Breakfast, midday meals and academic achievement in rural primary schools in Uganda: implications for education and school health policy

The aim of the study was to assess the nutrition knowledge, nutrient intakes, and association between nutrition knowledge and dietary intakes of 98 adolescents attending five schools in rural Cofimvaba, South Africa. Measures included a socioeconomic questionnaire, two 24-hour-recall questionnaires, and food-frequency and nutrition knowledge questionnaires. The overall score for the multiple-choice section on general nutrition and the South African Food-Based Dietary Guidelines was 72.9%; 75.4% for correct identification of food groups; and 41.3% for correct identification of food portions/serving sizes. Median nutrient intakes, measured by 24-hour recall, failed to meet average requirements, with the exception of protein, carbohydrates, chromium, riboflavin, pantothenate, and vitamin K among girls. A similar trend was observed for boys. Lower total carbohydrate and fat and higher protein intakes were associated with a higher quartile score for nutrition knowledge. The study provided a valuable understanding of the association between nutrition knowledge and dietary intakes of adolescents.

Food insecurity, leading from insufficient dietary intakes to nutritional insecurity and ultimately to malnutrition, is a persistent problem in developing countries and also South Africa. One of the strategies that can be employed to address food insecurity is the provision of affordable, nutrient-dense, culturally acceptable foods that are safe for human consumption. Even though there is limited literature on food and nutrition security with this technology, extrusion is an ideal processing method for the manufacturing of a wide range of affordable foods with a long shelf life. Furthermore, the beneficial nutritional effects of extruded foods range from increased protein and starch digestibility to retention of various micronutrients. This will result in nutrient-dense meals being consumed. Extruded foods thus may benefit food and nutrition insecurity through availability of affordable, nutrient-dense, safe foods that are easily accessible to both urban and rural food-insecure households as well as poorer disadvantaged communities.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has not given nutrition education the necessary emphasis that it needs, despite its importance in South African schools. Nutrition is included as only one of many topics forming part of the Life Orientation syllabus. Educators are role models for learners in making healthy food choices, however, studies have shown that major gaps exist in the health and nutrition-related knowledge and behaviour of educators. The objective of this research was to undertake a pilot study to determine the impact of a nutrition education programme (NEP) on the nutrition knowledge of Life Orientation educators in public schools in South Africa (SA). An exploratory baseline survey, to determine the nutrition education practices in 45 purposively selected public schools, was carried out before the experimental nutrition education intervention study. A nutrition knowledge questionnaire was completed by 24 purposively selected educators, representing all nine provinces in SA, before and after a three-day NEP. Pre and post-NEP data were analysed on the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for a Windows program version 17.0 for descriptive statistics, version 17.0. Paired t-tests measured statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) before and after the NEP. The knowledge of the respondents improved significantly after the NEP as the mean±s.d. score of correctly answered questions (n = 59) improved from 63.3±30.2% before to 80.6±21.1% after the NEP. The results proved that nutrition knowledge of Life Orientation educators in primary schools is not optimal, but can be improved by NEP. OpsommingDie Departement van Basiese Opvoeding het nog nie die nodige aandag aan voeding voorligting in skole gegee nie ten spyte van die belangrikheid daarvan. Voeding word aangebied as een van vele aspekte in die Lewensoriëntasie sillabusse. Onderwysers is rolmodelle om gesonde voedsel keuses te maak vir kinders, maar studies het bewys dat tekortkominge bestaan in die gesondheid en voeding verwante kennis en optrede van onderwysers. Die doel van hierdie loods studies was om die impak van ‘n voeding voorligting program op die voeding kennis van Lewensoriëntering onderwysers in publieke skole in Suid Afrika (SA) te bepaal. ‘n Basislyn ondersoek was uitgevoer om die voeding praktyke van onderwysers uit 45 doelbewuste gekose publieke skole te bepaal voor en na die implementering van ‘n eksperimentele voeding voorligting intervensie studie. ‘n Voeding kennis vraelys is deur 24 doelbewuste gekose onderwysers, verteenwoordigend van al nege provinsies in SA, voltooi voor en na die drie-dag voeding voorligtingsprogram. Beide pre en post data is geanaliseer op die Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) vir Windows program, uitgawe 17.0, vir beskrywende statistieke. Gepaarde t-toetse is gebruik om statisties betekenisvolle verskille (p < 0.05) voor en na die intervensie te bepaal. Die kennis van die respondent het betekenisvol verbeter na die intervensie aangesien die gemiddelde ±s.d. uitslag van die vrae wat korrek geantwoord is (n = 59) van 63.3±30.2 persent voor tot 80.6±21.1 persent na die intervensie verbeter het. Die resultate het bewys dat die voeding kennis van Lewensoriëntering onderwysers in publieke skole in SA nie optimaal is nie, maar dat dit kan verbeter deur voeding voorligtingsprogramme.

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.