Building forward better-An exploration of nutrition practices, food choice, and coping behaviors among Kenyan adolescents during COVID-19: Experiences and program implications.

Autor: Kavle JA; Kavle Consulting, LLC Washington District of Columbia USA., Codjia P; UNICEF Kenya Nairobi Kenya., Gathi C; Kavle Consulting, LLC Nairobi Kenya., Ahoya B; Kavle Consulting, LLC Nairobi Kenya., Ramirez L; Kavle Consulting, LLC Washington District of Columbia USA., Katua S; UNICEF Kenya Nairobi Kenya., Mugo F; Ministry of Health, Division of Nutrition and Dietetics Nairobi Kenya., Kiige L; UNICEF Kenya Nairobi Kenya.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Food science & nutrition [Food Sci Nutr] 2023 Mar; Vol. 11 (3), pp. 1441-1451. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Dec 27.
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3184
Abstrakt: This implementation research study sought to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent nutrition practices and related behaviors in Nairobi and Uasin Gishu Counties, Kenya. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with adolescents 10-19 years of age, in-depth interviews with 10 health facility providers, and a combination of FGDs ( n -4) and key informant interviews with government stakeholder and implementing partners ( n  = 9). During the pandemic, adolescents tended to avoid commonly consumed junk foods, in favor of " immune boosting , protective " foods. Widespread unemployment and reductions in parental income rendered some food items such as meat, eggs, and fruits unaffordable for families of adolescents. Adolescents relayed experiences of skipping meals and reducing the amount and variety of foods consumed. Adolescents also described employing strategies such as working in the informal sector and selling personal items to support families financially, in response to rising food insecurity. School closures mandated during the pandemic likely contributed to reductions in overall physical activity. To improve the diets of adolescents, programs should build on the healthy mindset brought on by the pandemic, while strengthening, targeting, and improving access to social protection measures and agricultural initiatives for vulnerable families with adolescents to cushion them from rising food insecurity as an effect of COVID-19. Building practical adolescent life skills to encourage healthy nutrition actions will also be key to building forward from the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya.
Competing Interests: Team members from Kavle Consulting, LLC were hired for a consultancy with UNICEF Kenya to carry out this study.
(© 2022 Kavle Consulting, LLC. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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