Browsing by Author "Engelbrecht, Liezel Maryke"

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    Communication strategies as a tool to address the double burden of malnutrition : an analysis of select interventions in the Western Cape province, South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04) Engelbrecht, Liezel Maryke; Du Plessis, Lisanne Monica; Drimie, Scott; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Global Health. Human Nutrition.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: Background: The increasing prevalence of the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) has led to the development of global, national and provincial policies and strategies to address malnutrition in all its forms. In the Western Cape Province, South Africa, two initiatives, the First Thousand Days (FTD) and WesternCape on Wellness (WoW!), were launched by government to address early-life nutrition and overweight and obesity, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), respectively. A growing body of evidence support double-duty actions (DDAs) to address the DBM in a more holistic manner. Strategic communication can be key in facilitating this process. Objectives: The primary objectives were to 1) evaluate the success of communication strategies for the FTD and WoW! initiatives based on the awareness, knowledge and behaviour of frontline workers and community members related to the initiatives’ objectives, 2) identify available feedback channels related to initiatives, 3) evaluate the relevance of these initiatives in the study sites, and 4) evaluate whether initiatives leveraged communication opportunities for DDAs. Secondary to this, the research explored whether select non-governmental, nutrition-sensitive initiatives had potential areas of overlap with the FTD and WoW! goals to identify DDA opportunities, examine the relevance of these initiatives in the light of the COVID-19 impact on food and nutrition security, and contribute to data for the Western Cape Department of Health (WCDOH) five-year nutrition plan for addressing the double burden of malnutrition in a holistic manner. Methods: This research was an exploratory-descriptive qualitative study, with an analytical component. A desktop overview of the policy documents and strategies from the Western Cape Government and WCDOH was completed to contextualise the origin and prioritisation of the initiatives. Semi-structured interview guides were used as basis for data collection. The total sample size was 17, which included community members (n=6), frontline workers (n=4), NGO officials (n=4) and key government officials (n=3). Fourteen (14) telephonic interviews were conducted, as well as three written exchanges, complemented by one follow-up telephonic interview. Results: Despite being launched five years ago, and high-level interest in the FTD and WoW! initiatives, there was a lack of awareness and knowledge of the WoW! initiative, and sub-optimal behaviour related to the FTD initiative, even though the initiatives were perceived as relevant. COVID-19 increased the need for and receptiveness of nutrition communication, though opportunities to communicate decreased as result of related restrictions. There were definite areas of overlap of the FTD and WoW! interventions with the nutrition-sensitive interventions included in this study, though there are currently few areas of integration. Conclusion: Communication strategies for the FTD and WoW! initiatives have not been successful according to the criteria for this study. The findings suggest that this may be due to missing necessary elements for successful strategic communication such as sub-optimal multisectoral collaboration, and the lack of adequate funding, sufficient human resources, and accessible training. In addition, there is a lack of integration and relevant communication channels, shortcomings in the feedback mechanisms, and lack of robust evaluation and indicators of success. However, many opportunities for improvement were identified by participants.