By Eat Better SA Team | Project Coordinator
Dear Eat Better South Africa (EBSA) supporters,
This year has started off with a bang for Eat Better SA (EBSA) and we are very excited about our 2019 projects.
Our community interventions that form part of a PhD study by the research team from The University of Cape Town is well under way. The objectives of the study are to understand the barriers that women from under resourced communities in South Africa face in accessing affordable healthy food and making healthy behaviour changes; to optimise the design of the nutrition and health education program to accommodate these barriers; to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in terms of behaviour change and the improvements in metabolic health and sustainability after the program ends.
Phase 1 of the study, which consisted of focus group discussions (FGDs) were already conducted both in women who have participated in previous EBSA programs, and those from communities where future EBSA interventions are planned. Women from previous EBSA programs were interviewed to identify the facilitators (factors favouring) and challenges they experienced in attending the sessions, understanding the educational content of the program and implementing the dietary advice. Women were also interviewed about their perceptions around healthy food, reasons for current food choices, food expenditure and their willingness to change their eating behaviour. In addition, they were also asked about facilitators and barriers they anticipate in implementing and adhering to dietary and lifestyle advice and their willingness to participate in a nutrition education program. In total, 3 FGDs were conducted in communities which took part in previous EBSA programs and 6 FGDs in communities where EBSA is planning to start interventions. The first intervention that will be part of the pilot study is planned to start early May and will run over a 6 week period in the Ocean View community, Cape Town.
Another very exciting event that EBSA was involved in was a nutrition workshop hosted by the Western Cape Government Department of Social Development. Prof Tim Noakes, Founder of The Noakes Foundation, addressed a group of interns from under resourced communities, highlighting the dangers of unhealthy eating that are “hidden in plain sight”. The initiative was a pilot program hosted by the Minister of Social Development, Minister Albert Fritz, to encourage and educate youth about the importance of health and nutrition.
The workshop was pivotal in pioneering active collaboration between the foundation and The Western Cape Government in addressing the impacts of dietary related diseases.
Eat Better SA relies both on the generosity of our donors and proceeds from our affiliate program. Every donation ensures that we are able to continue making significant strides within our communities, where nutrition interventions are needed the most.
Help be part of the answer by supporting our campaign at https://goto.gg/35282
We are very excited for the year ahead and would once again like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support in changing lives, one community at a time.
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