Micros Developing Countries essay

Question 1

Uganda orange sweet potato (4)

Answer 1

Large scale intervention to introduce OSP to rural Ugandan farmers
Resulted in the incorporation of OSP into diet of women and children
Increased vitamin A intake
Vitamin A status increased amount children at greatest risk of VAD

Question 2

Education of iron (5)

Answer 2

Increase heme iron (meat fish and poultry)
Absorption from heme iron hardly affected by other dietary factors
Tea should be consumed between meals instead of during
Because tannins inhibit iron absorption
Vitamin C should be consumed at the same time with iron-rich foods to increase absorption

Question 3

South Africa iron beer study (5)

Answer 3

Prospective study of women who consumed and did not consume traditional beer high in iron
The beverage is prepared in iron pots and iron is leached from containers
And is really bioavailable
Consumption of the beer protected women against iron deficiency anaemia
Iron pots should be encouraged for other cooking meals/beverages healthier than beer

Question 4

Fortification and its benefits (4)

Answer 4

Involved targeting staple foods
In order to avoid the issue of non-compliance
More effective and less expensive than supplementation

Question 5

China soy sauce iron fortification (3)

Answer 5

China initiated iron fortification of soy sauce in 1997
A one year effectiveness study resulted in the elimination of anaemia in children
There was a also reduction in the prevalence of anaemia in various age groups by 30-70%

Question 6

Lesotho iodised salt (5)

Answer 6

Iodine deficiency was eliminated as a public health problem
After the intro of iodised salt
However women in the lowland had high urinary iodine concentrations
Which indicated hyperthyroidism
Although this tends to be temporary

Question 7

Sazawal Iron supplementation malaria (5)

Answer 7

Sazawal examined the effects of iron supplementation in children with anaemia in areas at high risk of malaria
The trial was cut short due to supplementation increasing the risk of death and hospitalisation
Iron is harmful to the host as it helps pathogens grow
Therefore malaria treatment is needed as a complementary approach to supplementation
So children can benefit

Question 8

Vitamin A immunisation day (4)

Answer 8

Vitamin A supplementation has been show to be an effective methods for preventing VAD
The inclusion of VA on national polio immunisation has proved to be very effective at reaching large numbers of children at risk of VAD
Also significantly cheaper to deliver supplements through universal approach
Rather than narrow targeting