University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
BMC Public Health. 2022 Jul 9;22(1):1313. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13706-8.
Food insecurity is a global health challenge exacerbated by COVID-19. In Liberia, two-thirds of pregnant women are anemic, one-third of children are stunted, and 70% of households experienced food insecurity due to COVID-19. Edible insects are a nutritious, environmentally responsible, and cost-effective dietary supplement used throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Rearing palm weevil insects at maternity waiting homes (MWHs)-residential dwellings near hospitals where pregnant women await childbirth and receive postpartum services-could serve as a nutritious supplement for expectant mothers in Liberia and provide an income generating activity for MWHs.
Following a one-day training, sixteen participants established palm weevil rearing sites at four MWHs in Liberia. Pre- and post-knowledge scores were assessed immediately prior to and following training. Pre-and post-knowledge scores were analyzed using paired t-test. Participants tracked two palm weevil rearing cycles (four months), using harvest amounts, turnover, barriers to implementation, and income generated as metrics. The number of women attending MWHs was recorded throughout the study period (July-December 2020).
Sixteen participants from four MWHs completed the training and two rearing cycles (four months) successfully. All participants showed statistically significant increases in knowledge scores following the one-day workshop with a pre-test score of 2.31 and post-test score of 7.75 out of 10 (p < 0.001). Over the 6-month study, 217 women stayed in four MWHs. Larval production from the various rearing centers ranged from 120 to 721 larvae, with all four sites producing enough palm weevil to sustain MWH residents who desired to consume the insects. One site successfully commercialized its harvest to sell approximately 50% for a total of 2,000 LD (13 USD) in income. Three of the four sites continued edible insect production beyond the four-month study period.
An edible insect project using palm weevil larva is one promising intervention as a nutrition supplement for expectant mothers at pre-established MWHs in rural Liberia. Edible insect rearing also has potential as an income generating activity for MWHs. Future studies should focus on addressing common barriers of remote implementation and metric tracking during the COVID-19 pandemic and reinforcing infrastructure to protect larvae rearing supplies.
食品不安全是一个全球性的健康挑战，新冠疫情使其进一步恶化。在利比里亚，三分之二的孕妇贫血，三分之一的儿童发育迟缓，由于新冠疫情，70%的家庭面临食品不安全问题。食用昆虫是一种营养丰富、对环境负责且具有成本效益的膳食补充剂，在撒哈拉以南非洲地区广泛使用。在孕产妇等候家园（MWH）——医院附近供孕妇待产和接受产后服务的住宅——养殖棕榈象鼻虫，可以作为利比里亚孕妇的营养补充品，并为 MWH 提供创收活动。
在为期一天的培训后，16 名参与者在利比里亚的四个 MWH 建立了棕榈象鼻虫养殖点。在培训前和培训后立即评估预先和事后的知识得分。使用配对 t 检验分析预先和事后的知识得分。参与者使用收获量、周转率、实施障碍和产生的收入跟踪两个棕榈象鼻虫养殖周期（四个月）。在整个研究期间（2020 年 7 月至 12 月）记录参加 MWH 的妇女人数。
来自四个 MWH 的 16 名参与者完成了培训并成功完成了两个养殖周期（四个月）。所有参与者在为期一天的研讨会后，知识得分均有显著提高，预测试得分为 2.31，后测试得分为 7.75（p<0.001）。在 6 个月的研究期间，有 217 名妇女住在四个 MWH 中。来自各个养殖中心的幼虫产量从 120 到 721 条不等，四个养殖中心都生产了足够的棕榈象鼻虫来维持想要食用这些昆虫的 MWH 居民。一个养殖中心成功将其收获商业化，以 50%的价格出售了大约 2000 个利比里亚元（13 美元）的收入。四个养殖中心中的三个在四个月的研究期之外继续进行食用昆虫生产。
在利比里亚农村预先建立的 MWH 中，使用棕榈象鼻虫幼虫的食用昆虫项目是一种有前途的营养补充剂，可作为孕妇的营养补充剂。食用昆虫养殖也有可能成为 MWH 的创收活动。未来的研究应重点解决在新冠疫情期间远程实施和指标跟踪的常见障碍，并加强基础设施以保护幼虫养殖用品。
