Strategies Promoting Healthy Food Choices among Pupils in Nyeri County, Kenya
Loading...
Date
2020-09
Authors
Runo, Waithaka Simon
Kiara, Kirimi
Mandela, Rubai
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS)
Abstract
In Kenya, nutrition education is included in the school
curriculum as recommended in the year 2009 national school
health policy. Nevertheless, policy advocacy and communication
strategies on nutrition are relatively weak, and there is
insufficient focus on operational research on nutrition. In
addition, nutrition education is not taught as a standalone
subject and is only infused in science subjects. Consequently, the
malnutrition problem is not as well understood as it could be.
Modern malnutrition consists in over-consumption of energy
dense and fatty foods. These have led to an upsurge of noncommunicable and lifestyle diseases such as cancer, diabetes,
bone and heart conditions. Therefore, there was need to find out
strategies on eating habits in order to help pupils acquire
discriminative skills among foods. The pupils can act as agents of
change in the community through the symbiotic relationship that
exists between the school and the society. This will be the first
stage towards curbing the food- related health problem. The
purpose of this study was to establish strategies promoting
healthy food choices among pupils. The Health Belief Model as a
predictor of preventive health behaviour was the guide theory
for this research. The study was mainly descriptive in design
with purposive sampling. The target population was pupils in
Nyeri County with their teachers and parents. Data collection
tools were semi-structured interviews, and focus group
discussions, food diary, and FFQ. Data was analyzed both
qualitatively and quantitatively guided by the themes from
research objectives. Quantitative data was analyzed using basic
descriptive statistics and presented in form of tables, pie charts,
graphs, and percentages. The Qualitative analysis involved
narrative records and respondents’ quotations. The study
established strategies that would promote healthy food choices
key among them being healthy snacking. The study findings may
be used by the Ministry of education to inform nutrition
education content in the school curriculum.
Description
A Research Article in International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS)
Keywords
Strategies, Healthy Food Choices
Citation
Runo, Kirmi, Mandela (2020): Strategies Promoting Healthy Food Choices among Pupils in Nyeri County, Kenya ISSN 2454-6194 Volume V, Issue IX