Food Habits of Uganda

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Children

PAST "Infant feeding among Uganda's children"

Ethnical group	Period of lactation	Artificial feeding	Frist food	Publication	Year
Baganda	first 12-14 months	An increased tendency to resort to artifical feeding was noticed in urbanized Baganda women after a few months of breastfeeding	Other than breast milk, tea with or without milk or sugar, maize "porridge", matoke (cooking banana); Various fruits like paw-paw, sweet banana were added next Protein sources: beans, groundnuts, meat, fish, eggs Preparation: in form of a soup not given before child was 8-9 month old	Rutihauser	1963
Luo	18-20			Welbourn	1955
Acholi	Urban: 16-18 months	Was not as popular as in Buganda	Introduction: from second six months of life onwards Soft and semi-solid foods: including vegetable protein sources as millet, beans, sesame	Jelliffe	1963
Hadza or Watingdiga	prolonged until next pregnancy	Non	Rendered soft fat from the zebra and bone marrow, both raw and cooked were introduced in the early months; followed by: thin gruel like mixture of uncooked powder, or the ground seeds of the baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata)*	Jelliffe et al.	1962
Karamojong	prolonged until next pregnancy	Only, if mother had insufficient milk, child recieved supplements of undiluted sheep's milk;	Butter and ghee (clarified butter) were given shortly after birth, From 1 month of age short quantities of fresh and sour milk, butter, on occasions, thick gruel like sorghum beer was added to child's diet;	Jelliffe et al.	1964
Bahaya (Haya)	prolonged for the first year, by the age of 2 or 3 child was gradually taken off		After delivery the infant was given a little sour, native beer (from bananas)	Rwegelera	1963

References:
Rutishauser, I. H. E. (1963). "Custom and child Health in Buganda." Tropical Geographic Medicine 15: 138-147.
Welbourn, H. F. (1955). "Notes on differences between Baganda and Luo children in Kampala." E.A. Med J 32: 291.
Jelliffe, D. B., J. F. Bennett, et al. (1963). "The health of Acholi children." Tropical and geographical medicine 15(Community and child health studies in East Africa No. 5): 411-421.
Jelliffe, D. B., J. Woodburn, et al. (1962). "The children of the Hadza hunters." Tropical paediatrics 60(6): 907-913.
Jelliffe, D. B., B. F. J, et al. (1964). "Ecology of childhood disease in the Karamojong in Uganda." Archives of environmental health 9: 25-36.
Rwegelera (1963). "Tribal custom in infant feeding: among the Haya." East African Medical Journal 40(7): 366-369.

CURRENT: Weaning food pracices in Central Uganda

Source: Kikafunda JK et al.:African Journal of food, agriculture, nutrition and development, Vol. 3, Nr. 2; 2003 (online source: http://www.ajfand.net/)

This present study was undertaken to assess and document what food were fed to infants and young children, the weaning practices and the influencing factors in Mubende district, central Uganda.
Over half of the children commenced the weaning process with cow' milk. The green cooking banana (matoke) represented the most dominate weaning food. Children from the rural area consumed significantly more pumpkin, papaya and matoke compared to children from the urban areas who consumed significantly more cow's milk, rice, sweet potatoes and pineapples than rural children.

Native beer as a useful tool against deficiency disease?

The survey highlights the signs of Vitamin A deficiency among the population of Teso. The deficiency was attributed to dietetic, climatic, financial and social factors which varied in importance in the different areas. The effects of age and sex are discussed. Also, the value of native beer in preventing other deficiency disease is stressed in the following paper.

Reference: Loewenthal, J. A. (1935). "An inquiry into vitamin A deficiency among the population of the Teso, Uganda, with special reference to school children." Annual Tropical Medicine 29: 349.

Cultural and anthropological factors in infant and maternal nutrition of the Baganda

Papaw and passion fruit were the main "children foods" of the Baganda. Not a high emphasis was laid on the need of protein foods especially prepared for infants. In fact, it was common to believe that some valuable protein foods were unsuitable for children.

Some examples of believes among natives:

• Egg,: if given before the teeth have erupted, stupidity would accrue
  
• Meat would make the child greedy
  
• White ants (nswa) and beans would lead to diarrhoea
  

This article provides you with cultural and anthropological factors in infant and maternal nutrition of the Baganda (Bantu people of Uganda) before 1960.

Reference: Jelliffe, D. B. and J. F. Bennett (1961). "Cultural and anthropological factors in infant and maternal nutrition." Fed. Proc. 20: 185-187.

