Individual‐level drivers of dietary behaviour in adolescents and women through the reproductive life course in urban Ghana

A Photovoice study

Bibliographic Data

ID15535546
AuthorsJulia Liguori (0000-0001-8847-7169, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement), Rebecca Pradeilles (0000-0003-0334-3714, Loughborough University), Amos Laar (0000-0001-5557-0164, University of Ghana), Francis Zotor (0000-0002-4411-4419, University of Health and Allied Sciences), Akua Tandoh (0000-0002-1515-7081, University of Ghana), Senam Klomegah (0000-0003-2554-8649, University of Health and Allied Sciences), Hibbah Osei-Kwasi (0000-0001-5084-6213, University of Sheffield), Hibbah A Osei‐Kwasi (Department of Geography University of Sheffield Sheffield UK), Agnes Le Port (0000-0002-8337-6569, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement), N Bricas (0000-0002-7627-3852, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement), Richmond Aryeetey (0000-0003-4667-592X, University of Ghana), Robert Akparibo (0000-0003-3751-2432, University of Sheffield), P Griffiths (0000-0002-0591-9724, Loughborough University), Michelle Holdsworth (0000-0001-6028-885X, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume18
Issue4
Pagese13412-e13412
Publication date2022-08-08
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMaternal and Child Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1740-8695 • E-ISSN: 1740-8709
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/mcn.13412
PMID35938776
OpenAlexW4290649944
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited54

Evidence on the individual-level drivers of dietary behaviours in deprived urban contexts in Africa is limited. Understanding how to best inform the development and delivery of interventions to promote healthy dietary behaviours is needed. As noncommunicable diseases account for over 40% of deaths in Ghana, the country has reached an advanced stage of nutrition transition. The aim of this study was to identify individual-level factors (biological, demographic, cognitive, practices) influencing dietary behaviours among adolescent girls and women at different stages of the reproductive life course in urban Ghana with the goal of building evidence to improve targeted interventions. Qualitative Photovoice interviews (n = 64) were conducted in two urban neighbourhoods in Accra and Ho with adolescent girls (13-14 years) and women of reproductive age (15-49 years). Data analysis was both theory- and data-driven to allow for emerging themes. Thirty-seven factors, across four domains within the individual-level, were identified as having an influence on dietary behaviours: biological (n = 5), demographic (n = 8), cognitions (n = 13) and practices (n = 11). Several factors emerged as facilitators or barriers to healthy eating, with income/wealth (demographic); nutrition knowledge/preferences/risk perception (cognitions); and cooking skills/eating at home/time constraints (practices) emerging most frequently. Pregnancy/lactating status (biological) influenced dietary behaviours mainly through medical advice, awareness and willingness to eat foods to support foetal/infant growth and development. Many of these factors were intertwined with the wider food environment, especially concerns about the cost of food and food safety, suggesting that interventions need to account for individual-level as well as wider environmental drivers of dietary behaviours

Developmental psychology · Environmental health · Life course approach · Photovoice · Psychological intervention · Qualitative research · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Nursing · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Gerontology