented maize and potatoes and
were selected after an interview survey among breast-feeding mothers coming
to the under-five clinic at Briqueterie in Yaounde. The foods were prepared in
triple portions. The content of total iron, zinc and magnesium was determined
by atomic absorption; dialyzable iron was analyzed by an in vitro method
after marking with 59Fe and the protein concentration by the Kjeldahl method.
The levels of total iron were between 4.7 ± 0.5 to 21.3 ± 1.2 mg / 100 g dry
matter (DM). The concentrations of dialyzable iron was between 1.3 ±0.1% to
8.2 ±1.2%. The iron needs among some infants were only covered from 7
months of age. The protein concentrations were found to vary from 5.1 ± 0.8
to 21.3 ±1.3 g/100g DM, magnesium concentrations varied from 21.8 ± 0.6 to
227 ± 5.1 mg/100g DM and was insufficient but could cover the infants’ needs
if consumed in large daily quantities. The zinc concentrations were very low,
between 0.7 ± 0.05 and 2.4 ± 0.2 mg /100 g DM and could not cover the needs
of any infant. In conclusion, about half of the infants are exposed to iron and
magnesium deficiency and all children are exposed to zinc deficiency.
DÉTERMINATION “IN VITRO” DES TAUX DE FER DIALYSABLE DE
QUELQUES ALIMENTS DE SEVRAGE CAMEROUNAIS:
CORRÉLATION AVEC LES AUTRES NUTRIMENTS
S.M.M. Kana, A. Bell and P.H. Amvam Zollo
Université de Yaoundé I, Département de Biochimie BP 812 Yaoundé
Onze aliments de sevrage à base de pâte de maïs fermenté et de pommes de
terre sélectionnés après une enquête par interview auprès des mères
allaitantes fréquentant la PMI de la Briqueterie de Yaoundé ont été préparés en
triple. Les teneurs en fer total, en zinc et en magnésium ont été déterminés par
absorption atomique ; les taux de fer dialysable par la méthode “in vitro”
après marquage au 59Fe et les teneurs en protéines par la méthode Kjeldahl.
Les teneurs en fer total sont compris entre 4,68 ± 0,5 et 21,33 ± 1,22 mg / 100
g de matière sèche ( MS). Les taux de fer dialysable vont de 1,32 ±0,12% à 8,17
±1,2 %. Les apports en fer chez quelques nourrissons seulement sont couverts
à partir de 7 mois. Les teneurs en protéines vont de 5,12 ± 0,76 à 21,30 ±1,28 g
/100 g MS, celles en magnésium de 21,80 ± 0,58 à 227, 26 ± 5,14 mg /100 g MS
sont insuffisantes, mais peuvent couvrir les besoins des nourrissons qui
reçoivent de grande quantité d’aliments par jour. Les teneurs en zinc très
faibles, comprises entre 0,66 ± 0,05 et 2 43 ± 0,15 mg /100 g MS ne peuvent
couvrir les besoins d’aucun enfant. En conclusion, près de la moitié des
nourrissons sont exposés aux carences en fer et en magnésium avec leurs
troubles sur le rythme cardiaque. Tous les enfants sont exposés à la carence en
zinc.

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 37
ABSTRACT NO. 130. FoodFinder dietary analysis software-the old vs the new
Humphreys J M, Wolmarans P
Nutritional Intervention Research Unit, Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070,
Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
FoodFinder (1991) was the first dietary software package developed by the
South African Medical Research Council (MRC). This software package was
based on the 1991 MRC food composition tables and comprised 18% South
African values. Presently the South African Food Composition Database
(SAFOODS) comprises 41% South African values, and it is included in the new
dietary analysis software package FoodFinderTM2 (2001). Different databases
could influence results, therefore the aim was to compare nutrient analyses
done by FoodFinder 1991 and 2001. A sample meal was analysed using the
two versions of FoodFinder.
Compared to FoodFinder 1991, mean values for total energy (4%) and vitamin
A (10%) were higher, while protein (0,9%), carbohydrate (1%), fat (5%) and
cholesterol (6%) were lower in FoodFinderTM2. Mean calcium, iron and
vitamins C and D values were the same. In SAFOODS the Atwater factors for
protein, carbohydrate and fats were used to calculate the total energy of a
food. This was not done in the 1991 version and could explain the differences
in total energy values obtained by the two software packages.
Food databases used in software packages may differ, and those who report on
dietary intake should take note of this when comparing data analysed with
different software packages.
ABSTRACT NO. 141. INFANT NUTRITION AND CARE IN UGANDA:
DATA FROM IMCI BASELINE SURVEY IN THE YEAR 2000
Wamani Henry 1,2,3 , Nsungwa Jesca 1 , Peterson Stefan 4 , Tylleskär Thorkild 3
1 Ministry of Health, Uganda
2 WHO Uganda
3Centre for International Health, Armauer Hansen Building, NO-5021 Bergen,
Norway
4IHCAR, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
In Uganda the Ministry of Health has initiated the third component of the
programme Integrated Management of Childhood Illness: household and
community component. The component aims at improving key household
level practices that are vital for child survival, growth and development. As
part of the baseline and formative studies at district level before the
programme implementation, our survey gathered information on the current
status of child health care. The study was cross-sectional descriptive using
quantitative data collection methods. A sample of 300 households was
randomly selected using a modified WHO 30 by 10 cluster sampling
technique. Caretakers of children of 0-23 months were interviewed. Both
manual and computer assisted analysis were used in the data management
process.
Findings showed that the majority of mothers initiate breastfeeding late and
give pre-lacteal feeds (55%). Quasi-exclusive breastfeeding at 3 & 6 months
was 76% & 48% respectively (disregarding pre-lacteal feeds). Almost all
mothers (90%) give thin porridge to children and 91% feed children less than
5 times a day. Half (50%) and 60% of the children had been de-wormed or
given vitamin A, respectively. While a big proportion of children are weighed
(72%) only a third (29%) receive advice on feeding. Only 5.6% caretakers feed
children more than usual during illness.
We conclude that though a big proportion of mothers breastfeed their babies,
a majority of them breastfed less than the desired period. Pre-lacteal feeding is
widely practiced. While many mothers take their children to child health
clinics there is a lot of missed opportunities as few receive advice on feeding
of children.
ABSTRACT NO. 150. NUTRITION IN MALI: INVESTING TODAY FOR A
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
MM DIARRA*, F OUATTARA**, V AGUAYO***
*DSSAN, CPS Ministère de la Santé. BP 232 Bamako, Mali
**INRSP. BP 1771 Bamako, Mali
***HKI Mali. BP 1557 Bamako, Mali
ABSTRACTS
Malnutrition constitutes a real problem for a sustainable development in Mali.
The nutritional situation in Mali is characterized by high levels of Protein-
Energy Malnutrition and deficiencies of Vitamin A, iron and iodine.
An analysis made with PROFILES for the years 1998-2007, illustrates the main
nutritional problems in Mali and especially their enormous consequences on
health, education and economy.
Without appropriate interventions, the losses for the Malian economy due to
malnutrition in the coming 10 years will be in the range of 379 billion Francs
CFA.