Kwashiorkor in Uganda's children 1958 to 1959

The calories per head in Uganda in 1958 and 1959 seemed to be adequate everywhere. Although, kwashiorkor was the most serious nutritional disease during that period of time due to a diet low in protein but over rich in calories.
The following paper reviewed the possible reasons for the occurrence of malnutrition in young children, in the following 5 districts:

• Bugosa
  
• Bukedi
  
• Bugisu
  
• Ankole
  
• Kigezi
  

PDF: Protein-calorie malnutrition in Uganda, II-BusogaDistrict, III-Bukedi District, IV-Bugisu District, V-Ankole district.

Feeding of school children in 1945

PDF: Review of nutrition in Uganda 1945

Custom and child health in Buganda

The following article provides you with information on;

• Infant feeding and weaning
  
• Special foods regarded to children
  
• Children snacks" "Ettu method of cooking" as a special food for children
  

THE "ETTU"PASTE

To bridge the gap between breast feeding and the time when the adult diet was satisfactory, Professor Jelliffe tried to introduce the ettu paste. To provide the child with adequate protein, all available animal protein was used in the forms which the child was able to eat and suitable vegetable protein mixtures were used as well.
The ettu paste was cooked as most of the foods were cooked by the Baganda and other tribes, in packets of banana leaves.

They consisted of a variety of mixtures:

o Cooking banana and groundnuts
o Sweet potatoes and beans
o Sweet potatoes and groundnuts
o Other protein sources: dried milk, eggs, fish, edible insects;

Professor Jelliffe pointed out that from the amount of diversity of foods available in Uganda, there should be no kwashiorkor in this country. An attempt which evolved local patterns and culture to decrease protein deficiencies was reviewed in the papers presented at the Conference held in 1961.

References: Dean, R. F. A. (1962). "Protein supply in Uganda." East African Medical Journal: 493-500.
Rutishauser, I. H. E. (1963). "Custom and child Health in Buganda." Tropical Geographic Medicine 15: 138-147.

The danger period during weaning

This article provides you with information on:

• Feeding customs in Buganda
  
• Brest feeding
  
• Mixed feeding
  
• Weaning from the breast
  
• Diet after weaning

Baganda children in child welfare clinics near Kampala in the 1950s - a review

Data and information on:

• Weight chart on increases in weight after complete weaning from breast
  
• Intakes of various kinds of foods eaten by Baganda children of parents with two different educational levels
  
• Average daily intake of various foods and the daily intake of calories and protein
  

Summary:
During the first 6 month of life breast feeding fast the rule and supply was abundant. Breast feeding was usually inadequate from the fifth month on and mixed feeding was introduced into the infant's diet which consisted mostly of carbohydrate foods. Most of the children were weaned completely from breast at 14 to 15 months. Weaning was usually very sudden and therefore women sometimes suffered from depression and anorexia. A small diet survey showed that after weaning the Baganda children had unbalanced diets which were mainly of carbohydrates and were poor in protein, especially in animal protein.

Reference: Welbourn, H. (1955). "The danger period during weaning." Journal of Tropical Paediatrics 1: 98-105.

Tribal customs in infant feeding among the Hadza hunters

This article highlights aspects on:

• Mother's diet during pregnancy and lactation
  
• The traditional way of feeding infants
  
• The management of premature infants
  
• Feeding of twins
  
• Weaning practices are outlined
  
• Galactagogues and wet-nurses were used by the Bahaya in exceptional circumstances
  

Reference: Rwegelera (1963). "Tribal custom in infant feeding: among the Haya." East African Medical Journal 40(7): 366-369.

Ecology of childhood disease in the Karamojong of Uganda in the 1960s

A community child health survey was carried out and 1047 infants, pre-school children and school children were examined.

Information and data are provided on:

• Skin disease
  
• Nutrition
• Haemoglobin levels
  
• Prevalence of malaria
  
• Spleen and liver rates
  
• Intestinal parasites
  
• Eye disease
  
• Miscellaneous clinical findings
  

Summary:
The ecology of the Karamojong people is described in this publication. Their lifestyle was characterised by constant search for water and grazing land for their cattle which dominated the scene culturally and nutritionally.
The pattern of diseases which were observed during the child health survey related well to the ecology, the most common problems were: conjunctivitis and trachoma, skin infections (scabies and tropical ulcer), tapeworm infection and malaria.
Hospital attendances investigations also showed a high incidence of certain acute conditions not likely to be found in a short term field survey, including diarrheal disease, as well as cattle associated infections as tetanus, anthrax and brucellosis.

