Successes and challenges in rural Zambia: An interdisciplinary effort in a pro‐vitamin A biofortified maize efficacy trial in preschool children

Abstract

Food‐based approaches to increase access to and intake of vitamin A‐rich foods in developing countries show promise as sustainable strategies for combating vitamin A deficiency. Staple foods biofortified with vitamin A must not only prove efficacious, but also effective, by reaching and gaining acceptance by end‐users. A critical step in this process is the successful implementation and community acceptance of efficacy trial interventions. A retrospective examination of a 3‐month biofortified maize feeding trial in rural Zambian preschool children conducted by an international team of researchers was performed. Transcripts of community meetings and observations by the researchers suggest several important factors contributed to community acceptance and low drop‐out, including community input and on‐going sensitization, utilization of local resources, employment of subject's mothers and other community members, investment in local infrastructure and inclusion of a preschool program for the children. Additionally, the success of the trial required an interdisciplinary, integrated effort that included many players, from plant breeders and nutritionists, to teachers, healthcare workers and community leaders. Challenges that were encountered included communication, resource acquisition, anxiety about witchcraft or Satanism and timely staff reimbursement. (Support from HarvestPlus 8217)