A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of
Master’s in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and
Technology
Micronutrients are comprised of vitamin and mineral nutrients needed during pregnancy for
fetus growth, development, maturation and reducing/preventing maternal complications. In
the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) micronutrient rich foods (vegetables and fruits)
are lacking due to restrictions on cultivation and unavailability of vegetables and fruits in the
local markets. Therefore, the current study introduced a food basket intervention and assessed
its effectiveness in addressing anemia, vitamin A and iron deficiencies among pregnant
Maasai women within the NCA. The quasi-experimental study included Misigiyo ward as a
control group (provide education only) and Olbalbal ward an intervention group (provided
food baskets and education). The study assessed hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and retinol
levels during baseline and follow-up together with knowledge, attitudes towards
micronutrient intake, and local dietary practices. Hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and retinol were
quantitatively (duplicate) measured with Hemocue ™, Maglumi 800 ™ and vitamin A Elisa
respectively. This study recruited 140 participants from both wards and found 78% of the
participants had good knowledge on dietary iron, while less than a quarter (24.3%) had good
knowledge on vitamin A. Moreover, 94% of the participants reported consuming African
nightshade (as a wild vegetable in the rainy seasons) together with stiff porridge.
Furthermore, there was a statistically significant increase in serum retinol (p<0.001) in the
intervention group compared to the control group while there was no statistical significance
difference in hemoglobin and serum ferritin before and after food basket intervention. The
baseline serum retinol was positively associated with the follow-up serum retinol levels while
baseline serum ferritin and hemoglobin were negatively associated. The food basket
intervention holds promise in reducing micronutrients deficiency, especially in communities
where micronutrient rich foods are scarce.