A qualitative analysis of perceptions of various stakeholders on nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions, including the taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), to improve overall health and nutrition in South Africa
Date
2020-09-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: As a low-middle income country, South Africa has seen an upsurge in the double burden of
malnutrition (DBM). Owing to the rising costs of obesity on healthcare in South Africa, the National Treasury
implemented a fiscal policy for the taxation of SSBs, known as the Health Promotion Levy, in line with the WHO
recommendation. Potential negative impacts of the policy on the sugar cane industry and economic and rural
development have been voiced by different sectors. By including a subsection in the SSBs fiscal policy and aligning
the goals with existing policies, government could have made provisions for sugar cane farms to substitute crops
with alternatives, including nutritional alternatives where possible, while supporting existing small-scale farms to
produce nutrient-dense, local and culturally acceptable crops. Thus, the purpose of the study is to understand the
perceptions of the various stakeholders on combining nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions with the taxation
on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to improve overall health and nutrition in South Africa.
Methods: Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with each participant. The interviews were audiorecorded,
transcribed intelligent verbatim, and cross-checked against the audio-recordings by the principal
researcher. ATLAS.ti 8 software was used to navigate the data and assist with thematic analysis.
Results: Perceptions of combining SSB taxation with agricultural policies to improve food and nutrition security were
positive. The participants found it to be an innovative idea in theory but questioned the feasibility of combining
policies. Participants highlighted education as an essential element for successfully changing behaviour to ensure a
positive impact of the combined policy approach. Participants believed that before government could scale up
nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions, basic services and government functions would first need to run optimally.
Conclusion: Overall, perceptions with regard to combining the taxation on SSBs with nutrition-sensitive agricultural
policies to improve overall health and nutrition in South Africa were positive. Although participants questioned the
feasibility of combining these policies, it was viewed as a way to combat alleged collateral damage linked to the tax,
with a specific focus on developing small-scale farmers. More research into these combined policy approaches in a
South African context is required.
Description
CITATION: Kaltenbrun, T. A., Du Plessis, L. M. & Drimie, S. 2020. A qualitative analysis of perceptions of various stakeholders on nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions, including the taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), to improve overall health and nutrition in South Africa. BMC Public Health, 20:1342, doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09440-8.
The original publication is available at http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com
The original publication is available at http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com
Keywords
Soft drinks -- Nutritional aspects -- South Africa, Sugar -- Taxation -- South Africa, Malnutrition -- South Africa, Nutrition-sensitive agriculture -- South Africa, Subsistence farming -- South Africa
Citation
Kaltenbrun, T. A., Du Plessis, L. M. & Drimie, S. 2020. A qualitative analysis of perceptions of various stakeholders on nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions, including the taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), to improve overall health and nutrition in South Africa. BMC Public Health, 20:1342, doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09440-8