title: Using formative research to develop a nutrition education resource aimed at assisting low-income households in South Africa adopt a healthier diet.
abstract: As part of a comprehensive programme to prevent non-communicable disease in South Africa, there is a need to develop public education campaigns on healthy eating. Urban populations of lower socioeconomic status are a priority target population. This study involved formative research to guide the development of a nutrition resource appropriate to the budgetary constraints and information needs of poor households in the major urban centres of South Africa. Twenty-two focus groups were convened to explore the target audience's knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and practices as they related to healthy eating and their views about the proposed nutrition resource (N = 167). A brief questionnaire assessed eating and cooking practices among focus group participants. Key informant interviews with eight dieticians/nutritionists working with this population added to the focus group findings. The research identified important issues to take into account in the development of the resource. These included the need to: directly address prevalent misconceptions about healthy eating and unhealthy eating practices; increase self-efficacy regarding the purchasing and preparation of healthy food; represent diverse cultural traditions and consider the issues of affordability and availability of food ingredients. This study demonstrates the value of using formative research in the design of nutrition-related communication in a multicultural, poor, urban South African setting.
authors.affiliation: Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa, km.murphy@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Everett-Murphy
authors.affiliation: Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit (NCDRU), South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Cape Town, 7505, South Africa, and.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Villiers
authors.affiliation: Research and Programme Development, the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, Cape Town 8001, South Africa.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ketterer
authors.affiliation: Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steyn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003296:Cooking / Q000379:methods; D003469:Culture; D000072001:Diet, Healthy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D064686:Nutritionists / Q000458:organization & administration; D011203:Poverty; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa