(P07-030-25) Impact of a Garden-Based Nutrition Intervention on Haemoglobin and Growth Outcomes among Adolescents in Selected Urban Schools in Kumasi, Ghana

Objectives: The study assessed the impact of a garden-based nutrition intervention on the nutritional outcomes of in-school adolescents.

Methods: A pre-post study design was employed to examine the effect of the garden-based intervention dubbed ‘Leaf your Life, the Healthy Way’ on 115 in-school adolescents from two basic schools in Kumasi using iron and carotenoid-rich indigenous vegetables such as amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus) and pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) leaves. Data was collected on sociodemography, anthropometry, biochemical and dietary habits using structured questionnaires. The 6-month garden-based intervention included 12 weeks of nutrition education and 5 weeks of cooking demonstrations with tasting sessions conducted after school by a research student and assisted by teachers. Height and weight were measured to calculate participants’ BMI-for-age and height-for-age Z-scores. Stool and urine samples were analyzed for parasites using the Kato Katz technique and urine filtration test respectively. Haemoglobin and serum retinol levels were assessed using the Hemocue® Hb 301 portable machine and the ELISA test kit, respectively.

Results: The baseline prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was noted as 8.3%. No parasites were found in either the stool or urine samples of the participants at baseline. At the end of the intervention, the percentage of participants who considered ILVs to be unpleasant decreased from 16.5% to 2.7% and those who viewed ILVs as expensive dropped from 32.2% to 14.8%. Additionally, adolescents who found ILVs to be delicious were 83% less likely to have growth issues. Obesity rates increased from 0.9% to 1.7%; stunting rates remained stable at 4.3% whereas thinness improved from 7.0% to 4.3%. Prevalence of anaemia improved from 38.2% at baseline to 26.1% at endline and mean hemoglobin levels increased from 11.88 ± 0.91 at baseline to 12.40 ± 1.23 at endline. Junior High School students were 3.6 times more likely to be anaemic compared to primary school students.

Conclusions: The intervention improved hemoglobin levels and knowledge, attitude and practices of indigenous leafy vegetables and is likely to reduce obesity risk in participants who enjoyed these vegetables. Junior High students however, faced higher anaemia risk highlighting the need for integrated nutrition interventions over standalone programs.

Funding Sources: GRASAG Research Fund (GREF), KNUST