Assessing the health benefits of turkey berries consumption in Ghana case study of community 5 a suburb of Tema metropolis

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to assess the health benefits turkey berries consumption in Ghana- case study of community 5 a suburb of Tema metropolis. This study used the descriptive research design. Quantitative research approach was used for the study. Questionnaires were used in collecting the data from the field. This research was carried out using selected vegetable sellers, spices and turkey berry consumers in the Tema Metropolis. The entire population of sellers in the selected area was ninety seven (97). The census sampling technique was used to select all the ninety seven (97) participants for the study. The study results indicate that there were significant differences between diseases or sicknesses turkey berries can cure including fever (p < 0.792), epilepsy (p = 0.543), anaemia (p = 0.612), cough and cold (p = 0.517), while the other diseases cured asthma (p = 0.004*), and cancer (p <0.001*) were not significantly different (Table 4.3). There were significant differences between possible side effect of consuming too much of turkey berries diarrhoea (p < 0.529), toxicity/poisoning (p < 0.621), constipation (p < 0.526) and bitterness in mouth (p < 0.742) (Table 4.3). The reasons why turkey berries are not cultivated for commercial purposes were lack of capital for turkey berry farming, and low knowledge on nutritional benefits of consuming turkey berries. Turkey berry were found to be rich sources of micronutrients and fibre. Therefore, the consumption of Turkey berry should be promoted by researchers, non-governmental organizations and other relevant government/non-governmental departments at all levels of the Ghanaian society.