Development of a methods repository for food choice behaviors and drivers at the household and individual levels

This brief identifies important constructs for assessing drivers of food choice behaviors and describes progress on the development of a repository of instruments and measures for assessing these constructs. OBJECTIVES 1. List constructs that can be assessed to understand drivers of household and individual food choice behaviors. 2. Identify instruments and measures to assess each food choice construct and organize these into a searchable repository. 3. Illustrate the use of the Food Choice Repository

Integrated Child Nutrition, Parenting, and Health Intervention in Rural Liberia: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study

In Liberia, children are exposed to multiple forms of adversity which can negatively impact their health and development. Research is needed to examine the feasibility and benefits of integrated interventions that can be incorporated into existing health delivery programs to simultaneously address low responsive stimulation, undernutrition, and infection. This study assessed the feasibility of an integrated intervention promoting psychosocial stimulation and improved child feeding by the provision of eggs and fish. The integrated intervention was incorporated into an existing government health program. Thirty female caregiver-child dyads were randomly selected from two rural communities in Liberia. Participants received fortnightly group parenting sessions and weekly eggs and fish designated for child consumption, for four weeks. Trained community health workers delivered the intervention. Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention using quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. At baseline, we examined the home environment, caregiver-child interactions, diet, and infection control practices. At endline, we assessed the feasibility of the intervention. Descriptive analyses were conducted with quantitative data. Qualitative data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Baseline findings indicated uncommon responsive parenting, inadequate early learning opportunities, high food insecurity, and high child morbidity. Mixed methods indicators of feasibility, including acceptability, adoption, and fidelity were high. Qualitative data from this feasibility study informed several future modifications to the program, including engaging fathers, supplementing group sessions with home visits, and broadening facilitator eligibility. This integrated intervention is feasible and can be incorporated into existing health programs to support early child development

Determinants of egg consumption by infants and young children in Ethiopia

AbstractObjective:To identify determinants of egg consumption in infants and young children aged 6–23·9 months in Ethiopia.Design and setting:Data used were from the cross-sectional baseline survey of an egg campaign in Ethiopia implemented by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.Participants:Children aged 6–23·9 months (n 453) were sampled. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, economic resources, caregiver’s behaviour, child health and feeding practices, and egg consumption in the last 7 d were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression was used to examine the association between explanatory variables and egg consumption in the last 7 d.Results:About half of children (53·4 %) did not consume eggs in the last 7 d. The odds of children consuming eggs were 4·33 (P &lt; 0·002) times higher when their caregivers had some college education compared with no education. Wealth was positively (OR, 1·13, P = 0·029) and household food insecurity was negatively (OR, 0·96, P = 0·117) associated with child egg consumption. Purchasing eggs (OR, 9·73, P &lt; 0·001) and caregiver’s positive behavioural determinants (OR, 1·37, P = 0·005) were associated with child egg consumption. The associations of socio-demographic characteristics and economic resources with egg consumption provide evidence of partial mediation through caregiver behaviour and child health.Conclusions:About half of children aged 6–23·9 months consumed eggs. Availability of eggs in households, mainly through purchase, was strongly associated with egg consumption. Education of caregivers and household heads and economic resources were associated with egg consumption and may operate through caregiver behaviour.</jats:sec

Determinants of Egg Consumption by Infants and Young Children in Ethiopia

Objective: To identify determinants of egg consumption in infants and young children aged 6–23·9 months in Ethiopia. Design and setting: Data used were from the cross-sectional baseline survey of an egg campaign in Ethiopia implemented by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition. Participants: Children aged 6–23·9 months (n 453) were sampled. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, economic resources, caregiver’s behaviour, child health and feeding practices, and egg consumption in the last 7 d were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression was used to examine the association between explanatory variables and egg consumption in the last 7 d. Results: About half of children (53·4 %) did not consume eggs in the last 7 d. The odds of children consuming eggs were 4·33 (P \u3c 0·002) times higher when their caregivers had some college education compared with no education. Wealth was positively (OR, 1·13, P = 0·029) and household food insecurity was negatively (OR, 0·96, P = 0·117) associated with child egg consumption. Purchasing eggs (OR, 9·73, P \u3c 0·001) and caregiver’s positive behavioural determinants (OR, 1·37, P = 0·005) were associated with child egg consumption. The associations of socio-demographic characteristics and economic resources with egg consumption provide evidence of partial mediation through caregiver behaviour and child health. Conclusions: About half of children aged 6–23·9 months consumed eggs. Availability of eggs in households, mainly through purchase, was strongly associated with egg consumption. Education of caregivers and household heads and economic resources were associated with egg consumption and may operate through caregiver behaviour

Integrated child nutrition, parenting, and health intervention in rural Liberia: A mixed-methods feasibility study.