With the following aims for the coming ten years: 1) 50% increase of exclusive
breastfeeding at 6 months of age, 2) Reduce with 50% the prevalences of iodine
deficiency in the population, and the stunting among children and the iron
deficiency among women of child-bearing age; the gain for the economy
would be 117 billion Francs CFA. To this economic gain, also add over 13600
infant lives saved due to exclusive breastfeeding, more than 118 000 lives of
under-fives saved due to the reduction of protein-energy malnutrition; over
38000 under-fives saved due to the reduction of vitamin A deficiency; over
450000 newborns saved from intellectual retardation due to the reduction of
iodine deficiency and more than 1700 mothers saved due to the reduction of
iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women.
NUTRITION AU MALI : INVESTISSONS AUJOURD’HUI POUR UN
DEVELOPPEMENT DURABLE
MM DIARRA*, F OUATTARA**, V AGUAYO***
*DSSAN, CPS Ministère de la Santé. BP 232 Bamako, Mali
**INRSP. BP 1771 Bamako, Mali
***HKI Mali. BP 1557 Bamako, Mali
La malnutrition constitue un véritable problème pour le développement
durable du Mali. La situation nutritionnelle au Mali est caractérisée par de
niveaux élevés de Malnutrition Protéino-Energétique, de Carences en
Vitamine A, Fer et Iode.
L’analyse Profiles 1998-2007, met en lumière les principaux problèmes
nutritionnels au Mali et surtout leurs conséquences énormes sur les
secteurs Santé, Education et Economie.
Sans interventions appropriées mises en œuvre, les pertes pour l’économie
malienne dues à la malnutrition dans les 10 prochaines années s’élèveront à
379 milliards de FCFA.
Avec les objectifs pour les 10 prochaines années : Augmenter de 50% le taux
d’allaitement maternel exclusif jusqu’à 6 mois, Réduire de 50% les prévalences
de la carence en iode dans l’ensemble de la population, du retard de croissance
infantile, et de la carence en fer chez les femmes en âge de procréer, les gains
pour l’économie s’élèveront à 117 milliards de FCFA.
A ces gains économiques importants, il faut ajouter : plus de 13.600 vies
d’enfants de moins d’un an sauvées suite à l’augmentation du taux
d’allaitement maternel exclusif ; plus de 118.000 vies d’enfants de moins de
cinq ans sauvées suite à la réduction des niveaux de malnutrition protéinoénergétique
; plus de 38.000 vies d’enfants de moins de cinq ans sauvées suite
à la réduction de la carence en vitamine A ; plus de 450.000 nouveau-nés
sauvés du retard intellectuel suite à la réduction de la carence en iode et plus
de 1.700 vies de mères sauvées suite à la réduction des niveaux d’anémie par
carence en fer chez les femmes enceintes.
ABSTRACT NO. 151. Does chicken make a significant contribution to the
African diet?
Van Heerden SM, Schönfeldt HC
Animal Nutrition and Animal Products Institute, Agricultural Research Council.
Private Bag X 2, Irene, South Africa, 0062
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
(FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) an estimated 206 million
people in Africa are iron deficient, 86 million are affected by iodine deficiency,
and 1 to 31 million are deficient in vitamin A. Due to inadequate protein,
vitamin and mineral intake, malnutrition is widespread in South Africa.
According to Steyn et al., 2000(1), one out of five children (21.6%) aged 1 – 9
years is stunted. Animal products are the best source of protein, zinc, some B
vitamins as well as fat soluble vitamin A. Given their limitations of resources
and of access to different foods, most African communities have developed
diets that maximize the use of local foodstuffs. Dietary deficiencies are often
the result of lack of money, of resources, including labor and land, and time,
especially for woman. Another approach to tackling malnutrition is to be
informed about nutrition. Information regarding the fact that South African
chicken is nutrient dense could be of great help in fighting the malnutrition in
S37

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 38
S38
Africa. South African chicken contains a significant amount of protein
(3.74mg), zinc (1.88mg), folic acid (4.86mg), Vitamin B2 (3.31mg), Vitamin B12
(13.03mg) and Vitamin B6 (1.11mg) per 100g edible portion. According to the
national food consumption survey 2000 (1), chickened one of the food
products frequently consumed, although is differ according to with annual
income this shows that chicken is a convenient nutrient dense food product.
1. Steyn, N., Macintyre, U., Labadarios, D., Maunder, E. Swart, R.,
Nesamvuni, A. E., Gericke, G., Huskisson, J., Vorster, H. H., & Dannhauser,
A. 2000. The food and nutrient intakes of children aged 1-9 years in South
Africa: The national food consumption survey. In: Proceedings 6th
Biennial Nutrition Congress 2000, Form Lab to Land. 16-18 August 2000.
South Africa.
ABSTRACT NO. 152. Is milk a homogeneous product?
Smit LE, Schönfeldt HC, Smith MF
ARC-ANPI, Private Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa
The interest in the chemical composition of milk and milk products is due to
the nutritional importance of milk in the human diet. However, the
composition of milk is not absolute as many factors influence the end product.
These variations can be related to season, locality, stage of lactation, different
breeds, variation during milking, age and size of the cow, environmental,
climate, weather (temperature) and feeding. Despite the fact that so many
other factors can influence the composition of the milk, the effect of season and
locality on the composition of South African milk is not known. The nutrient
composition of South African milk was also compared to the composition of
milk in other countries.
The samples were randomly drawn from distribution points in five different
regions. Milk was sampled in winter as well as in summer. Milk was analysed
for its nutrients at the Agricultural Research Council-Irene Laboratory
according to accredited methods or by selected sub-contractors. Canonical
variate analysis (CVA) was extensively used to determine if locality and
season contribute to the variation of some nutrients in the composition of milk.
The composition of whole milk in South Africa differed between the five
localities and the two seasons. The micronutrients b-carotene, a-tochopherol,
retinol, potassium and calcium were mainly responsible for the variation
between localities. In the CVA with season by locality interaction, a clear
separation between summer and winter milk was observed.
Comparison between South African milk and other countries showed that the
fat content was with the exception of the USA the lowest in South African full
cream milk compared to New Zealand (NZ), United Kingdom (UK) and
Germany.
Protein, lactose and the mineral content of full cream milk did not differ
substantially between the various countries.
Vitamin B2 content of SA milk was the lowest in all milk compared although
equal to that of the USA. α-Tochopherol content of South African milk was
equal to that of NZ, but higher than the milk in the UK and Germany.
ABSTRACT NO. 168. Assessment of food patterns in hypertensive men
Kooshki A 1 , Movahedi A 2
1 National Nutrition & Food Technology Research Institute of Iran
2 Shaheed Beheshti Medical science & health Services University
BACKGROUND: One of the major common health problems in the world is
coronary heart disease, which is the reason of more than 40% of mortality
between populations. Hypertension, obesity & body lipid disturbance
situation are major risk factors for coronary & vascular disease (CVD).
Nutritional factors are the majors’ risk factors to cause CVD. Food habits,
calorie intake, fat of diet, Na, K, Ca and Mg are important factors in
hypertension. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed in order to find relation
between food habits and hypertension in hypertensive patients. METHODS:
43 hypertensive men (mean age 48±8 years old) were studied in this research.
Blood pressure of all patients was measured in sitting situation; also after
measuring of height & weight, body mass index (BMI) of them was calculated.
