Objectives
To improve the knowledge of women and current practices on the processing and consumption of pulses in regard of its nutritional benefits/micro¯o nutrients/ for a rural community of Ethiopia.
Methods
A cluster randomized control trial with pre-test and post-test measures was used. The intervention and control kebeles (lowest administrative unit in Ethiopia) were selected as study groups/clusters of 10 in 1:1 ratio with total 310 (155 each) household-women by simple random sampling. Knowledge, beliefs and practice were assessed by administering semi-structured questionnaires. Questionnaires were administered at baseline, and at the third (midpoint) and sixth (endpoint) month of the intervention.
Results
Knowledge and practice, scores, in women receiving the intervention were improved from (baseline, midpoint to endpoint) 4.62(3.56), 22.10 (5.56) to 25.15 (2.86) and (baseline to endpoint) 4.62 (3.55) to31.55 (6.08), respectively. Significant improvements were shown in both knowledge and practice of having processed pulse products in order to get the nutritional benfits/ the micro and macro nutrients, iron,Mg,Ca and protien/ in suficient amount from it for healthy life, in order to have nutritionaly balanced in thier food and sustain food security in the area.
Conclusions
A nutrition education intervention on household processing and consumption of household pulse products is necessary, particularly for women, since they are in charge of food selection and preparation in the household.