In Liberia, children are exposed to multiple forms of adversity which can negatively impact their health and development. Research is needed to examine the feasibility and benefits of integrated interventions that can be incorporated into existing health delivery programs to simultaneously address low responsive stimulation, undernutrition, and infection. This study assessed the feasibility of an integrated intervention promoting psychosocial stimulation and improved child feeding by the provision of eggs and fish. The integrated intervention was incorporated into an existing government health program. Thirty female caregiver-child dyads were randomly selected from two rural communities in Liberia. Participants received fortnightly group parenting sessions and weekly eggs and fish designated for child consumption, for four weeks. Trained community health workers delivered the intervention. Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention using quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. At baseline, we examined the home environment, caregiver-child interactions, diet, and infection control practices. At endline, we assessed the feasibility of the intervention. Descriptive analyses were conducted with quantitative data. Qualitative data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Baseline findings indicated uncommon responsive parenting, inadequate early learning opportunities, high food insecurity, and high child morbidity. Mixed methods indicators of feasibility, including acceptability, adoption, and fidelity were high. Qualitative data from this feasibility study informed several future modifications to the program, including engaging fathers, supplementing group sessions with home visits, and broadening facilitator eligibility. This integrated intervention is feasible and can be incorporated into existing health programs to support early child development

How perspectives on food safety of vendors and consumers translate into food choice behaviors in six African and Asian countries

Background Consumption of unsafe foods increases morbidity and mortality and is currently an issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Policy actions to ensure food safety are dominated by mitigation of biological and chemical hazards through supply-side risk management, lessening the degree to which consumer perspectives of food safety are considered. Objective This study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding, from vendor and consumer perspectives, of how food safety concerns of consumers translate into their subsequent food choice behaviors in six diverse low- and middle-income countries. Methods Six Drivers of Food Choice projects (2016-2022) provided transcripts from 17 focus group discussions and 343 interviews in Ghana, Guinea, India, Kenya, Tanzania, and Vietnam. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify emerging themes important to food safety. Results The analysis suggests that consumers constructed meaning about food safety through personal lived experience and social influences. Community and family members contributed knowledge about food safety. Concerns about food safety were influenced by reputations of, and relationships with, food vendors. Consumers’ mistrust of food vendors was amplified by purposeful adulteration or unsafe selling practices and new methods used to produce food. Consumers were reassured of food safety by positive relationships with vendors; meals cooked at home; implementation of policies and following of regulations; vendor adherence to environmental sanitation and food hygiene practices; cleanliness of vendors’ appearance; and vendors’ or producers’ agency to use risk mitigation strategies in production, processing, and distribution of food. Conclusions Consumers integrated their meanings, knowledge, and concerns about food safety to achieve assurance about the safety of their foods when making food choice decisions. The success of food-safety policies hinges on consideration of consumers’ food safety concerns in their design and implementation, alongside actions to reduce risk in food supply

How perspectives on food safety of vendors and consumers translate into food choice behaviors in six African and Asian countries

International audienceBackgroundConsumption of unsafe foods increases morbidity and mortality and is currently an issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Policy actions to ensure food safety are dominated by mitigation of biological and chemical hazards through supply-side risk management, lessening the degree to which consumer perspectives of food safety are considered.ObjectiveThis study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding, from vendor and consumer perspectives, of how food safety concerns of consumers translate into their subsequent food choice behaviors in six diverse low- and middle-income countries.MethodsSix Drivers of Food Choice projects (2016-2022) provided transcripts from 17 focus group discussions and 343 interviews in Ghana, Guinea, India, Kenya, Tanzania, and Vietnam. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify emerging themes important to food safety.ResultsThe analysis suggests that consumers constructed meaning about food safety through personal lived experience and social influences. Community and family members contributed knowledge about food safety. Concerns about food safety were influenced by reputations of, and relationships with, food vendors. Consumers’ mistrust of food vendors was amplified by purposeful adulteration or unsafe selling practices and new methods used to produce food. Consumers were reassured of food safety by positive relationships with vendors; meals cooked at home; implementation of policies and following of regulations; vendor adherence to environmental sanitation and food hygiene practices; cleanliness of vendors’ appearance; and vendors’ or producers’ agency to use risk mitigation strategies in production, processing, and distribution of food.ConclusionsConsumers integrated their meanings, knowledge, and concerns about food safety to achieve assurance about the safety of their foods when making food choice decisions. The success of food-safety policies hinges on consideration of consumers’ food safety concerns in their design and implementation, alongside actions to reduce risk in food supply