Waist/heap ratio (WHR) was calculated as an index to show abdominal
obesity. Nutritional information was gathered by filling a food frequency food
questionnaire (FFQ) at the first of study and 24 hours recall method in 3 times
among 2 months and was calculated by Nutritionist III program with Iranian
food data bank. RESULTS: Systolic & diastolic blood pressure of subjects was
151±14 & 90.6±9 mmHg respectively. Average calorie intake in 3 times 24
hours recall was 2210±742, 2315±720 & 2280±743 Kcal, which were not
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
significantly different between them. Average of calcium & magnesium intake
trough 24 hours recalls were 576±261 and 95±6 mg/day respectively. On the
basis of 24 hours recalls in this study, Sodium intakes were 3670±531, 3649±422
& 3670±356 mg/day and no significant differences were observed. Also no
significant relation was observed in blood pressure, BMI & WHR (p>0.05), of
course a significant relation between age & WHR was observed (p=0.012). 24
recalls & FFQ information showed that milk, cheese, meat, chicken & tuna can
are the most common food intake of them. In the other hand sodium intake of
patients by using salt is about 3000 mg/day also in their normal food habits
they eat vegetables only 2-3 servings.
CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of results of this study, it seems that attention
to the corrigible factors in hypertension such as reduction of sodium intake by
controlling & correcting food habits, salt intake reduction and prevention from
obesity would be benefit for controlling blood pressure and reducing
hypertension.
ABSTRACT NO. 170. Harnessing social capital for African development in
a computer age: A preliminary theoretical approach
Babatunde Emmanuel
Lincoln University, USA
The failure of development efforts in a significant number of non-Western
contemporary societies has influenced funding institutions such as The World
Bank to rethink its policy on development. The original assumption, based on
puritanical ethics model, was that when the individual works hard, is frugal
and reinvests, economic prosperity would accrue. Economic prosperity
would, in turn, lead to the emergence of a middle class whose members will
champion democratic principles of equality before the law, voting rights, the
rule of law, a free press, free enterprise. This would lead to insistence on public
health programs beneficial to the majority of the citizenry. Through the works
of Francis Fukuyama, Partha Dasgupta and Ismail Serageldin The World Bank
policy has move away from this concept of development predicated on
individual efforts of profit and loss calculations to a focus on the importance
Social Capital. Social capital is the sum total of the social networks and
reciprocities existing in a society together with the values that underlie them
as effective principles of group mobilization to achieve mutually beneficial
goals. It is a resource in the community that increases with usage. This paper
suggests that the strength of African communities, demonstrated in such
values as the sense of honor and shame; habits of food distribution, resource
allocation, child-rearing practices and the traditional concept of the leader as a
re-distributive agent can be harnessed to assist in development. The
enlistment of these strengths in the community would replace the present
tendency to turn state apparatuses to extract resources for the sole benefit of
the elite.
ABSTRACT NO. 184. NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
IN KENYA: THE PLACE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Waudo Judith
Department of Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics, Kenyatta University, P. O. Box 43844,
Nairobi.
During childhood, sound nutrition plays a key role in the development of the
child. Poor nutritional status leads to high absenteeism, low enrolment, poor
retention and low achievement. Nutrition education through information
technology can play a key role in the prevention of nutritional deficiencies in
children. Health education through the child-to-child approaches can go a
long way in empowering children to take charge of their own health and
nutrition. Technological access through children’s favourite cartoons and
video games can go a long way in the promotion of good nutrition among
school children. This study sought to investigate the prevalence of
malnutrition among children in Kenyan primary schools. A sample of 3194
Standard three and Standard six children were studied. Data collected for this
study included anthropometry and meal patterns. The results of this study
showed that 19.6% of the Standard three and 20.7% of the Standard six
children were stunted. The older children were more stunted than the young
ones. The gender distribution showed that more boys than girls for both
Standard three and Standard six were malnourished. Eastern Province had the
highest level of malnutrition for both Standard three and Standard six. In
terms of meal patterns, the poorest meals undertaken by both Standard threes
and Standard six was breakfast.

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 39
ABSTRACT NO. 185. STUDIES ON THE PRODUCTION OF
βGALACTOSIDASE BY KLUYVEROMYCES CEREVISIA AND
KLUYVEROMYCES FRAGILIS-PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS OF
βGALACTOSIDASE
Alani SR, AL-Rawi AT, Sajet AS
Agricultural & Biological Research Center, P.O. Box 765 Baghdad, Iraq
Commercially available “Lactase” products alleviate symptoms in many
lactose-intolerant people. Preparation and application of lactase from yeasts
were the aim of this study. Three methods for enzyme extraction from yeast
were studied. A combination o chemical and physical method was more
efficient in enzyme extraction than rupturing the cell by organic solvent or by
homogenization by physical mean only. Degree of lactose hydrolysis in milk
catalysed by various concentration of lactase preparation at temperature of 5-
6°C. Eighty percent lactose hydrolysis in milk was achieved after 3,6,9 hours
using enzyme activity of 15, 000, 10,000 and 5000 U/Liter respectively. Results
of the study may be applied in production of reduced lactose milk, flavoured
milk and other dairy products with low lactose content.
ABSTRACT NO. 193. The microbial ecology of selected foods with specific
reference to Bacillus cereus
El-Desouky AI 1,2 , El-Mansy HA 2 & Cox JM 1
1 Department of Food Science and Technology, The Unuiverasity of New South Wales,
Sydney NSW 2052,Australia.
2 Department of Food Science, Zagazig University, Moshtohor 13736,Egypt.
As a preliminary part of a study of Bacillus cereus, 58 food samples , including
pasteurised milk , raw vegetables, fresh noodles and pasta , fried rice , and
meat products were analysed microbiologically. The foods were analysed for
aerobic plate count, psychrotrophic count, lactic acid bacteria, total coliforms,
yeast and moulds, halophilic bacteria, as well as Bacillus cereus. Eleven samples
contained low levels of B. cereus (50 cfu / g). Some of these samples contained
other Bacillus isolates of interest, identified as B.brevis, B.firmus, B.lentus,
B. licheniformis and B. pumilus using the API 50CHB system. A range of Asian
rice-based products was also tested only for the presence of B.cereus. While no
Bacillus was detected in samples immediately after manufacture, population
in retail samples ranged from 50 –5.6 x 10 4 cfu /g. Forty isolates from the first
study were tested for heamolytic activity , of which 90% were positive. Twenty
Bacillus isolates were tested for production of enterotoxin using a commercial
ELISA kit. While all B.cereus isolates produced enterotoxin , so too did some
isolates of B.brevis, B.lentus, and B. pumilus, suggesting these latter species also
have the potential to cause foodborne illness.
ABSTRACT NO. 196. INTRAHOUSEHOLD MEAT ALLOCATION,
NUTRITIONAL NEED AND MODERNIZATION AMONG THE YORUBA
IN SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA
Setiloane Kelebogile
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Delaware, Newark, DE USA
This study employed data from 211 predominantly urban and semi-rural
Yoruba mothers with two-year-old children. It establishes the prevalence of
beliefs regarding meat and moral training and examines the adequacy of the
mothers' allocation rules for apportioning meat to children of different age
groups, to the fathers and to themselves. The study also tests the degree to
which certain modernizing lifestyle changes predict abandonment of the
traditional beliefs and normative allocation pattern. Seventy-five percent of
the mothers expressed one or more of the beliefs that the consumption of meat
is morally disadvantageous to children. The mothers' normative distribution
patterns, if followed in a household with protein supplies just adequate to the
household needs, would deprive the children relative to their requirements,
while fathers and mothers would receive more than their requirements if the
rule were followed. Adolescents, and not the two-year-olds, are the most
disfavored if the proportions given in the rule are compared with ideal
distribution of animal protein but not if compared to the cassava diet's ideal
proportions. Mothers who claim to have abandoned the beliefs about meat
and moral training described meat allocation rules for their children that are
more adequate in protein than mothers who profess the beliefs, not because
the proportional allocation changes but because the total amount seen as
suitable for the household rises with modernization, and thus the amount
allocated to each child rises accordingly. The mothers' meat allocation rule
does change with modernization, but it does so in terms of the overall amount,
not in terms of the shares assigned to each category of members.
