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Background: School health and nutrition programmes improve the health and nutritional status of learners, yet their implementation status in Zambia remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the implementation of school health and nutrition programme in one of the districts in Zambia. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in Lusaka district, in 2015. The participating schools, including only state schools in Lusaka district were selected using stratified sampling method. Community and privately owned schools were not included. Herein, 40 school health and nutrition programme coordinators completed a questionnaire based on the guidelines provided by the Ministry of Education. Quantitative data were analysed via Microsoft Excel and Stata. The data obtained from open-ended questions were subjected to content analysis with prominent themes generated. Results: A School health and nutrition programme was observed in 42.5% (n=17) of the schools, but with no significant differences (P=0.601) between the urban and peri-urban ones. Due to insufficient funds and lack of supervision, only some of the recommended activities were implemented, such as school gardens, deworming, vitamin A and iron supplementation, and health education. The schools implementing school health and nutrition activities noted positive changes such as improvement in school attendance, pass rate, and a reduction in diarrhoea and bilharzia among their learners. Conclusion: School health and nutrition programme was implemented by less than half of the schools, still only partially. The effective implementation of the school health and nutrition programme is crucial to improve the health and nutritional status of learners. This necessitates that the Ministry of Education consistently follow up on school health and nutrition implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we report on the development and field-testing of proposed food-based dietary guideline (FBDG) messages among Tanzanian consumers. The messages were tested for cultural appropriateness, consumer understanding, acceptability, and feasibility. In addition, comprehension of the messages was assessed using culturally representative images for low literacy audiences. Focus group discussions were used as method for data collection. Results indicate that the core meaning of the proposed FBDG messages and images were understood and acceptable to the general population. However, participants felt that nutrition education would be required for improved comprehension. Feasibility was affected by some cultural differences, lack of nutrition knowledge, time constraints, and poverty. Suggestions were made for some rewording of certain messages and editing of certain images. It is recommended that the field-tested messages and images, incorporating the suggested changes, should be adopted. Once adopted, the FBDGs can be used to inform and engage various stakeholders, including parents, caregivers, healthcare providers and educators on appropriate nutritional practices for children and adults. They can also be used to guide implementation of relevant policies and programmes to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable healthy diets and healthy dietary patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the contribution of liver to the vitamin A intake of 24-59-month-old children from an impoverished South African community where liver is frequently consumed and vitamin A deficiency previously shown to be absent.Design: Cross-sectional.Setting: Northern Cape Province, South Africa.Subjects: Children aged 24-59 months (n 150). Vitamin A intake from liver was assessed using a single 24 h recall and a quantified liver frequency questionnaire. In addition, information on vitamin A intake via the national fortification programme was obtained from the 24 h recall and information on vitamin A supplementation from the Road-to-Health Chart. Height, weight and socio-economic data were also collected.Results: Stunting, underweight and wasting were prevalent in 36·9 %, 25·5 % and 12·1 % of children. Mean daily vitamin A intake from liver was 537 and 325 μg retinol equivalents measured by the 24 h recall and liver frequency questionnaire, respectively. Liver was consumed in 92·7 % of households and by 84·7 % of children; liver intake was inversely related to socio-economic status (P < 0·05). The food fortification programme contributed 80 μg retinol equivalents and the vitamin A supplementation programme 122 μg retinol equivalents to daily vitamin A intake.Conclusions: The study showed that liver alone provided more than 100 % of the Estimated Average Requirement of the pre-school children in this impoverished community. The results also challenge the notion generally held by international health bodies that vitamin A deficiency, poor anthropometric status and poverty go together, and reinforces the fact that South Africa is a culturally diverse society for which targeted interventions are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]