Browsing by Author "Nantongo, Veronica"

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Determinants of household food security and nutritional status of children 24-59 months in Namutumba District, Busoga Sub-region, Uganda
(Cambridge University Press, 2025-11-18) Asiimwe, Jacent Kamuntu; Ndegeya, Kizito; Nambooze, Joweria; Nantongo, Veronica
Household food security plays a critical role in determining the nutritional status of children, which in turn impacts their growth and development. This study assessed factors influencing household food security and childhood nutritional status and explored the relationship between these variables in Namutumba District. A total of 299 child-caregiver pairs participated in the study. Data were collected through structured interviews and analyzed, with multi-level mixed effects generalized linear models to examine factors associated with severe household food insecurity and children’s nutritional status. Multilinear regressions were used to evaluate the relationship between severe household food insecurity and child nutritional status. The results revealed that most households (60.2%) were severely food insecure. A double burden of malnutrition was observed, with 28.0% of children stunted and 2.8% overweight or obese. Factors positively associated with improved household food security included secondary-level education (p = 0.011), medium to high wealth percentile (p < 0.001), and the presence of at least one income-earning household member (p = 0.045). Conversely, lack of access to agricultural land, food stocks, and access to treated drinking water were significantly linked to severe food insecurity (p < 0.001). Severe food insecurity was positively associated with wasting (β = 0.81, p = 0.007) and negatively associated with stunting (β = −0.37, p = 0.039). In conclusion, multiple factors influence household food security, and the nutritional status of children aged 24–59 months. A comprehensive, food systems-based approach may be key to addressing malnutrition in Namutumba District
Food environment and dietary intake of female smallholder farmers in rural Uganda: the case of Mpigi district
(BMC Nutrition, 2025-11-18) Nambooze, Joweria; Kansabe, Shirley; Nakayiki Nyanzi, Lilian; Mbabazi, Muniirah; Mirembe, Winnie; Agole, David; Birungi, Tracy Lukiya; Kakande, James; Nantongo, Veronica
Background Malnutrition remains persistent among female smallholder farmers who produce most of the food consumed in Uganda; yet, information on their food environment is limited. We tested the hypothesis that rural female smallholder farmers rely mostly on the food they produce for their dietary intake. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 386 female smallholder farmers of reproductive in Mpigi district, Central Uganda. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour recall, producing the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) score, and facets of the food environment were assessed using self-reported perceptions and a seven-day food frequency questionnaire. The cost, and sources of the consumed foods were also assessed. The food-environment predictors of MDD-W were analyzed using binary logistic regression in Stata 15. Results Results revealed that less than half of the respondents, 43.3% (n = 167) met the MDD-W, whereas 56.7% (n = 219) did not. The respondents primarily depended on a bought food environment from which they obtained an average of 6.5 (± 2.9) food items compared to their own production 4.5 (± 2.4). Every household spent an average of United States Dollars (USD) 8.5 (± 7.9) to buy food in the seven days preceding the study. The odds that a woman met the MDD-W increased by 18% (p = 0.00) if they bought food, by 13% (p = 0.01) if they obtained food through their home-stead production, and by 4% (p = 0.00) if they had any positive or negative perceptions on physical access to food. Conclusions Compared with their own production, female smallholder farmers in rural areas like Mpigi depend more on the bought food environment for their dietary intake. Innovations that enhance physical and economic access to diverse diets, promote both diverse production and purchase alongside social behavior change communication, are recommended to improve the dietary diversity of female smallholder farmers in Mpigi.