ABSTRACTS
Traditional families eat very little meat, and thus assume they would have
only small amounts to allocate, while the amount of total meat consumed
increases greatly for modernizing families. This is reflected in the data from
this study which show more modern households can imagine having larger
amounts of meat to allocate.
ABSTRACT NO. 199. DAIRY PRODUCTION: A NUTRITION INTER-
VENTION IN A SUGARCANE GROWING AREA IN WESTERN KENYA
Mbagaya GM 1 , Odhiambo MO 2
1 Moi University, Department of Home Science and Technology, Chepkoilel Campus,
P.O. Box 1125,Eldoret-Kenya.
2 Moi University, Department of Marketing and Cooperatives, Chepkoilel Campus,
P.O.Box 1125,Eldoret-Kenya.
Malnutrition is multifaceted problem particularly in early childhood. Any
nutritional deficiencies experienced during this critical period could lead to
growth retardation and other adverse effects in future. In many rural areas,
most nutrition problems stem from food insecurity, poor complementary
feeding practices and poverty. Agricultural programs are likely to enhance
access to food by households or individuals thereby influencing their
nutritional status.
This study examined the impact of dairy production on the nutritional status
of preschool children aged between 24-59 months. Nutritional status was
assessed by taking height, weight and age of the study children and
comparing this with the height and weight of well fed children of the same age
using the WHO/NCHS growth reference standards. Height-for-age (HA),
Weight-for-height (WH) and Weight-for-age (WA) indices for each child were
calculated using the Epi-Info Version 6.02 program. Measures of disparity (Zscores
or standard deviations from the reference population) were also
calculated to determine the extent of malnutrition in this community. Children
falling below the cut-off point of

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 40
S40
related oxidative stress while lengthening survival time. Good nutrition also
delays progression from a symptomatic HIV state to AIDS. There is need to
explore, document nutritional care and support systems especially utilizing
the locally available protein, micronutrient and vitamin rich foods
supplements as adjuncts in the management and improvement of quality of
life among the HIV/AIDS patients.
ABSTRACT NO. 201. DIETARY IMPLICATIONS OF DAIRY
DEVELOPMENT IN VIHIGA DISTRICT, KENYA
Walingo MK
Maseno University, P.O. Box 333, Maseno
Western Kenya has been ranked highly among the poorest regions in Kenya,
as evidenced by the inception of poverty reduction strategies. The Kenya –
Finland Livestock Development is one of the many trial projects that seek to
improve the economic status of households, by targeting women, who are also
the gatekeepers of development. Not all households have participated in this
project, only those who met the selections criteria described in the
methodology. One of the objectives of this project was to enhance food
security of participating households.
A comparative study was designed to compare food and nutrient intake of
participant and non-participant households in the dairy scheme. Sixty
households were identified for the study. In households, women and their
pre-school children were identified for purposes of the investigation. The FAO
(1987) reference for East Africa was used to determine food and nutrient
adequacy for women and their pre-school children. Dietary data was collected
from households for three consecutive, non-special days, using standardized
household measures. Discriminant function analysis was used to identify
food and nutrients that differentiated between participant and non-participant
households.
Results indicated that mean food and nutrient intake was higher for both
women and their preschool children from participant households. Mean
intake of vegetables was lower in the participant households. There was
inadequate intake of niacin and riboflavin in pre-school children from
participant and non-participant households. Niacin inadequacy was also
observed in women from both groups of households. Energy intake was
below the RDI in women and pre-school children from non-participant
households were milk and milk products (D2 =3.10, F=46.45), women and
children from participating and nonparticipating households were milk/milk
products (D2 =3.71 F-ratio=27.36) for women, (D2 =3.17 F-ratio=14.46) for
children. The best set of nutrients that differentiated households, women and
children were: protein, vitamin A & energy, (D2 =299 F-ratio, 14.43), protein,
vitamin A, energy & calcium (D2 =3.95 F-ratio=18.09), and protein and energy
(D2 =2.6 F-ratio=12.06) respectively. It appears that dairy projects have a
positive effect on food and nutrient intake of participating households,
however I recommend further research to determine the nutritional effect of
dairy projects.
ABSTRACT NO. 202. GENE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN
FOODS AND NUTRITION: THE TWIN CHALLENGES FOR AFRICA
Limo MK
Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, Njoro, Kenya
Information Technology (IT) and biotechnology can provide solutions to
development processes which improve food and nutritional security. More
often than not, discussion and appraisals are not based on scientifically
supported facts and data. Information is the starting point for dialogue and
public policy. It can bridge or fill the gap between science and communication
with reliable information – not advocacy – on the status of audience aim at
employing a variety of information vehicles – education of issues – that
include press releases, lesson and teaching materials, brochures and books,
exhibitions and computer. The purposes of the biological and societal
information systems are to explain the techniques.
ABSTRACT NO. 203. STRAIN IN IMPROVEMENT OF SELECTED
MUSHROOM BY HYBRIDIZATION AND RADIATION
Natheer AM, Hassan AA
Agricultural Research Office P.O. Box 765, Baghdad. Iraq
Five isolates of white edible mushroom Agaricus bitorquis from Iraqi
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
environment were screened for hybridization program. Spores of these
isolates were germinated on potato dextrose agar (pH 6) at 25 + 1°c. After
crossing among these isolates, four hybrids were obtained from compatible
lines. The maximum yield of mushroom by AX hybrid was recorded, at the
same time, this hybrid was of high temperature tolerance compared to
parental lines, other hybrids and A. bisporus (X-10). Morphological characters
of hybrids fruit bodies compared to parental lines was studied. In addition,
the effect of gamma radiation on A. bisporus was studied. Morphological
characters and productivity of irradiation mushroom and its hybrids were also
studied.
ABSTRACT NO. 204. THE NUTRITION INFORMATION CENTRE AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH
Labuschagne I, Labadarios D
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Stellenbosch and Tygerberg
Academic Hospital, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
The University of Stellenbosch’s Department of Human Nutrition established
the Nutrition Information Centre (NICUS) in October 1997 to act as a reliable
and independent source of nutrition information in South Africa in order to
promote a scientifically sound culture.
NICUS provides the most up-to-date, credible and authoritative information
on nutrition to the public, the media and health professionals. Its services
include evaluation of nutritional status and individualised or group
counselling for the public, specialist advice to industry, and providing
authoritative information to the public and media on food and nutrition. The
Centre interacts with the public and health professionals by means of the
media (mostly radio and publications), telephone consultations, the NICUS
website and e-mails. All enquiries are handled confidentially and answered
promptly according to the nature of the problem.
