Browsing by Author "Forsythe, Lora"

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    The East African Highland Cooking Bananas ‘Matooke’ preferences of Farmers and Traders: Implications for Variety Development
    (International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 2021) Akankwasa, Kenneth; Marimo, Pricilla; Tumuhimbise, Robooni; Asasira, Moreen; Khakasa, Elizabeth; Mpirirwe, Innocent; Forsythe, Lora; Nowakunda, Kephas
    ‘Matooke’ is a staple food made from Highland cooking bananas in the Great Lakes region of East Africa. Genetic improvement of these bananas for resistance to pests and diseases has been a priority breeding objective. However, there is insufficient information on fruit quality characteristics that different users prefer, resulting in sub-optimal adoption of new varieties. This study identified matooke characteristics preferred by farmers and traders, using survey data from 123 farmers, 14 focus group discussions and 40 traders. Gender differences were considered. The main characteristics that were found to drive variety preferences were agronomic (big bunch, big fruits) and quality (soft texture, good taste, good aroma, yellow food). There were minimal geographical and gender differences for trait preferences. Quality characteristics need to be defined in terms of physical–chemical underpinnings so that breeding programmes can apply accurate high-throughput systems, thereby improving adoption and impact of new banana varieties.
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    Validation of a life-logging wearable camera method and the 24-h diet recall method for assessing maternal and child dietary diversity
    (Cambridge University Press, 2021-06) Bulungu, L. S. Andrea; Palla, Luigi; Priebe, Jan; Forsythe, Lora; Katic, Pamela; Varley, Gwen; Galinda, D. Bernice; Nakimuli, Sarah; Nambooze, Joweria; Wellard, Kate; Ferguson, L. Elaine
    Accurate and timely data are essential for identifying populations at risk for under nutrition due to poor-quality diets, for implementing appropriate interventions and for evaluating change. Life-logging wearable cameras (LLWC) have been used to prospectively capture food/beverage consumed by adults in high-income countries. This study aimed to evaluate the concurrent criterion validity, for assessing maternal and child dietary diversity scores (DDS), of a LLWC-based image-assisted recall (IAR) and 24-h recall (24HR). Direct observation was the criterion method. Food/beverage consumption of rural Eastern Ugandan mothers and their 12–23-month-old child (n 211) was assessed, for the same day for each method, and the IAR and 24HR DDS were compared with the weighed food record DDS using the Bland–Altman limits of agreement (LOA) method of analysis and Cohen’s κ. The relative bias was low for the 24HR (–0•1801 for mothers; –0•1358 for children) and the IAR (0•1227 for mothers; 0•1104 for children), but the LOA were wide (–1•6615 to 1•3012 and –1•6883 to 1•4167 for mothers and children via 24HR, respectively;–2•1322 to 1•8868 and –1•7130 to 1•4921 for mothers and children via IAR, respectively). Cohen’s κ, for DDS via 24HR and IAR, was 0•68 and 0•59, respectively, for mothers, and 0•60 and 0•59, respectively, for children. Both the 24HR and IAR provide an accurate estimate of median dietary diversity, for mothers and their young child, but non-differential measurement error would attenuate associations between DDS and outcomes, thereby under-estimating the true associations between DDS – where estimated via 24HR or IAR – and outcomes measured. Key words: Validation studies: Diet assessment: Wearable cameras: Bland–Altman method
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    Validation of an automated wearable camera‐based image‐assisted recall method and the 24‐hour recall method for assessing women’s time allocation in a nutritionally vulnerable population:
    (MDPI Open Access Journals, 2022) Bulungu, L. S. Andrea; Palla, Luigi; Priebe, Jan; Forsythe, Lora; Katic, Pamela; Varley, Gwen; Galinda, D. Bernice; Nakimuli, Sarah; Nambooze, Joweria; Wellard, Kate; Ferguson, L. Elaine
    Accurate data are essential for investigating relationships between maternal time‐use patterns and nutritional outcomes. The 24 h recall (24HR) has traditionally been used to collect time‐use data, however, automated wearable cameras (AWCs) with an image‐assisted recall (IAR) may reduce recall bias. This study aimed to evaluate their concurrent criterion validity for assessing women’s time use in rural Eastern Ugandan. Women’s (n = 211) time allocations estimated via the AWC‐IAR and 24HR methods were compared with direct observation (criterion method) using the Bland–Altman limits of agreement (LOA) method of analysis and Cronbach’s coefficient alpha (time allocation) or Cohen’s κ (concurrent activities). Systematic bias varied from 1 min (domestic chores) to 226 min (caregiving) for 24HR and 1 min (own production) to 109 min (socializing) for AWC‐IAR. The LOAs were within 2 h for employment, own production, and self‐care for 24HR and AWC‐IAR but exceeded 11 h (24HR) and 9 h (AWC‐IAR) for caregiving and socializing. The LOAs were within four concurrent activities for 24HR (−1.1 to 3.7) and AWC‐IAR (−3.2 to 3.2). Cronbach’s alpha for time allocation ranged from 0.1728 (socializing) to 0.8056 (own production) for 24HR and 0.2270 (socializing) to 0.7938 (own production) for AWC‐IAR. For assessing women’s time allocations at the population level, the 24HR and AWC‐IAR methods are accurate and reliable for employment, own production, and domestic chores but poor for caregiving and socializing. The results of this study suggest the need to revisit previously published research investigating the associations between women’s time allocations and nutrition outcomes. Keywords: Validation studies; time use; methodology; wearable camera; measurement error; care practices; maternal time