Dissertation

Transforming social, gendered practices affecting malnutrition: Action research in Malawi

Drost, Nancy Marie

1999

Overview

This dissertation is an evaluation of an educational programme that took place within the context of a nutrition improvement project. The goal of the project was to effect dietary modification and diversification for the purpose of increasing vitamin A, iron and zinc status in children. The project itself provides a model for dietary change projects because it demonstrated the effectiveness of mobilizing community resources, including local knowledge, existing leadership and indigenous foods. Furthermore, this evaluation has particular significance because of its depth in exploring the behavioural change process. The lack of such descriptions has previously left undetermined the value of similar nutrition education projects. Thus, this thesis gives credibility to programmes that focus on building self-reliance in communities, revisiting caring roles within the family, and changing behaviour related to food and diet. The dissertation emphasizes that by exploring and changing social practices related to the family nutrition system, the problem of malnutrition may be addressed more effectively than by exclusively medical means. The project, called Tulimbe Nutrition Project, took place from 1995–1997 in two rural communities in Southern Malawi. Five Malawian home economists were hired as facilitators for the four-month dietary intervention. Three hundred families with children from three to seven years old participated. Various programmes were introduced to the parents of these children: food processing, meal planning and preparation, agricultural activities, and appropriate technologies. The success of the intervention was evaluated by analyzing data collected during cooking demonstrations, home visits, interviews and focus group discussions. The data is organized into three major themes reflecting the changes which occurred as a result of the intervention: community involvement, gender relations, and dietary change. As a result of the project's approaches to community development, community members, individually and collectively, had a new understanding of their identities, attitudes and capabilities. By involving men in the project, along with women, people noted positive changes in families, because both husbands and wives became better caregivers. Finally, as a result of the momentum of project activity over the intervention period, there was a significant increase in the adoption rates of new food processing and preparation methods. Although the issues of targeting, leadership and incentives were problematic ones, the intervention strategies continue to be practiced and enhanced by new initiatives. The project gained national attention for both its dietary strategies and its approaches to community involvement. Local agencies in Malawi have taken on the challenge of replicating the project in other areas. However, in order for dietary diversification and modification programmes to have a more widespread effect, political commitment and mass mobilization campaigns are required.

• Publisher: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
• Subject: Health education / Nutrition / Public health
• ISBN: 061241065X, 9780612410657