On average, the Centre replies to approximately 250 telephone, e-mail, fax,
letter enquiries per month. From October 1997 to December 2001 a total of 7063
enquiries were answered. The majority of these enquiries originate from South
Africa, with the highest percentage from the Western Cape (59%) followed by
Gauteng (17%) and the remainder emanating from the other provinces. A
small percentage of the enquiries also originated from Namibia, Botswana,
Lesotho, Kenya and Europe. Product information enquiries accounts for the
highest percentage of the total enquiries (8.7%), followed by information on
healthy eating habits (8.13%), infant and child nutrition (6.4%), bone and joint
diseases and inflammatory diseases (6.41%), weight loss (5.6%) and magazine,
book and media comments (5.4%). This is done free of charge and for the
further development of the public’s nutrition and health knowledge.
Regular interactive education activities are planned according to the National
Health Calendar. The Centre continually writes fact sheets on subjects
pertaining to the Health Calendar, controversial topics, as well as topics
relevant to South Africa and elsewhere and is available on the website
(WWW.SUN.AC.ZA/NICUS). An immediate priority of the Centre is to
provide interactive opportunities for Continuous Professional Development
(CPD) in the form of online articles as a free service to health professionals
within the first half of 2002.
ABSTRACT NO. 205. The detection of Salmonellae Typhi in a population of
public high school food vendors in Ikorodu Local Government of Lagos
Abidoye RO, Olaitan OF, Akinkuade Robert A, Smith S Bamgbala
Nigeria
Summary. This work sought to screen a high risk population for chronic
Salmonella typhi urinary carriers, and to identify suspected cases of early
typhoid fever. In addition, the study, also aimed to determine the knowledge
and practices of food vendors, in relation to basic food hygiene, typhoid
transmission, and food preservation and storage methods. A total of 100 public
high school vendors in Ikorodu Local Government were selected by a
multistage sampling method. The mean age of Vendors was 36.9years, and the
median age was 36 years. 11% of vendors had no formal education, while up
to 54% had received a secondary school education, and 5%, school leaving
certificates. All 100 vendors were screened for chronic S typhi urinary carrier
states and, by cultures of one mid-stream urine sample, all were subsequently
incubated on both Deoxycholate and MaCconkey agars. E.coli was isolated in
9% of vendors, and klebsiella organisms in 7% of vendors. One blood culture
was positive for S typhi which was a 29 years old female selling cooked food,
who gave a one week history of fever, and also negative for urinary S typhi.
With respect to the knowledge and practices of food vendors, there appeared

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 41
to be a fair level of awareness about basic methods of food hygiene. In
response to a question asking vendors to name at least three methods of food
hygiene known to them, only 8% of vendors volunteered any of the “listed”
methods of maintaining food hygiene. 30% volunteered one method each and
40% volunteered two methods. There was also a significant number of
vendors who used conventional and hygienic methods of temporary food
preservation and storage, i.e. 72% used plastic coolers to store food. Cooking
locations ranged from private kitchen to roadside spaces, with vendors who
utilized the latter were in the minority – 2% and those who used commercial
premises such as shops, rather than homes were in the majority – 59%. Based
on chi square statistical testing, a significant correlation was observed between
the level of education of vendors and their knowledge of basic methods of
food hygiene, (p< 0.001) i.e. vendors with the least education had less
knowledge about food hygiene than vendors with secondary school
education. There were also significant associations between levels of
education and the knowledge of modes of typhoid transmission (p< 0.02) and
the knowledge of typhoid transmission and age group distribution (p

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 42
S42
ABSTRACT NO. 216. The use of armspan measurement to assess the
nutritional status of adults in four Ethiopian ethnic groups
De Lucia Emanuella 1 , Fikru Tesfaye 2 , Lemma Ferew 3 , Ismail Suraiya 1
1 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Public Health Nutrition Unit, 49
- 50 Bedford Square, London WC1 3DP
2 Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University,
Ethiopia, PO Box 11490
3 Jimma University PO Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia
A cross sectional study was carried out to investigate the use of armspan as a
proxy for height in the assessment of nutritional status using body mass index
(BMI) for four ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Four regions in Ethiopia, namely
Oromia, Amhara, Tigray, and Somali Region were selected for the study.
A total of 1706 (884 males and 822 females) Ethiopians aged 18-59 years were
enrolled from the four different ethnic groups. Anthropometric measurements
(weight, height and armspan) were obtained using standard techniques. BMI
using height (BMI-ht) and using armspan (BMI-as) were calculated, t-tests and
analysis of variance were used to compare means, and linear regression to
investigate the relationship between BMI-ht and BMI-as.
The finding revealed ethnic and sex differences between height and armspan,
and their derived variables (BMI-ht and BMI-as). Armspan and height (r =
0.83-0.9), and BMI-ht and BMI-as (r = 0.89-0.97), were highly correlated in all
ethnic groups. BMI-as cut offs equivalent to the conventional BMI-ht
classification of chronic energy deficiency were similar in the Oromo, Amhara
and Tigre, but substantially higher in the Somalis.
It is concluded that armspan can be used as a proxy for height to estimate BMI,
but the relationship between the two measures varies considerably with
ethnicity and sex. Unless sex and ethnicity specific cut-offs are applied, the
use of BMI-as using conventional cut-offs will overestimate the prevalence of
underweight in these populations.
ABSTRACT NO. 217. Model program of the care and assessment of
nutrition and growth of children orphaned from AIDS living in a familystyle
group home
Ernst J1 , Ochieng T2 , Hidinger C1 , Heiser C1 , Odongo J2 1Children of the World 2449 North Boulevard #4106, Houston, Texas
2Children of the World's-St. Anne's Children's Home (COTW-SACH), PO Box 2639,
Kisumu, Kenya
Children from the Nyalenda Slum represent the first generation with a parentgeneration
lost to AIDS. Some suffer from AIDS. All live in poverty. They are
orphaned and have minimal access to health care, education, and psychosocial
services. Stunting and malnutrition, prevalent among Kenyan children,
indicates a diet poor in quality and quantity.
COTW-SACH, a community project, provides day care to 50 children and full
care to 15 children from the Nyelenda Slum. COTW supports SACH, a
program initiated in 1995 by the Odongo family. COTW, an organization
focused on families and community-based caretakers, develops programs that
address issues such as abandonment, neglect, exploitation, and disease
management. COTW faculty assists local directors with program oversight to
be trained and self-sufficient within 3 years. The use of integrated technologies
(IT) allows the development of a computerized system of data collection that
involves food cost analysis, accurate nutrient intake assessment, and
anthropometric measures over time. Care provider training and data reporting
support a medical nutrition e-mail dialog with in-country nutritionists and
other health care providers. The program emphasizes food safety and the
impact of interventions on growth and overall nutrition status. The NASA
Advanced Technologies program offers new technologies on water
purification, medical testing, food thermo stabilization and processing,
developed for the International Space Station, as applicable to developing
nations. Some IT services can generate revenue from the surrounding
community. The goal is to prove the model successful and enable expansion to
other sites in Kenya.
ABSTRACT NO. 223. A study on the prevalence of Salmonella in food from
road-side cafes in the Buea district of Cameroon
Nkuo Akenji TK, Aduh J, Ndip R.N.
