Increased vitamin A intake in children aged 2-5 years through targeted home-gardens in a rural South African community

Objectives: To determine vitamin A intake of children aged 2-5 years in a rural South African community one year after the implementation of a home-based food production programme targeting beta-carotene-rich fruits and vegetables, Design: Dietary intake of children aged 2-5 years was determined during a cross-sectional survey before and one year after the implementation of a home-based food production programme. Setting: A low socio-economic rural African community, approximately 60 km northwest of the coastal city of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Subjects: Children aged 2-5 years (n = 100); 50 children from households with home-gardens producing beta-carotene fruits and vegetables (project gardens), and 50 children from households without project gardens. Results: As compared with baseline data, there was a significant increase in vitamin A intake in children from households with project gardens as well as in children from households without project gardens. However, children from households with project gardens had a significantly higher vitamin A intake than children from households without project gardens. The increased vitamin A intake in those children from households without project gardens can be attributed to the availability of butternuts in the local shop (as a result of the project), and because the mothers negotiated with project garden mothers to obtain these fruits and vegetables for their children. Conclusion: A home-based food production programme targeting beta-carotene-rich fruits and vegetables can lead to an increase in vitamin A intake.