The impact of a nutrition education programme on feeding practices of caregivers with children aged 3 to 5 years in rural Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

To determine the impact of nutrition education on feeding practices of caregivers with children aged 3 to 5 years at baseline and post intervention. Methodology: A pre-test-post-test control group design was chosen using eight villages (four villages in the experimental group (E) and four villages in the control group (C)). The nutrition education intervention programme (NEIP) comprised ten topics emphasising healthy eating, hygiene and sanitation. Results: Majority of children in both the experimental and control groups were given three meals or more per day, including starchy and protein rich foods at baseline and post intervention. The median carbohydrates and protein intake in both groups was adequate when compared to the Estimated Average Requirements/Recommended Dietary Allowance (EAR/RDA), though median energy intake was inadequate. Even before intervention, the majority of children ate indigenous foods. Despite this, the intake of some indigenous foods did improve significantly in the experimental group, but not in the control group (termites; mopani worms; indigenous vegetables including black jack, spider flower and wild jute; and, indigenous fruits including baobab fruit and pawpaw). On the other hand, the intake of mixed traditional dishes as well as the intake of the indigenous foods, stinging nettle, meldar, wild peach, pineapple, dovhi, tshigume and thophi, increased significantly in both the experimental and control groups. Conclusion: Due to the fact that most children in both groups consumed most food items, including indigenous foods, before the intervention, improvements were only seen in a few feeding practices in the experimental group after the NEIP.

Behaviour change interventions improve maternal and child nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

“…A intervention graded medium quality that delivered behaviour change communication and unconditional cash transfers to mothers in Togo improved household food security (61) . Interventions graded medium quality that included nutrition education and cooking demonstrations increased diet diversity scores of women and children in Ethiopia (42) and South Africa (88, 89) . These interventions were deemed medium quality due to the self-reported measures.…”

Impact of a diet diversification and health and nutrition counseling program in Madagascar

“…Previous studies have found beliefs about the health benefits of food have a larger influence on consumption than the quality of foods (Rakotosamimanana et al, 2014), and misconceptions about the health value of foods are common (Farris et al, 2019). However, many Malagasy are interested in education on diet diversity and health (Asgary et al, 2015;Farris et al, 2019), and education has been shown to positively influence dietary behavior (Mushaphi et al, 2017). Effective strategies to encourage diet diversity in limited-resource countries have been previously identified and include: comprehensive community-based health education, focusing on types of foods and incorporating familiar foods, incorporating caregivers into education, individualized nutrition counseling, and a combination of communication approaches with repeated reinforcement (Khan et al, 2013;Mushaphi, et al, 2017;Sanchez, 2005;Sethi et al, 2003).…”

A Stepwise Analysis of Production Returns and Cost Distribution for Chinese Cabbage Produced Under Irrigation in South Africa

“…For instance, several universities (such as University of Venda, University of the Free State and Stellenbosch University) in South Africa are jointly implementing Nutrition Education Intervention Programmes (NEIPs) that encourage the consumption of indigenous foods, and some positive indicators in consumption are already showing. A study carried out by Mushaphi et al (2017), in Limpopo Province indicates that consumption of a number of indigenous vegetables increased considerably after the implementation of the NEIP. There was a significant increase in the percentage of children who consumed indigenous vegetables such as black jack (Bidens pilosa; [8.2%; 37.6%]), spider flower (Cleome gynandra; [6.5%; 34.3%]) and wild-jute plant (Corchorus hirstirus or Corchorus olitorius; [9.1%; 37.5%]) at 95% CI for the percentage difference between baseline and post-intervention (Mushaphi et al, 2017).…”

“…A study carried out by Mushaphi et al (2017), in Limpopo Province indicates that consumption of a number of indigenous vegetables increased considerably after the implementation of the NEIP. There was a significant increase in the percentage of children who consumed indigenous vegetables such as black jack (Bidens pilosa; [8.2%; 37.6%]), spider flower (Cleome gynandra; [6.5%; 34.3%]) and wild-jute plant (Corchorus hirstirus or Corchorus olitorius; [9.1%; 37.5%]) at 95% CI for the percentage difference between baseline and post-intervention (Mushaphi et al, 2017). The increase in consumption necessitates an increase in supply through cultivation, or else there will be increased pressure on wild species possibly leading to extinction of such species (Maseko et al, 2018).…”

“…Production of Chinese cabbage will likely increase in South Africa, owing to growth in agronomic research and development, benefit awareness, promotion and commercialisation efforts by several stakeholders. Such efforts include promotion of indigenous crops cultivation by Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development (DAFF, 2018) research on indigenous crops by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC, 2018) and Nutrition Education Intervention Programmes by several universities in South Africa (Mushaphi et al, 2017). Increasing production of vegetables among farmers necessitates the need for optimum use of inputs for increased benefits.…”