(P24-065-23) Exploring Uganda’s Indigenous Fruits and Vegetables With Potential Cardiometabolic Health Benefits: Understanding Barriers and Facilitators to Consumption

Objectives: Indigenous Fruits and Vegetables (IFV) could offer a sustainable remedy for the surging cardiometabolic dysfunction in sub–Saharan Africa. In Uganda consumption of IFV is pervasively low, despite a rich diversity. Our study aimed at cataloguing IFV reputed for cardiometabolic benefits as well as understanding the determinants of consumption.

Methods: We collected data around the greater Kampala metropolitan area through Focus Group Discussions (FGD), Key Informant Interviews (KII) and market surveys. Participants for the FGD were recruited from the general population, for KII, we interviewed farmers, ethnobotanists, nutritionists, herbalists, and health workers. We conducted transect walks through food markets and supermarkets together with explorative interviews with market vendors. Discussions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. We performed phenolic characterization of the identified IFV using phenol explorer database.

Results: Eleven FGD (84 participants), 19 KII, and 12 food market surveys were conducted. Participants age ranged from 19-80 years. Three out the 11 FGD were conducted among younger adults (19-34 years). Tamarindus indica, Cleome gynandra, Solanum anguivi, and Hibiscus sabdariffa were the most cited as potent against cardiometabolic dysfunctions. T. indica has the highest levels of total polyphenols of all the identified IFV. Consumption was influenced by the sensory appeal, awareness of health benefits, seasonality and social misconceptions where IFV are classified as food for the poor or linked to superstitions. Other barriers were, seasonality of IFV, low food preparation skills, food safety concerns, and the diversity of fast foods. Young adults had low knowledge of IFV and were less willing to consume IFV. Food market survey revealed a scarcity of IFV both fresh and processed.

Conclusions: Our study revealed that the community links some IFV with potential beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health, but consumption is impeded by several socio-cultural misconceptions and food environment constraints. Boosting food skills and self-efficacy could provide a springboard for increasing consumption.

Funding Sources: This study was funded by the Belgian Directorate General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD), for funding through the VLIR-UOS framework.