Qualitative study exploring healthy eating practices and physical activity among adolescent girls in rural South Africa

BMC Pediatrics

Shane A Norris³  Anneli Ivarsson²  Tabitha Gitau³  Kerstin Edin²  Kathleen Kahn²  Heather M Sedibe¹ 

[1] University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Health Care Sciences, Discipline of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Limpopo, South Africa;Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden;MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa

关键词: Agincourt;    Pairs;    Physical activity;    Practices;    Healthy;    Girls;    Facilitators;    Eating;    Barriers;    Adolescent;   

Others  :  1137308
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2431-14-211

 received in 2014-02-07, accepted in 2014-08-19,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Dietary behaviours and physical activity are modifiable risk factors to address increasing levels of obesity among children and adolescents, and consequently to reduce later cardiovascular and metabolic disease. This paper explores perceptions, attitudes, barriers, and facilitators related to healthy eating and physical activity among adolescent girls in rural South Africa.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted in the rural Agincourt subdistrict, covered by a health and sociodemographic surveillance system, in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Semistructured “duo-interviews” were carried out with 11 pairs of adolescent female friends aged 16 to 19 years. Thematic content analysis was used.

Results

The majority of participants considered locally grown and traditional foods, especially fruits and vegetables, to be healthy. Their consumption was limited by availability, and these foods were often sourced from family or neighbourhood gardens. Female caregivers and school meal programmes facilitated healthy eating practices. Most participants believed in the importance of breakfast, even though for the majority, limited food within the household was a barrier to eating breakfast before going to school. The majority cited limited accessibility as a major barrier to healthy eating, and noted the increasing intake of “convenient and less healthy foods”. Girls were aware of the benefits of physical activity and engaged in various physical activities within the home, community, and schools, including household chores, walking long distances to school, traditional dancing, and extramural activities such as netball and soccer.

Conclusions

The findings show widespread knowledge about healthy eating and the benefits of consuming locally grown and traditional food items in a population that is undergoing nutrition transition. Limited access and food availability are strong barriers to healthy eating practices. School meal programmes are an important facilitator of healthy eating, and breakfast provision should be considered as an extension of the meal programme. Walking to school, cultural dance, and extramural activities can be encouraged and thus are useful facilitators for increasing physical activity among rural adolescent girls, where the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Sedibe et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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