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The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nutrition, Health and Environment in Indonesia: A Qualitative Investigation of Perspectives from Multi-Disciplinary Experts

Author

Listed:
  • Oyedolapo A. Anyanwu

    (Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 20111, USA)

  • Elena N. Naumova

    (Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 20111, USA)

  • Virginia R. Chomitz

    (Public Health & Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 20111, USA)

  • Fang Fang Zhang

    (Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 20111, USA)

  • Kenneth Chui

    (Public Health & Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 20111, USA)

  • Martha I. Kartasurya

    (Department of Public Health Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang 50275, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia)

  • Sara C. Folta

    (Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 20111, USA)

Abstract

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted food systems, health systems and the environment globally, with potentially greater negative effects in many lower-middle income countries (LMICs) including Indonesia. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on diets, health and the marine environment in Indonesia, based on the perspectives of a multidisciplinary group of informants. Methods: We conducted remote in-depth interviews with 27 key informants from many regions of Indonesia, who are either healthcare providers, nutrition researchers or environmental researchers. Interview question guides were developed based on a socio-ecological framework. We analyzed the data using a qualitative content analysis approach. Results: Informants suggested that while the COVID-19 brought increased awareness about and adherence to good nutrition and health behaviors, the impact was transitory. Informants indicated that healthy food options became less affordable, due to job losses and reduced income, suggesting a likely increase in food insecurity and obesity. Environmental researchers described higher levels of marine pollution from increase in hygienic wastes as well as from plastic packaging from food orders. Conclusions: Our findings reveal perceptions by informants that the increased awareness and adherence to health behaviors observed during the pandemic was not sustained. Our results also suggest that the pandemic may have exacerbated the double-burden paradox and marine pollution in Indonesia. This study offers information for generating hypotheses for quantitative studies to corroborate our findings and inform policies and programs to mitigate the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 on diets, health, and the marine environment in Indonesia.

Suggested Citation

  • Oyedolapo A. Anyanwu & Elena N. Naumova & Virginia R. Chomitz & Fang Fang Zhang & Kenneth Chui & Martha I. Kartasurya & Sara C. Folta, 2022. "The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nutrition, Health and Environment in Indonesia: A Qualitative Investigation of Perspectives from Multi-Disciplinary Experts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-20, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:18:p:11575-:d:914721
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Romling, Cornelia & Qaim, Matin, 2011. "Direct and Indirect Determinants of Obesity: The Case of Indonesia," GlobalFood Discussion Papers 108350, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, GlobalFood, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
    2. Chelsea M. Rochman & Mark Anthony Browne & Benjamin S. Halpern & Brian T. Hentschel & Eunha Hoh & Hrissi K. Karapanagioti & Lorena M. Rios-Mendoza & Hideshige Takada & Swee Teh & Richard C. Thompson, 2013. "Classify plastic waste as hazardous," Nature, Nature, vol. 494(7436), pages 169-171, February.
    3. Römling, Cornelia & Qaim, Matin, 2011. "Direct and Indirect Determinants of Obesity: The Case of Indonesia," Proceedings of the German Development Economics Conference, Berlin 2011 70, Verein für Socialpolitik, Research Committee Development Economics.
    4. Amirudin Amirudin & Mariusz Urbański & Jumadil Saputra & Muhamad Deni Johansyah & Latip Latip & Ahmad Tarmizi & Teuku Afrizal, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Self-Isolation Policy on the Occupations of Vulnerable Groups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-14, June.
    5. Nicole Paganini & Kustiwa Adinata & Nomonde Buthelezi & David Harris & Stefanie Lemke & Alberto Luis & Jennifer Koppelin & Abdulrazak Karriem & Fezile Ncube & Enzo Nervi Aguirre & Tandu Ramba & Inês R, 2020. "Growing and Eating Food during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Farmers’ Perspectives on Local Food System Resilience to Shocks in Southern Africa and Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-26, October.
    6. repec:zbw:gdec11:aglobalfooddiscussionpapersx4 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Roemling, Cornelia & Qaim, Matin, 2013. "Dual burden households and intra-household nutritional inequality in Indonesia," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 563-573.
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    1. Oyedolapo A. Anyanwu & Sara C. Folta & Fang Fang Zhang & Kenneth Chui & Virginia R. Chomitz & Martha I. Kartasurya & Elena N. Naumova, 2023. "Fish—To Eat or Not to Eat? A Mixed-Methods Investigation of the Conundrum of Fish Consumption in the Context of Marine Pollution in Indonesia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-23, April.

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