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The Food and Nutrition Environment at Secondary Schools in the Eastern Cape, South Africa as Reported by Learners

Author

Listed:
  • Alice P. Okeyo

    (Department of Nursing Science, University of Fort Hare, Ring Road, Alice 5701, South Africa)

  • Eunice Seekoe

    (Sefako Makgatho Health Science University, Ga-Rankuwa 0208, South Africa)

  • Anniza de Villiers

    (Research Capacity Development Division, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7501, South Africa)

  • Mieke Faber

    (Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7501, South Africa
    Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa)

  • Johanna H. Nel

    (Department of Logistics, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa)

  • Nelia P. Steyn

    (Division Human Nutrition, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town; UCT Medical campus, Anzio Road, Anatomy Building, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa)

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are growing concerns in adolescents, particularly in females in South Africa. The aim of this study was to evaluate the food and nutrition environment in terms of government policy programs, nutrition education provided, and foods sold at secondary schools in the Eastern Cape province. Sixteen schools and grade 8–12 learners ( N = 1360) were randomly selected from three health districts comprising poor disadvantaged communities. Based on age and sex specific body mass index (BMI) cut-off values, 13.3% of males and 5.5% of females were underweight, while 9.9% of males and 36.1% of females were overweight or obese. The main food items purchased at school were unhealthy energy-dense items such as fried flour dough balls, chocolates, candies, and crisps/chips. Nutrition knowledge scores based on the South African food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) were poor for 52% to 23.4% learners in Grades 8 to 12, respectively. Female learners generally had significantly higher nutrition knowledge scores compared to their male counterparts ( p = 0.016). Questions poorly answered by more than 60% of learners, included the number of fruit and vegetable portions required daily, food to eat when overweight, foods containing fiber, and importance of legumes. It was noted that the majority of teachers who taught nutrition had no formal nutrition training and their responses to knowledge questions were poor indicating that they were not familiar with the FBDGs, which are part of the curriculum. Nutrition assessment as part of the Integrated School Health Program was done on few learners. Overall however, despite some challenges the government national school meal program provided meals daily to 96% of learners. In general, the school food and nutrition environment was not conducive for promoting healthy eating.

Suggested Citation

  • Alice P. Okeyo & Eunice Seekoe & Anniza de Villiers & Mieke Faber & Johanna H. Nel & Nelia P. Steyn, 2020. "The Food and Nutrition Environment at Secondary Schools in the Eastern Cape, South Africa as Reported by Learners," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-18, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:11:p:4038-:d:367883
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nelia P. Steyn & Johanna H. Nel & Sonia Malczyk & Linda Drummond & Marjanne Senekal, 2020. "Provincial Dietary Intake Study (PDIS): Energy and Macronutrient Intakes of Children in a Representative/Random Sample of 1–<10-Year-Old Children in Two Economically Active and Urbanized Provinces in ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-37, March.
    2. Reddy, S.P. & Resnicow, K. & James, S. & Funani, I.N. & Kambaran, N.S. & Omardien, R.G. & Masuka, P. & Sewpaul, R. & Vaughan, R.D. & Mbewu, A., 2012. "Rapid increases in overweight and obesity among South African adolescents: Comparison of data from the South African national youth risk behaviour survey in 2002 and 2008," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(2), pages 262-268.
    3. Kudzai Chinyoka, 2014. "Impact of Poor Nutrition on the Academic Performance of Grade Seven learners: A Case of Zimbabwe," International Journal of Learning and Development, Macrothink Institute, vol. 4(3), pages 73-84, September.
    4. Alwyn S. Todd & Steven J. Street & Jenny Ziviani & Nuala M. Byrne & Andrew P. Hills, 2015. "Overweight and Obese Adolescent Girls: The Importance of Promoting Sensible Eating and Activity Behaviors from the Start of the Adolescent Period," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-24, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zandile June-Rose Mchiza, 2022. "Diet Therapy and Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-7, July.
    2. Joy Mauti & Isabel Mank & Jan-Walter De Neve & Guillaume Alfred Gyengani & Paul-André Somé & Sachin Shinde & Wafaie Fawzi & Till Bärnighausen & Alain Vandormael, 2021. "The Food and Health Environment in Junior Secondary Schools in Urban Burkina Faso: A Cross-Sectional Study of Administrators, Food Vendors and Early Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-16, December.

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