TY - JOUR AU - Mbela, Domina Esther PY - 2021/06/15 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Imparting Nutrition Knowledge to School Children and Communities: The Role of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato in Nutrition : The Role of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato in Nutrition JF - European Journal of Applied Sciences JA - EJAS VL - 9 IS - 3 SE - Articles DO - 10.14738/aivp.93.10320 UR - https://journals.scholarpublishing.org/index.php/AIVP/article/view/10320 SP - 413-428 AB - <p>Consumption of orange-fleshed sweet potato is essential in combating malnutrition. To date, researchers have made many efforts to introduce bio-fortified foods to increase nutrient adequacy. This study conducted baseline and end-line surveys to 480 students and 48 teachers in the three districts of Tanzania, namely Mkuranga, Bukoba, and Missenyi, and was trained on nutrition education. The knowledge on orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) nutrition value increased from 0.40% to 74.21% for students and from 5.30% to 97.72% for teachers.&nbsp; Both students and teachers showed to score high dietary diversity. Teachers and farmers/women of reproductive age practiced boiling OFSP with peels which is the appropriate method for preventing nutrient loss.&nbsp; These results show that students and teachers gained knowledge of the nutrition benefits of OFSP. The study found that more than half (60.80%) of students and 25.00% of teachers in their households still cook potatoes after peeling; the practice that can lead to the loss of some nutrients, especially water-soluble vitamins. There was an increase in OFSP consumption by teachers (100%), students (99.2%), and farmers/women of reproductive age (76.3%). The majority of family members preferred sweet potato consumption at the end line survey by 62%. The study also showed an increase in student's school attendance from &nbsp;85.06% &nbsp;(2015) to 91.56% (2018). This study suggests more effort is needed to increase the adoption and utilization of OFSP through a developed partnership with agro-processors for viable processed products.</p> ER -