Department of Life Sciences, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, South West
Province, Republic of Cameroon
A total of 1200 food samples consisting of cooked rice, beans, beef stew,
chicken stew, and roasted beef obtained from road-side cafes in the Buea
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
district of Cameroon were analysed for Salmonella contamination. Buea was
divided into 4 zones based on socio-economic considerations and 300 samples
(60 of each food type) were tested in each zone. The prevalence of Salmonella
isolated in these foods from zones I, II, III and IV were 21%, 12%, 3.1% and 6%,
respectively with an overall prevalence of 10.1%. A significant difference in
prevalence was observed between zones 1 and II, III, IV and similarly between
zone II and zones III and IV (P

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:27 AM Page 43
Introduction
Iron deficiency anemia is highly prevalent in developing countries and a major
cause is the low bioavailability of plant origin dietary iron. Certain varieties of
cereals and legumes contain large amounts of polyphenols (tannins) that
inhibit iron absorption. Phenolic groups such as galloys and catechols have
been reported to strongly impair iron absorption than other phenolics. Several
processing methods are also known to reduce the amount of polyphenols, but
little is known on the effect on specific phenolic groups and on iron
absorption. A study was conducted to determine the effect of different
treatments on phenolic groups and on in-vitro accessible iron.
Materials and methods
Phenolic groups of total phenols, resorcinols, catechols and galloyls, were
determined in cereals and legumes commonly consumed in Tanzania using
different calorimetric methods such as Prussian blue for total phenols, Vanillin
for resorcinols and ferric ammonium sulphate (FAS) for catechols and galloyls.
Sorghum-udo, finger millet, cowpeas, mung beans and brown kidney beans
were differently processed in order to affect the phenolics and the changes
evaluated. Oxidation of polyphenols was done by incubating the cereal
slurries with tyrosinase and phytase enzymes. Total iron was determined by
wet acid digestion and accessible iron as iron solubility at physiological
conditions.
Results
Phenolic content varied considerably among the samples. Total phenols
ranged from 0.9 to 33.7, catechols from 0.8 to 13.5 and resorcinols from 0.2 to
11 mg catechin equivalents (CE) g -1 . Galloyls (tannic acid equivalent, TAE)
were found at negligible amount in most grains but at appreciable amount in
sorghum-udo (5.5 mg g -1 ). Processing the grains gave variable effects. Soaking
in different solvents reduces significantly (p

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:27 AM Page 44
S44
respectivement; P = 0,492). En outre la calcémie est significativement plus
faible (P = 0,005) chez les paludéens de 0 à 25 ans que chez ceux du troisième
âge (26 à 80 ans).
Toutes ces observations nous permettent de penser que le Plasmodium f.
détournerait les micronutriments de son hôte pour son propre métabolisme.
Cependant une étude plus approfondie du métabolisme des micronutriments
chez le parasite s'avère nécessaire.
ABSTRACT NO. 236. HUNGER IN THE MAKING IN RURAL WESTERN
KENYA: SPECIAL RESEARCH REPORT ON ANATOMY OF FOOD
INSECURITY AND FUTURES BEYOND FAMINE THROUGH
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY?THE PROFILES, IN KATOLO
K’Okul Richard NO
Dept. of Foods, Nutrition & Dietetics; Kenyatta University, PO Box 43844, Nairobi.
Kenya
On-exotic staple foodplants were the subject of this research in Rural Western
Kenya. The concern was on how indigenous cum traditional foodplants can be
conserved, promoted in growth, exploited and consumed in massive scale.
The foodplants were divided into four broad groups: those domesticated;
those consumed in the wilderness and on pods; those hunted, gathered and
trapped for home-use; and, those eaten while on transit under ‘traveller
dietary eating syndrome’. Twenty (20) plant species were later selected that
were widely used for growth promotion, massive production and
consumption through Nutrition Advocacy campaigns using the Profiles. The
selection of these food crops were done using the following criteria: their
potential contribution to food supply during the ‘hungry seasons’ and
famines, frequency of household use, potential for further promotion in
growth, possibility of processing in a manner that goes with the modern
person’s taste and marketing; potential nutrition contribution to diet in terms
of protein, energy, vitamins and minerals; and income generating potentials if
promoted in growth and processed in a manner that wins immediate cultural
acceptance and marketing on massive scale.
The other concern was on how to use the so-called non-exotic staple food
plants to combat food insecurity. It was noted that the success of a good food
security programme does not rely on food production, food processing and
food consumption alone. If ‘food for all’ has to be achieved and lives
improved through better nutrition, then steady growth must be achieved in
agricultural development under sectoral approach. The aim of agriculture in
this sense is to provide enough food for the rural populace, (b) attract the
labour force and even absorb the unemployed ones, (c) attract village-based
industries for processing the farm produce. And, with incomes generated this
way, farmers will be able to store the produce and even sell the surplus
including the processed products. And in order to achieve such a desirable
food security strategy, women groups, youth and farmer associations are
conceived in this work as then key producers than marginalizing farming to a
segment of the societal members; the women, the disabled, the sick and the
children.
The purpose of the present study can therefore be summarized as follows: to
find out why traditional food abundance in Rural Western Kenya has sunk
and how their growth can be revived and product development, marketing
and massive consumption promoted through information technology – the
Profiles. The main question is: ‘Whether malnutrition would disappear if staple
foodplants are promoted in growth and product development for wider marketing and
local consumption?’
The research was designed within longitudinal study, which lasted between
1993-98 under Participatory action-oriented research approach (PAORA). The
research community was Katolo, 40 kms. away from provincial headquarters,
Kisumu City. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. While
during the analysis, two analysis modes were adopted: one involving
qualitative, and another applying quantitative. Qualitative mode followed this
rigid format: reconstruction where all questionnaire notes were reconstructed
into written essays, coding where all the attitudes were ranked and classified
into meaning relations, pattern coded and compressed into themes, memoed,
displayed format and inferences verified and drawn. On the other hand, all
quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS+ and Epi Info for nutrition
advocacy campaigns. Nutrient analysis were done using secondary data from
Sehmi, et. al., 1989; Manundu & Kabuye, 2000 and Latham, 1997 to assist
convince planners and policy makers.
Of the 91 homesteads selected, men, women and youth were integrated into
our discursive process using poverty indices criteria in determining whom the
villagers judged to be at risk with food insecurity. From this criterion, we came
to the following conclusion: Well-to-do in Katolo sub-location were 6 (7%)
homesteads, Achego – 4 (4.4%). 81% were categorized as either poor or
extremely poor; while 10% as average.
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
ABSTRACT NO. 237. SERIOUS DETERIORATION OF THE
NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF THE LOCAL POPULATION IN
COMPARISON TO THE POPULATIONS DISPLACED BY WAR IN
KINSHASA, DR CONGO
J P Banea-Mayambu 1,2 , T Ntambwe-Kibambe 2 , D Nahimana- Gitebo 2
1. Institut des Sciences et Techniques Médicales, Université de Kinshasa, BP 34
Kinshasa XI, RDC. 2. Centre National de Planification de Nutrition Humaine BP
2429 Kinshasa I, RDC.
Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo has, over the last years,
experienced a massive influx of people fleeing from the war in the
Northeastern parts of the country. The refugees and internally displaced
populations live together with the local populations but the nutrition
interventions are only targeted for the displaced populations. In 2001, FAO
estimated that the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition in Congo was the
highest in the world and that an urgent action was needed to avoid a nutrition
disaster in the country.
In order to assess the situation in Kinshasa, a nutrition survey was performed
in four peripheral municipalities of Kinshasa among the local populations
living in an integrated manner with the displaced populations. The survey
used structured nutrition interviews among mothers, anthropometry among
children aged 6-59 months and non-pregnant women aged 20-50 years, as well
as blood analyses of children aged 6-36 months. Statistical analysis was
performed with EpiInfo-6 and SPSS for Windows, Version 10.
