PRODUCTION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT THE HOMESTEAD IS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF VITAMIN-A AMONG WOMEN IN RURAL BANGLADESH

Background: Vitamin A deficiency is considered to be an important publ ic health problem in Bangladesh. A universal biannual distribution of high-dose vitamin A. capsules has been in place for over the past two decades. This supplementation has been beneficial for preschool childr en. Bangladesh has been exploring more sustainable approaches for all segments of the population. To support this initiative, Helen Keller I nternational has implemented a home-gardening promotion project since 1993. This project is executed on a large scale and currently reaches an estimated 244 000 families. Methods: This paper presents data from 7341 women of reproductive age which were collected as part of the bas eline census of a community monitoring system whose objective is to tr ack progress and measure the impact of home-gardening activities. Resu lts: Vitamin A intake in this population derived almost entirely from the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Logistic regression analyses showed that maternal vitamin A intake was determined by qualitative i ndicators of homestead gardens (type of home garden, the total quantit y of provitamin A-rich foods produced and the number of fruits and veg etables varieties grown in the garden) after adjusting for socio-econo mic status. Conclusions: These results indicate that traditional produ ction of provitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables in the homestead may provide a valuable contribution to vitamin A intake in communities whe re alternative dietary sources of vitamin A are scarce.