title: Barriers to Eating Traditional Foods Vary by Age Group in Ecuador With Biodiversity Loss as a Key Issue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the perceptions of indigenous peoples for the sustainable management of natural resources against malnutrition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Initially 4 and then 12 interviews were conducted with 4 different age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight rural villages in Guasaganda, central Ecuador, were studied in 2011-2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 75 people (22 children, 18 adolescents, 20 adults, and 15 elders).
  
  
  METHODS
  Benefits, severity, susceptibility, barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy of eating traditional foods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative content analysis was completed using NVivo software. Initial analysis was inductive, followed by a content analysis directed by the Health Belief Model. Coding was completed independently by 2 researchers and kappa statistics (κ ≥ 0.65) were used to evaluate agreement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Healthy perceptions toward traditional foods existed and differed by age. Local young people ate traditional foods for their health benefits and good taste; adults cultivated traditional foods that had an economic benefit. Traditional knowledge used for consumption and cultivation of traditional foods was present but needs to be disseminated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nutrition education in schools is needed that supports traditional knowledge in younger groups and prevents dietary changes toward unhealthy eating. Increased production of traditional food is needed to address current economic realities.
authors: Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Rural Research Center, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Production Sciences, Guayaquil, Ecuador; Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: doloresdaniela.penafielanchundia@ugent.be.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Penafiel
authors: Nutrition and Marketing Diversity Programme, Bioversity International, Sub-Saharan Africa Office, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors: Celine
authors: C
authors: Termote
authors: Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Nutrition and Child Health Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors: Carl
authors: C
authors: Lachat
authors: Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Rural Research Center, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Production Sciences, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
authors: Ramon
authors: R
authors: Espinel
authors: Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Nutrition and Child Health Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Kolsteren
authors: Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Van Damme
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004484:Ecuador / Q000208:ethnology; D005502:Food / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000208:ethnology*; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012424:Rural Population; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ecuador; behavior; biodiversity; eating