Reference: Jelliffe, D. B., B. F. J, et al. (1964). "Ecology of childhood disease in the Karamojong in Uganda." Archives of environmental health 9: 25-36.

The health of Acholi children

The following article gives you an insight of the field survey undertaken among the young children in rural Acholi district in May 1960, about fifteen month after a pandemic of the anopheline-born virus disease (O'nyoung-nyong), had affected almost all the population. General child health was assessed but particular attention was given to clinically detectable congenital abnormalities.

Data on:

• Analysis of weight of rural Acholi children
  
• Analysis of weight of urban Acholi children
  
• Nutritional indicators in rural Acholi children
• Infant feeding among rural children
  
• Miscellaneous clinical findings
  
• Haemoglobin levels
  
• Sickling test
  
• Malaria parasites
  
• Stool examination
  

The survey showed no apparent increase of obvious congenital anomalies as a result of previous infection of pregnant women with O'nyoung-nyong virus.
Severe anaemia was the main public health problem in childhood which was considered to be mainly related to the high prevalence of malaria. Severe-protein calorie malnutrition, including kwashiorkor, was uncommon, probably because of widespread and successful prolonged breastfeeding and the early introduction of vegetable protein foods, especially millet gruel, sesame and beans. In contrast, among urban Acholi children kwashiorkor was present, as well as hypochromotrichia. This diseases prevalence was probably due to the use of maize flour instead of millet flour for infant feeding in Kampala where traditional foods are less easily available.

PDF: The health of Alcholi children 1963

Reprinted from the Journal of Tropical and geographical medicine Vol. 15, Jelliffe, D. B., J. F. Bennett, et al., "The health of Alcholi children" in Tropical and geographical medicine Vol.15, No.5: 411-421, Copyright 1963, with permission from the Journal of Tropical and geographical medicine.

How different were Baganda and Luo children in Kampala?

The following article summarized the main points raised a the clinical meeting at Mulago hospital in July 1954.

The focus of the observation were: weight and heights, the incidence of infections and signs of malnutrition, as well as dietary habits among Luo and Baganda children who attended child welfare clinics. Although the Luo children were dirtier, apparently less well looked after and more susceptible to infections than the Baganda, they were heavier in weight than the Baganda children and many of them were above the average weight for Europeans throughought the first three years of life.

Data and information on:

• Weight and length curves
  
• Signs of malnutrition
  
• Excess of disease attributable to dirt
  
• Breast feeding
  
• Diet after weaning
  
• Ethnical differences
  

Reference: Welbourn, H. F. (1955). "Notes on differences between Baganda and Luo children in Kampala." E.A. Med J 32: 291.

An investigation of the daily intakes of food of individual boys at a boarding school in Uganda

Individual food intakes of boys from 9 to 20 yeas old, chiefly Baganda, were measured at a boarding school in Uganda during 3 periods:

I. When school diet was unpopular and limited in amount
II. When school diet was popular but still limited
III. When popular school diet was offered in unlimited amount

Data on:

• Amounts and values of one portion of food provided by the school during investigation
• Recipes used at the school
  
• Contribution of different items of total calories from extras
• Mean weights
• Mean total daily intakes and calories
  
• Mean daily amounts of school food
  
• Proportion of total intakes of the schoolboys supplied by extras
  

Summary:
All the food intakes were below 90% of those of British boys of the same age, even when unlimited school food was offered. The intakes bore no relation to age but well grown children at any age had better appetites compared to those less grown.
The intake did not increase when unlimited school food was offered, possibly because the bulkiness of the diet made large amounts unacceptable.
All the boys supplemented their school food with extras which accounted for one-third, one-fourth and one-fifth of the total intakes in periods 1-3, respectively. Sugar was the most important extra item of the diet. It was taken in tea in large quantities.
Although some boys were underweight compared to British standards, no signs of under nutrition could be noticed.
The paper disused the implications of the feedings in relation to the traditional diet of the boys and highlighted that although the supplementation of African diets may be justifiable in theory, exact experiments should have been outlined in the first step.

Reference: Schwartz, R. and R. Dean (1955). "An investigation of the daily intakes of food of individual boys at a boarding school in Uganda." British Journal of Nutrition 9: 230.

Created by Verena Raschke 2005 / Contact