Introduction: The influence of women in shaping household dietary habits is undeniable, with their maternal nutritional knowledge significantly impacting the overall well-being of their families. The study objective was to evaluate the impact of maternal nutritional knowledge on household dietary habits, emphasising the improvement in women’s nutrition knowledge and food-related behaviours. Purpose: This study aimed to assess the immediate and long-term effects of a nutrition education intervention on the nutrition knowledge and food-related behaviours of women. Methodology: A quasi-experimental research design was employed to assess the effects of a Nutrition Education Programme (NEP) on female caregivers’ nutrition knowledge and food-related behaviours. This study followed a four-phase approach: baseline survey, programme formulation, implementation and evaluation. Data were collected at various stages of this study using two measurement tools: a Dietary Diversity Questionnaire and a Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire. Results: Statistical analysis was performed to answer the research questions and to test the null hypotheses at a significance level of 0.05. The intervention positively affected nutrition knowledge, with the mean percentage increasing from 49.1% to 63.7% and reaching 64.4% at follow-up, indicating long-term knowledge retention. The findings of this study suggest a positive shift towards increased consumption of nutrient-rich food groups. There were significant improvements in the food groups’ consumption of the meat group (7.15 ± 2.35), eggs (1 ± 0), dairy (3.76 ± 1.19), cereal (8.78 ± 2.09), legumes (2.86 ± 0.95) and fats and oils (2.12 ± 0.55). Additionally, the variety of food groups consumed significantly improved (p = 0.012) post-intervention, with an increasing trend in the consumption of a variety of food groups (7–9). Recommendation: Tailored nutrition education (NE) programs, in conjunction with addressing socioeconomic barriers positively impact nutritional behaviours, promote healthier food consumption patterns and assist in long-term knowledge retention in disadvantaged communities.

Caregivers’ nutrition knowledge is one of numerous key reasons for persistent malnutrition problems in young children. Therefore, it is critical to educate caregivers to assist them to improve their feeding methods. Malnutrition can be caused by a lack of ...

Background: Women remain the primary caregivers globally, especially in rural, low-resource settings plagued by poverty, unemployment, low education and poor infrastructure. These factors limit caregiving capacity, heighten vulnerability and increase the risk of food insecurity in female-headed households. Objective: To establish a baseline profile of caregivers of primary school children. Methods: Phase 1 (baseline) of the study was conducted using a quantitative, exploratory cross-sectional survey design among 75 female caregivers of children aged 7–13 years in Qwa-Qwa, Free State Province. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected with a structured, pre-validated questionnaire on socio-demographics, alongside anthropometric measurements. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Most participants were unemployed (73.3%) and had low educational attainment, with 86.7% having completed primary school or less. A substantial proportion of households (80.0%) reported a monthly income below R1000. Food insecurity was common, with 69.3% of caregivers reporting experiences of food shortages. Household infrastructure was limited, particularly in refuse removal services (96.0% without access). Despite these socio-economic constraints, a high prevalence of overweight and obesity (72.5%) was observed amongst the participants. Conclusions: Caregivers experience severe, overlapping socio-economic and environmental vulnerabilities alongside a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. The study highlights the need for multi-sectoral interventions focused on poverty reduction, rural infrastructure development, improved service delivery, women’s empowerment and strengthened livelihood opportunities to improve household nutrition and resilience.