Increased consumption of green leafy vegetables and legumes improves haemoglobin levels among socio-economically disadvantaged households in Accra, Ghana

Anaemia remains a significant public health concern in Ghana, particularly affecting children and women. The inadequate consumption of essential foods such as green leafy vegetables, legumes, and fruits, which are recommended to improve nutritional status among low socio-economic households exacerbate the problem. This study assessed the consumption patterns of green leafy vegetables, legumes, and fruits, and their impact on the haemoglobin levels of selected households in Accra, Ghana. We used a quasi-experimental (pre-test- post-test) control design, promoting the consumption of green leafy vegetables and legumes for six months. Anaemia was determined at baseline and endline (6 months) among 60 eligible parent -child pairs (father, mother, and child between the ages of 6–10 years) in three poor socio-economic clusters. A drop of blood was collected by pricking the fingertip of participants using lancets and measured using a haemoglobin analyser. Haemoglobin levels were classified according to WHO criteria. A multivariable test was employed to assess the effect of nutrition education on haemoglobin levels, while a Chi-Square test was performed to compare the frequency of consumption. Findings showed that the prevalence of anaemia at baseline was 23%, 62%, and 57% among fathers, mothers, and children, respectively. The prevalence significantly decreased to 8%, 5%, and 15% at the endline of the study. We also observed significant differences in mean haemoglobin levels among all participant groups (p < 0.001 for fathers, p = 0.03 for mothers, and p < 0.001 for children) at the endline assessment. Consumption of green leafy vegetables, legumes, and vitamin C-rich fruits improved significantly in the intervention group at endline (p < 0.001). Consumption of green leafy vegetables, legumes and fruits, as well as haemoglobin levels improved among participating households. These findings have implications for advancing SDGs 2 and 3 and health promotion for Ghana. The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov registry with registration number NCT07012473 and registered on May 24, 2025.