Nutrition knowledge and barriers to good dietary practices among primary school children in a farming community

Abstract

This article examines the nutrition practices of black African children attending farm schools and looks at what they know about nutrition. The research was part of the Farm Labour and General Health (FLAGH) project of the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), South Africa. Two schools participated in the study, which involved 132 primary schoolchildren aged 8 to 16 years. A structured questionnaire revealed the children's knowledge about nutrition related issues, and focus group discussions brought to light attitudes and barriers to sound dietary practices. This study provided insight into the lives of children living on commercial farms in the North West Province. The findings provide strong support for the view that while nutrition education is important to children's development of nutrition knowledge, good dietary practices and overall nutritional status, so also are influences from the children's social, economic and psychological environment.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hilda Van't Riet

Annamarie Kruger is Research Coordinator, Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), South Africa; and Mars Phometsi is a former MSc Nutrition student at North-West University and is now a teacher in Botswana; and Hilda van't Riet is a former Post Doctoral student at North-West University and is now working at Helen Keller International, Indonesia. Financial support from the National Research Foundation of South Africa, the South African Sugar Association, and the South African Medical Research Council is gratefully acknowledged. The authors also wish to thank the children and the farm schools without whom this study would not have been possible.