Consumption Levels of Fruits And Vegetables and their Relationship to Health and Wellbeing of Elderly People of Different Socio- Economic Background in Ilala District, Dar es Salaam

Balegu, Frank (2014) Consumption Levels of Fruits And Vegetables and their Relationship to Health and Wellbeing of Elderly People of Different Socio- Economic Background in Ilala District, Dar es Salaam. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the consumption levels of fruits and vegetables (fruits and vegetables) and their relationship to health and wellbeing of elderly people of different socio economic background in Ilala district, Dar es Salaam. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive research design with a convenient sample in purposively selected urban and semi-urban Ilala district, Dar es Salaam. Data collection included medical observation and physical examination for health status and questionnaires for assessment of well-being, levels of fruits vegetables intake per day and wealth status. A total of 165 people aged 60 to 95 elderly individuals participated in this study. The findings of this study reveal that fruits and vegetables intake among elderly individuals in Ilala District, Dar es salaam was lower (2.61 1.19) than the recommended minimum of five daily servings varied greatly with economic status (p<0.001). In conclusion, the health and well being of Ilala, Dar es Salaam elderly is poor. They take insufficient levels of fruits and vegetables servings per day, less than WHO recommended servings of at least 400 g, or at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Higher price and poverty is a major constrain of fruits and vegetables intake. Therefore raising awareness, improving perception benefits concerning fruits and vegetables consumption and developing public policies to make fruits and vegetables more affordable for low-income families should be encouraged.

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