In the local population, the daily mortality rate per 10.000 inhabitants, the
prevalence of severe wasting (W/H < - 3 Z-Score) and wasting (W/H < -2 Z-
Score) were higher than among the displaced: 1.23 per thousand vs. 0.25 per
thousand, 1.60% vs. 0.21%, 13.5% vs. 4.0% respectively. No other significant
difference was found except for exclusive breast feeding in the age group 0-6
months, 67% among the displaced vs. only 23% among the local population.
The nutritional deterioration is thus larger in Kinshasa among the locals
hosting the displaced populations compared to the displaced populations
them-selves. In war situations like in Congo where the displaced populations
live with the locals, any urgent intervention must target all the vulnerable
strata and not only the displaced populations.
GRAVE DETERIORATION DE L’ETAT NUTRITIONEL DES
POPULATIONS LOCALES PAR RAPPORT AUX POPULATIONS
DEPLACEES DE GUERRE A KINSHASA, REPUBLIQUE
DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO
J P Banea-Mayambu 1,2 , T Ntambwe-Kibambe 2 , D Nahimana- Gitebo 2
1. Institut des Sciences et Techniques Médicales, Université de Kinshasa, BP 34
Kinshasa XI, RDC. 2. Centre National de Planification de Nutrition Humaine BP
2429 Kinshasa I, RDC.
Kinshasa, capitale de la République Démocratique du Congo connaît ces
dernières années un afflux massif des populations fuyant la guerre sévissant
au Nord-Est du pays. Les fugitifs ou déplacés vivent ensemble avec les
populations locales mais les interventions alimentaires humanitaires ne visent
que les seuls déplacés. En 2001, la FAO estimait que la prévalence de la
malnutrition protéino-énergétique au Congo était la plus élevée au monde et
q’une action urgente était nécessaire pour éviter une catastrophe nutritionnelle
dans le pays.
Afin d’évaluer l’ampleur de cette situation à Kinshasa, une enquête
nutritionnelle utilisant interviews structurées et diététiques auprès des mères,
anthropométrie auprès d’enfants de 6- 59 mois et femmes non-enceintes de 20-
50 ans, ainsi que des analyses sanguines auprès d’enfants de 6-36 mois fut
conduite dans quatre communes périphériques de Kinshasa vivant de manière
intégrée avec les déplacées. Les données furent analysées par Epiinfo-6 et SPSS
pour Windows, Version 10.
Dans la population locale, le taux de mortalité journalière pour 10.000
habitants, la prévalence de la malnutrition aiguë sévère (P/T < - 3 Z-Score) et
de la malnutrition aiguë globale (P/T < -2 Z-Score) étaient plus élevés que
chez les déplacés: 1.23 pour mille contre 0.25 pour mille, 1.60 % contre 0.21%,
13.5% contre 4.0% respectivement. Aucune différence significative ne fut
trouvée dans d’autres résultats sauf pour le taux d’allaitement exclusif de 0-6
mois, trouvée à 67% chez les déplacés contre seulement 23% dans la
population locale.
La détérioration nutritionnelle serait plus importante à Kinshasa parmi la
population locale accueillant les déplacés de guerre que parmi les déplacés
eux-mêmes. En situation de guerre comme au Congo où les populations
locales vivent ensemble avec les déplacés, toute intervention d’urgence devrait
cibler toutes les couches vulnérables et non se focaliser sur les seuls fugitifs.

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:27 AM Page 45
ABSTRACT NO. 238. Exchange of nutritional data on an international
level: Challenges
Makhumula-Nkhoma Phillip J
Industrial Consultancy Unit, University Of Malawi, P.O. Box 280, Zomba, Malawi
The nutritionist of today will easily access large amount of data available on
the Internet. However, this easily accessible data may mislead if inaccurate
information of its quality presented. Samples sizes/portions of meals vary
greatly across cultures and unless these are converted to internationally
acceptable measures, comparison of data may be meaningless. In some
instances conversion factors may not be correct as standards for conversions
between cultural definitions are rarely supplied with published data.
A working knowledge of statistics is therefore necessary for the nutritionist to
ascertain the quality of data sourced. The number of samples making up the
composite sample may not always justify the accuracy that is presented from
a statistical point of view. Nutrient data must be supplied with analytical
methods used so that the accuracy of the data can be compared and assessed.
It is of utmost importance to standardise data presentation on a regional level
so that readers and presenters understand each other. A number of issues are
discussed related to standardisation of data acquisition and data presentation
for online exchange purposes.
ABSTRACT NO. 240. COUNTERING THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN NUTRITION
Mokua JK
Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Applied Nutrition Program,
University of Nairobi, P.O Box 442, Uthiru, Nairobi, Kenya
Information technology has a wide range of benefits to its users. It is an
important tool in informing and educating the general public. However, there
are also a number of negative effects of IT in nutrition. These stem from the
fact that nutrition affects every individual and therefore compels people to
seek needed information from any and every source that is available. Also,
people make statements about nutrition that cannot be scientifically proven
but are based on isolated personal experiences, speculations and fads. These
has led the general public to acquire conflicting information on topical issues
such as nutrition management in weight loss and nutrition management of
diseases e.g. AIDS, Diabetics and cancer. To counteract this, IT can be
positively utilized to ensure that the general public can sift through
information and select only that which is accurate and beneficial to them. This
can be done by ensuring that each statement on nutrition is supported by
proven scientific evidence. This paper seeks to propose ways in which
information technology can be utilized to censure inaccurate information on
nutrition and to provide access to accurate nutrition information to the general
public.
ABSTRACT NO. 242. Assessment of better practices in community
nutrition programmes: a case study of Ssembabule Child Survival Project,
Uganda
Kazibwe S, Sentumbwe J
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. P.O.Box 21282 Kampala,
Uganda
Ssembabule Child Survival project (SCSP), implemented by Minnesota
International Health Volunteers (MIHV), in Ssembabule district is one of the
three projects in Uganda, which were selected for the ‘’better practices’’
assessment, under the Greater Horn of Africa Initiative (GHAI). The
assessment was carried out during February 2000.
The objective for the assessment was to identify ‘’better practices’’ in
community level programmes that have led to positive nutrition outcomes.
Eventually these would be documented for further dissemination to other
stakeholders and they would also be used to enhance and facilitate nutritionplanning
activities in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The study team reviewed a report, which outlined the GHAI objectives and
definition of the ‘’better practices’’; provided the background, context and
scope of the study and a prototype methodology for assessing success factors
and better practises. All above-mentioned factors plus other criteria were
considered in selecting the study projects.
Data collection instruments involved literature review, semi-structured
questionnaire, key informants, focus group discussions and direct
ABSTRACTS
observation.
Several better practices were identified and categorised under four major areas
namely; programme development and design, programme management and
implementation, intervention strategies and/or technologies and
sustainability.
Lessons learnt from each of these identified practises were also discussed.
ABSTRACT NO. 243. Nutritional assessment of hospitalised elders in
Abeokuta, Nigeria
Aboaba Ibiyemi, Olufunmilayo Adepoju O
University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria
The Health care of older adults is gaining attention all over the globe. In
Africa, elders are central figure in food production and home
management. In view of this importance, the study focused on nutritional
assesment of hospitalised elders. Eighty-five hospitalised elders of age
sixty years and above were randomly selected from both government and
private hospital in Abeokuta. Using anthropometric measurement, food
frequency and direct weighing method, the body mass index and nutrient
intake were calculated. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was
22kg/height. The calorie intake is below recommended dietary allowance
for male (1275kcal/d) and female (1212kcal/d).Significant differences
exist between Body Mass Index and Oral problem(r= -.24p

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:27 AM Page 46
S46
health and nutrition.
