Focus group discussion guide.

Background and objectivesNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are taking a toll on Africa’s youth at younger ages than in other regions. These are attributed to risk factors that usually advance in adolescence, such as unhealthy diets and reduced physical activity. Young adults in South Africa, particularly women, tend to be sedentary, consume energy-dense diets low in micronutrients, and are more likely to develop NCDs much earlier in life than those in high-income countries. With an intersectionality perspective, this study explored young adults’ barriers and solutions to addressing these risk factors in Soweto.SettingSoweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, is one of the most well-known historically disadvantaged townships known for its established communities, and socioeconomic and cultural diversity. Design: A qualitative investigation utilising focus group discussions (FGDs) with a topic guide. FGDs were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed using a combination of deductive and inductive approaches.Participants15 Men and 15 women 18–24 years of age living in Soweto (n = 30). Results: South African young adults have a basic understanding of the significance of nutrition, exercise, and their ties to health. However, numerous barriers (like taste, affordability and crime) to such behaviours were reported, arising from the participants’ personal, domestic, social, and local community levels. Young women experienced sexism and had safety concerns while exercising in the streets, while young men tended to describe themselves as lazy to engage in exercise as they find it boring.ConclusionsYoung adults face a multitude of intersecting barriers, making it difficult to adopt or sustain health-promoting behaviours. It is important that potential solutions focus on the intersections of barriers to healthy eating and physical activity in order to provide more realistic support for such behaviours.</div

S2 File. Dataset -

Background and objectivesNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are taking a toll on Africa’s youth at younger ages than in other regions. These are attributed to risk factors that usually advance in adolescence, such as unhealthy diets and reduced physical activity. Young adults in South Africa, particularly women, tend to be sedentary, consume energy-dense diets low in micronutrients, and are more likely to develop NCDs much earlier in life than those in high-income countries. With an intersectionality perspective, this study explored young adults’ barriers and solutions to addressing these risk factors in Soweto.SettingSoweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, is one of the most well-known historically disadvantaged townships known for its established communities, and socioeconomic and cultural diversity. Design: A qualitative investigation utilising focus group discussions (FGDs) with a topic guide. FGDs were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed using a combination of deductive and inductive approaches.Participants15 Men and 15 women 18–24 years of age living in Soweto (n = 30). Results: South African young adults have a basic understanding of the significance of nutrition, exercise, and their ties to health. However, numerous barriers (like taste, affordability and crime) to such behaviours were reported, arising from the participants’ personal, domestic, social, and local community levels. Young women experienced sexism and had safety concerns while exercising in the streets, while young men tended to describe themselves as lazy to engage in exercise as they find it boring.ConclusionsYoung adults face a multitude of intersecting barriers, making it difficult to adopt or sustain health-promoting behaviours. It is important that potential solutions focus on the intersections of barriers to healthy eating and physical activity in order to provide more realistic support for such behaviours.</div

Young adults’ perceived barriers to healthy eating, physical activities and their solutions.

Young adults’ perceived barriers to healthy eating, physical activities and their solutions.</p

Conceptual diagram showing the intersectionality between different multilevel barriers to healthy eating and physical activity influencing young adults’ health related behaviour.

Conceptual diagram showing the intersectionality between different multilevel barriers to healthy eating and physical activity influencing young adults’ health related behaviour.</p

Characteristics of young adult focus groups discussion participants in Soweto.

Characteristics of young adult focus groups discussion participants in Soweto.</p

A conceptual diagram developed for this study showing different factors intersecting to influence young individuals health related behaviour.

A conceptual diagram developed for this study showing different factors intersecting to influence young individuals health related behaviour.</p

Young adults’ understanding of health concepts.

Background and objectivesNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are taking a toll on Africa’s youth at younger ages than in other regions. These are attributed to risk factors that usually advance in adolescence, such as unhealthy diets and reduced physical activity. Young adults in South Africa, particularly women, tend to be sedentary, consume energy-dense diets low in micronutrients, and are more likely to develop NCDs much earlier in life than those in high-income countries. With an intersectionality perspective, this study explored young adults’ barriers and solutions to addressing these risk factors in Soweto.SettingSoweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, is one of the most well-known historically disadvantaged townships known for its established communities, and socioeconomic and cultural diversity. Design: A qualitative investigation utilising focus group discussions (FGDs) with a topic guide. FGDs were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed using a combination of deductive and inductive approaches.Participants15 Men and 15 women 18–24 years of age living in Soweto (n = 30). Results: South African young adults have a basic understanding of the significance of nutrition, exercise, and their ties to health. However, numerous barriers (like taste, affordability and crime) to such behaviours were reported, arising from the participants’ personal, domestic, social, and local community levels. Young women experienced sexism and had safety concerns while exercising in the streets, while young men tended to describe themselves as lazy to engage in exercise as they find it boring.ConclusionsYoung adults face a multitude of intersecting barriers, making it difficult to adopt or sustain health-promoting behaviours. It is important that potential solutions focus on the intersections of barriers to healthy eating and physical activity in order to provide more realistic support for such behaviours.</div

Framework matrix of themes by participant group.

Framework matrix of themes by participant group.</p

Author reflexivity statement.

(DOCX)</p

Interview guide for community facilitators.

(DOCX)</p