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Impact of school gardens in Nepal: a cluster randomised controlled trial

Author

Listed:
  • Pepijn Schreinemachers
  • Dhruba Raj Bhattarai
  • Giri Dhari Subedi
  • Tej Prasad Acharya
  • Hsiao-pu Chen
  • Ray-yu Yang
  • Narayan Kaji Kashichhawa
  • Upendra Dhungana
  • Gregory C. Luther
  • Maureen Mecozzi

Abstract

This study evaluates the combined impact of school gardens linked to complementary lessons and promotional activities about gardening and nutrition on the nutritional awareness, knowledge, perceptions, eating behaviour and nutritional status of 10- to 15-year-old schoolchildren in Nepal. We used a cluster randomised controlled trial design to collect data from 30 schools and a sample of 1275 and 785 schoolchildren for the 2014 and 2015 school years, respectively. After one year of intervention, we found a significant (p < 0.01) increase in children’s awareness about fruit and vegetables, their knowledge about sustainable agriculture, their knowledge about food, nutrition and health and their stated preferences for eating fruit and vegetables. However, these improvements in intermediary outcomes did not translate into significant improvements in fruit and vegetable consumption or nutritional status. To influence children’s food decisions, it may be required to work more intensively with parents and to increase the availability of fruit and vegetables at the household and community level.

Suggested Citation

  • Pepijn Schreinemachers & Dhruba Raj Bhattarai & Giri Dhari Subedi & Tej Prasad Acharya & Hsiao-pu Chen & Ray-yu Yang & Narayan Kaji Kashichhawa & Upendra Dhungana & Gregory C. Luther & Maureen Mecozzi, 2017. "Impact of school gardens in Nepal: a cluster randomised controlled trial," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(3), pages 329-343, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevef:v:9:y:2017:i:3:p:329-343
    DOI: 10.1080/19439342.2017.1311356
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Jones, Kelly M. & de Brauw, Alan, 2015. "Using Agriculture to Improve Child Health: Promoting Orange Sweet Potatoes Reduces Diarrhea," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 15-24.
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    Cited by:

    1. Junuthula, Shirisha & Kumari, Veenita & Srinivasan, Chittur, 2023. "Identification of Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) Knowledge Gaps in the Integration of Nutrition into Training by Agricultural Extension Advisory Services (EAS) Providers in India," 97th Annual Conference, March 27-29, 2023, Warwick University, Coventry, UK 334565, Agricultural Economics Society - AES.
    2. Sumantla D. Varman & Dylan P. Cliff & Rachel A. Jones & Megan L. Hammersley & Zhiguang Zhang & Karen Charlton & Bridget Kelly, 2021. "Experiential Learning Interventions and Healthy Eating Outcomes in Children: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-23, October.

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