As a result of this Mothers do not know the connection between balanced food
and health, cleanliness and health. Many mothers are bounded with
traditional beliefs and habits (food taboos), which can harm the health of
children and women.
There for to improve the nutritional status of mothers and children, we design,
print, produced posters and other educational materials and give Intensive
training to trainers for grassroots level. The program continues And the aim is
to reach as many mothers as possible and improve there Nutritional status.
Availability of Educational Materials
There is a great lack of up to date information for grassroots level trainers and
care- takers about the child's need for specific food and care, in general
knowledge about Nutrition is very poor. The insignificant assortment of
educational material, which is available, is either outdated, too expensive or
simply out of reach of the community.
Obviously health and nutrition teaching materials should be understandable
at basic level, available and affordable to all members of community,
especially to those with Low income. EECMY is running various development
programs in rural and urban Ethiopia, but it has not so far developed proper
nutrition and health educating materials Neither for trainers nor for the
community. In addition to this there is a need to compile the already prepared
educational materials and renew them with up to date information.
Justification
Co-operation with other organizations is essential to develop the material
required on health and nutrition for the implementation of their respective
programs, which focuses on awareness rising of people on health and
nutrition.
NB I will prepare further elaborated practices on food taboo and its effect on
health.
I have also true story on how beliefs and miss beliefs affect the health of
women and children in Ethiopia and the teaching methods used to address
this issues.
Ethiopia is located in east Africa, a tropical country with two major seasons,
summer and winter, mainly one harvesting season but in some low land areas
two harvesting seasons. The total population is 61,649,000(1999statistic
The causes for high mortality and morbidity among mothers and children>5
are various, but the majority are preventable. The existing health and nutrition
education must be Improved and expanded, which cannot be done with out
proper and up to date educational materials and training.
The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) is a local church
also registered as an NGO with total members of 3,359,683(in 2000) the church
is organized in 20 units located in different part of the country.
The Nutrition and Hygiene Project is located in EECMY central office under
the health section in DASSC (Development and Social Service Commission of
the central office.
Health and Nutritional status
In general basic health care is not at all satisfactory, large portion of the
population has no access to basic components of Primary Health Care
(Statistical figures are attached in Annex 1)
Health Practice
In Ethiopia the general pattern for meals in the family is that the men eat first
and most of the food, while the women and children will eat the remaining left
over. This means that the women and children will seldom have the daily
energy requirements covered.
(The average energy intake of the people meets only 73% of the requirements.)
Basic hygiene is poor. Using unclean water from rivers or ponds does almost
all food preparations. Toilets are rare. One of the leading reasons for death of
small children in diarrhea is foods or drinks from a contaminated source.
ABSTRACT NO. 246. THE INTEGRATED VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT
Gobezie Abeba
Ministry of Health, Ethiopia
I started with the theory that one could influence the dietary habit of a
community if one works with the families closely and involve them at every
stage so that they themselves make the food available with in the household.
With this in mind I looked for a village that is close to the office and my home
so that I would visit the village as often as possible. I located the village and I
did a quick survey to find out about the physical make up of the village such
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
as the population, the number of house holds, the schools and the student
population, the churches and their influence on the day to day living, clinic or
other health facilities, the local administration, the source of water and
hygienic. A detail health and nutrition survey was also done to investigate the
nutritional problems and the parasitic infestation.
All these studies showed that there was severe food shortage in the village.
Parasitic infestation was very high; there were seasonal fluctuation of food. A
high percentage of the population, both adult and children were severely and
moderately under weight.
I did not have enough resource to start the program with all the 700 HH. I had
enough money to start the program with 50 households. Priority was given to
families with children under five and families who are willing to worked hard
to improve their nutritional situation. I was allowed to employ a girl with a
high school education to work closely with the families and a development
worker. We met frequently with the families and we discussed the problems
that were revealed in the studies. Together we set strategies to control the
parasitic problems, and to curve the food shortage and to improve the
deficient diet. The priorities that were set were to build latrines, to have
vegetable and fruit gardens and to clean the surrounding to closely follow the
children under five years and pregnant and lactating women, to have
intensive nutrition education for all the family members with special emphasis
for the under fives, pregnant and lactating women.
We agreed with the clinic to have an open- door service. We identify children
who are not vaccinated, who are malnourished or who have any kind of
sickness and send them to the clinic. We also try to talk to women to tell as
soon as they know they are pregnant so that we follow them.
We organized a committee of all the development workers in the village, and
representatives of the local administration, the clinic, and the school. We had
monthly meetings with these groups.
The In put for the HH was three-farm implement (a small shovel, a pick and
water pail) In addition to save the environment we gave the families kerosene
stove cooker. The total cost for these equipments was US$ 22. There were two
workers and the girl who worked with families and the development worker.
The salary of these two workers was US$ 65. So the total cost for the whole for
the whole program was about US$ 85.
As a result of these, every HH was eating vegetables four to five times a week
and they used the latrines and kept them clean. The cleanliness of the
compound was superb. The result of the program was beyond expectation.
ABSTRACT NO. 251. DIETARY PLANNING FOR LOW INCOME STRATA
IN EGYPT
El-Asfahani A 1 ,Abdou Amin I 2 , Ibrahim Khalid R 3
1 Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanat of Oman
2 National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
3 Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
Mostly caused by economic limitations, even the average income level strata
in Egypt suffer nutritional deficiency, despite spending more than half of their
income on food. As such, the study reached a number of alternative daily
diets, for winter and summer, satisfying nutritional daily requirements at the
least cost, sharing no more than 43 percent of income for the average lowincome
typical Egyptian family. Most of the proposed diet models consisted of
bread, molasses, and deep green leafy vegetables. Some animal origin foods
were included in some of the proposed diet models for reasons of food
variations. To ensure future validity, price stability conditions as weighted by
the foregoing inflation rate were considered in minimized cost diet model
selection.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: none.
ABSTRACT NO. 301. Use of dried and preserved bovine blood for the
fortification of bean sauce as a food-based strategy to combat iron
deficiency anaemia in Uganda
Kikafunda Joyce K, Paul Sserumaga
Department of Food Science, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda.
E-mail: foodtech@infocom.co.ug
Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is one of the most important micro-nutrient
deficiency diseases in many developing countries. In Uganda, it is estimated
that over 50% of women of child bearing age and children below 5 years of age
suffer from iron-deficiency anaemia. Although there are several strategies to

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:27 AM Page 47
combat IDA including supplementation and fortification, food-based
strategies are the most sustainable and yet little research has been carried out
in this area.
Feeding on chelated minerals has been proposed on the basis that chelates will
prevent formation of insoluble complexes in the gastro-intestinal tract and
reduce the amount of particular minerals that will be required in diet.
This study aimed at developing a process of preservation of bovine blood into
a powder, which would easily be utilised in fortifying a commonly consumed
food item; bean sauce, with the heme iron.
From the tests carried out on the dried and preserved bovine blood powder,
packaged in 250 gauge polythene bags and stored at room temperature, it was
found that there was a fall in total aerobic counts during the three months
storage period from 3.672 to 3.126 colony forming units (cfu). This figure was
not significant at p

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:27 AM Page 48
S48
Notes
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS