Human Nutrition

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Browsing Human Nutrition by Subject "Adjustment (Psychology)"

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    Evaluating the effectiveness of nutrition behaviour change communication interventions among smallholder farmers in Makoni rural district of Manicaland Province in Zimbabwe
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03) Takawira, Delilah; Mbhenyane, Xikombiso; Mulila-Mitti, Joyce; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Global Health. Human Nutrition.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : Introduction: Nutrition education has been identified by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as critical to ensuring agriculture interventions improve nutrition. The importance of Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) approaches to improving nutrition have been suggested, together with recommendations for research on creating demand for nutritious foods and how this is affected by social, cultural and other factors. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition BCC interventions implemented by the Livelihoods and Food Security Programme (LFSP) in increasing demand for nutritious foods among smallholder farmers in Makoni district of Manicaland Province in Zimbabwe. Methods: The study employed an observational and cross-sectional design, using both quantitative and qualitative data gathering techniques to seek in-depth understanding of knowledge, behaviours and practises for food consumption, the intervention’s influence on these, factors affecting them as well as participants’ perceptions of the intervention. Secondary intervention data was reviewed to obtain baseline status of participants, followed by five Key Informant Interviews (KII) (n=5) with intervention personnel, 40 (n=40) in-depth interviews with intervention participants and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with 81 (n=81) participants divided into four groups. Participants were selected through purposive random sampling. A rapid market survey assessed access and availability of various foods. Quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) while qualitative data was analysed using NVivo. Results: The LFSP nutrition BCC intervention increased household food security from 89.5% at baseline to 96.7%, household dietary diversity from 24% of households consuming more than six food groups at baseline to 86.7% after the intervention. Diversified crop production in gardens increased from 56% growing only one type of crop and 20% and 16% growing two and three crops respectively at baseline to more than 70% growing five or more vegetables and 95% growing fruit trees after the intervention. Household consumption of meat and fish and fruits increased from 26.7% and 38.4% respectively at baseline to 65% and 96.7% respectively after the intervention. The intervention introduced biofortified maize and beans high in vitamin A and iron zinc respectively. Children aged 6 – 23 months achieving Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) increased from 12% at baseline to 100% post-intervention. Approximately 93.3% of women of childbearing age achieved the MDD-Women with more than 80% of women consuming eight of ten assessed food groups. Women’s dietary diversity was not assessed at baseline. Participants felt the intervention successfully increased their nutrition knowledge, ability to diversifiy crop production and access to varied foods including some new crops. Participants also reported improved knowledge of food preparation and optimum child feeding. The rapid market survey showed that local communities sought processed foods that they could not produce from the local markets. Local markets had little influence on demand for nutritious foods by the intervention population. Conclusion: The LFSP nutrition BCC interventions were effective in stimulating demand for diverse and nutritious foods in Makoni district. This proved that nutrition BCC can be effectively delivered in a nutrition sensitive agriculture intervention to influence demand and consumption of diverse, nutritious foods.