Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Nov 28;3(2):e001932.
doi: 10.1136/bmjph-2024-001932. eCollection 2025.

Harnessing traditional knowledge and experiences on food consumption in Uganda: a mixed-methods study exploring indigenous fruits and vegetables with potential cardiometabolic benefits

Tonny Kiyimba  1   2   3 , Peter Yiga  4 , Michael Bamuwamye  3 , Eline Van Damme  5 , Patrick Ogwok  3 , Bart Van der Schueren  5   6 , Christophe Matthys  5   6
Affiliations

Harnessing traditional knowledge and experiences on food consumption in Uganda: a mixed-methods study exploring indigenous fruits and vegetables with potential cardiometabolic benefits

Tonny Kiyimba et al. BMJ Public Health. .

Abstract

Introduction: Mitigating the ongoing nutrition transition and associated risks in sub-Saharan Africa may require cost-effective and community-based approaches. Thanks to their wealth of bioactive constituents, indigenous fruits and vegetables (IFV) constitute one of such approaches. However, in Uganda, consumption of IFV is pervasively low, despite a rich diversity. Our study aimed to harness traditional knowledge on consumption of IFV and catalogue IFV reputed for cardiometabolic benefits.

Methods: In this qualitative study, we conducted focus group discussions (FGD), key informant interviews (KII) and market surveys. Participants for the FGD were recruited from the general population, while for KII, farmers, ethnobotanists, nutritionists, herbalists and health workers were interviewed. We conducted surveys in supermarkets and open-air markets together with explorative interviews with market vendors. Discussions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. We performed phenolic profiling of the identified IFV using Phenol-Explorer and relevant publications as an initial step towards verifying the therapeutic claims ascribed to certain IFV.

Results: Eleven FGD (84 participants), 19 KII and 12 food market surveys were conducted with participants aged 19-80 years. Three of the 11 FGD were conducted among younger adults (aged 19-34 years). Tamarindus indica Linn., Cleome gynandra, Solanum anguivi and Hibiscus sabdariffa were most cited as potent against cardiometabolic risks, and their total polyphenol content (mg/100 g) was 4755, 1330, 1710 and 2920, respectively. Consumption was influenced by sensory appeal, awareness of health benefits, seasonality and social misconceptions, whereby IFV are considered food for the poor. Other barriers were low food skills, food safety concerns and the diversity of fast foods. Early adults had low knowledge of IFV and were less willing to consume IFV. A food market survey revealed a scarcity of fresh and processed IFV.

Conclusion: Our study showed that several IFV are purported to have beneficial cardiometabolic benefits, but consumption is affected by several food environment constraints.

Keywords: cardiovascular diseases; community health; preventive medicine; public health; public health practice.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A schematic overview of the different steps followed to conduct the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organisation . Traditional food plants, food and nutrition. Rome, 1988.
    1. Akinola R, Pereira LM, Mabhaudhi T, et al. A Review of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa and the Implications for more Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems. Sustainability 2020;12:3493. 10.3390/su12083493 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Vorster HJ, van Rensburg WSJ, Stevens JB, et al. The role of traditional leafy vegetables in the food security of rural households in South Africa. International Symposium on Underutilized Plants for Food Security, Nutrition, Income and Sustainable Development 806 2009;23–8. 10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.806.27 - DOI
    1. Kuhnlein HV, Erasmus B, Spigelski D. Indigenous peoples’ food systems: the many dimensions of culture, diversity and environment for nutrition and health. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); 2009.
    1. Muhanji G, Roothaert RL, Webo C, et al. African indigenous vegetable enterprises and market access for small-scale farmers in East Africa. Int J Agricult Sustain 2011;9:194–202. 10.3763/ijas.2010.0561 - DOI

LinkOut - more resources