(P30-027-24) Study Protocol: The Impact of an Experiential Garden-Based Nutrition Education Intervention on the Growth and Micronutrient Levels of Adolescents in School

Objectives: To assess the impact of a school-based gardening and nutrition education intervention on adolescents’ nutritional outcomes using indigenous vegetables.

Methods: A randomized controlled design of four homogenous schools in Kumasi, with a sample size of 144 adolescents would be employed to elucidate how a garden-based nutrition education and food demonstration dubbed “Leaf your Life, the Healthy Way” would affect participants’ iron and vitamin A levels using iron and carotenoid rich indigenous vegetables such as turkey berries (Solanum torvum), amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus), and pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima). The 6-month intervention will comprise of a nutrition education curriculum comprising of a 30mins-weekly nutrition and agriculture related lessons run by research student together with teachers, an innovative recycled container garden and a monthly food demonstration characterized by 30mins-cooking and tasting sessions and food substitutions. Using a mixed research method approach, haemoglobin and skin carotenoid concentrations of adolescent participants will be the primary outcome variables of interest using Urit-12 Haemoglobin Meter and Veggie Meter respectively. Participants will also be assessed for worm infection and those found to have worms would be dewormed at baseline to optimize the intervention program and to inhibit the possibility of helminths masking the actual vitamin A levels in the body. However, a blanket deworming will be done should the prevalence of worm infections be ≥50% as recommended by World Health Organization.

Results: N/A

Conclusions: The study is primarily expected to demonstrate a significant positive correlation between participation in a garden-based nutrition education intervention and the micronutrient levels of the adolescents.

Funding Sources: Self funded