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404 Asekenye et al. | Journal of Clinical and Translational Research 2023; 9(6): 398-413
Table 5. Prevalence of hyperglycemia and vegetable consumption 5. Discussion
factors
Character Factor Hyperglycemia prevalence The concept of this cross-sectional survey was borne from the
(frequency %) national population-baseline survey on prevalence estimates and
Preparation method Steaming 34.3 correlates of impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) in Uganda [8].
Mixing 36.6 This present study then aimed at finding a scientific base to the
Boiling 23.1 reported significant variance in prevalence of hyperglycemia in
Frying 27.7 Ankole and Teso sub-regions of the country. We chose to look at
the traditional diets in which vegetables are a great component
Pasting 16.1 of, and set out to document the consumption of the frequently
Number of days per week <3 33.3 eaten vegetables and prevalence of hyperglycemia in these sub-
of eating vegetables 3 – 5 31.9 regions. Out of the 422 participants, all were female primarily
More than 5 15.5 because they are the persons responsible for meal preparation
Number of vegetable 2 servings 37.2 in households and they are also the gender that controls the
servings/meal 3 servings 33.9 power dynamics around decision-making on food procurement/
4 servings 16.1 collection and preparation [29]. These participants were sampled
5 servings 16.2 from Ankole and Teso sub-regions of Uganda and after data
analysis, most were housewives of ages 30 – 59 years, they had
acquired a primary level of education, subsistence farming was
prevalence of hyperglycemia with other vegetable consumption their occupation, and most were natives of their respective sub-
factors is shown in Table 5. region. These findings are in agreement with the 2020 National

4.7. Association of hyperglycemia status with participants’ statistics on demographics, where most women got married at
characteristics school going age (15 – 19 years) and ended up doing farming to
fend for themselves and their families [30].
The data analyses showed that sub-region of residence, age of
participant, vegetable preparation method, quantity, and frequency 5.1. Consumption of frequently eaten vegetables in Ankole and
of the vegetable consumption were factors that independently Teso sub-regions of Uganda
associated with hyperglycemia status of the participants (Table 6). Amaranth species (A. dubius and A. cruentus) were eaten
Participants residing in the Eastern were less likely to be in both sub-regions, although more in Akole than in Teso sub-
hyperglycemia with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.44 (95% CI: 0.27 – region. S. nigrum was only eaten by participants in Ankole sub-
0.69). Participants of age category of 19 – 30 years were less likely region whereas H. sabdariffa was also eaten by only participants
to be hyperglycemia, with an OR of 4.86 (95% CI: 1.86 – 12.69) in Teso sub-region. These data are in agreement with the regional
while participants that consumed <3 serving spoons of vegetables distribution of the African indigenous vegetable families in
for <3 days in a typical week were more likely to be hyperglycemia Uganda reported by Sseremba et al., 2017 and Musinguzi et al.,
with an OR of 0.31 (95% CI: 0.01 – 0.69) and 0.43 (95% CI: 0.20 2011, which explains that Solanaceae family is more prevalent
– 0.90), respectively. Other independent factors are mentioned in in Western (Ankole sub-region) than Eastern region (Teso
Table 6. Other factors that we investigated for association with the sub-region) of Uganda [22,24]. Despite the low distribution
hyperglycemia status, but found no association are marital status, of Amaranthaceae family in Western region, it is noteworthy
level of education, occupation, physical exercise and its intensity, that it is more eaten due to its cosmopolitan distribution, and
body mass index (BMI), and years lived in the residence. availability since the species can be either cultivated, or grows
A stepwise multi-variate logistic analysis was run, age and in the wild as weeds, also called voluntary crops (EB Rubaihayo,
consumption of H. sabdariffa L. were consistently statistically 2002) supported by the favorable climate. Furthermore, most
significant through to step 21 of analysis with an increasing participants (especially residents of Teso sub-region) narrated
statistical significance (Table 7). The younger participants that they preferred Amaranthus species because among leafy
(19 – 30 years old) were less likely to be hyperglycemia compared vegetables, it is the simplest to prepare, by boiling in salted water
to the elderly (>60 years old), and participants that consumed until soft; this has been so even in Northern sub-region of Uganda
H. sabdariffa. were less likely to be hyperglycemia as well. [31] for over four decades now.

4.8. Key survey outcomes 5.2. Local names, habit, and habitat of the frequently eaten
vegetables in Ankole and Teso sub-regions of Uganda
Table 8 summarizes the key survey outcomes from the present
study. The main aspects revolving around the commonly eaten In this survey, the vegetable local/vernacular names depended
vegetables in Ankole and Teso sub-regions of Uganda and the on the dialect(s) spoken by the participants in the study sub-
corresponding hyperglycemia prevalence in these sub-regions regions and since the interviewers were residents of these sub-
are highlighted, with the prevalence in Ankole sub-region being regions, mistakes and confusion on the vegetable names were
higher. eliminated. Most of the vegetables consumed in both sub-regions
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18053/jctres.09.202306.23-00096