A qualitative analysis of perceptions of 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

Date
2020-03
Journal Title
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Objective: To understand the perceptions of 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. Design: Qualitative, exploratory, cross-sectional study design. Setting: Gauteng Province, South Africa. Participants: Subject matter experts, managers or senior managers with experience or knowledge of the taxation on SSBs and agriculture for nutrition policies. The study frame included subject matter experts (n = 16) from the following sectors: health (n = 3), food and beverage industry (n = 3), agriculture (n = 6), finance (n = 2) and consumer interests (n = 2). In addition, reference is made to the official position statement of an association affiliated with the sugar industry, since an interview could not be secured with this association. Methods: An in-depth interview discussion guide with probes was used to collect the data. The guide included a short section of demographic-related questions. Results: Perceptions of combining the taxation on SSBs with policies aimed at agriculture, to improve food and nutrition security, the double burden of malnutrition and the economic environment in South Africa, 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 in a South African context. Combined policies could focus on the delivery of education and mass-media campaigns to improve consumer awareness and assist in behaviour change. More research into these combined policy approaches in a South African context is required.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Doel: Om verskeie belanghebbendes se persepsies van die kombinering van voedingsensitiewe landbou-intervensies met die belasting op suikerversoete drankies (SVD’s) ter verbetering van algemene gesondheid en voeding in Suid-Afrika, te verstaan. Ontwerp: ʼn Kwalitatiewe, verkennende, deursnee-navorsingsontwerp. Omgewing: Gauteng-provinsie, Suid-Afrika. Deelnemers: Vakkundiges, bestuurders of senior bestuurders met ondervinding of kennis van die belasting op SVD’s en beleid rakende landbou vir voeding. Die studieraamwerk het vakkundiges (n = 16) van die volgende sektore ingesluit: gesondheid (n = 3), die voedsel-en-drankbedryf (n = 3), landbou (n = 6), finansieel (n = 2) en verbruikersbelange (n = 2). Daar word ook na die amptelike posisiestaat van ʼn vereniging verbonde aan die suikerbedryf verwys, aangesien ʼn onderhoud met hierdie vereniging nie moontlik was nie. Metodes: Diepgaande onderhoude met ʼn besprekingsriglyn en peilings is gebruik om die data in te win. Die riglyn het ʼn kort gedeelte met demografie-verwante vrae ingesluit. Resultate: Persepsies van die kombinering van die belasting op SVD’s met landboubeleid om voedsel- en voedingsekerheid, die dubbele las van wanvoeding en die ekonomiese omgewing in Suid-Afrika te verbeter, was positief. Die deelnemers het dit in teorie as ʼn innoverende idee beskou, maar het die uitvoerbaarheid van die kombinering van sodanige beleid bevraagteken. Deelnemers het opvoeding beklemtoon as ʼn noodsaaklike element vir suksesvolle gedragsverandering sodat die gekombineerde beleidsbenadering ʼn positiewe impak kan he. Deelnemers was van mening dat basiese dienste en regeringsfunksies eers optimaal uitgevoer moet word voordat die regering voedingsensitiewe landbou-intervensies kan vergroot. Gevolgtrekking: Oor die algemeen was persepsies met betrekking tot die kombinering van die belasting op SVD’s met voedingsensitiewe landbou-intervensies ter verbetering van algemene gesondheid en voeding in Suid-Afrika positief. Alhoewel deelnemers die uitvoerbaarheid van die kombinering van hierdie beleid bevraagteken het, het hulle dit gesien as ʼn wyse waarop die beweerde indirekte skade verbonde aan die belasting bekamp kan word, veral ten opsigte van die ontwikkeling van kleinskaalse boere in ʼn Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Gekombineerde beleid kan fokus op opvoedings- en massamedia-veldtogte om verbruikersbewustheid te verbeter en gedragsverandering te bevorder. Verdere navorsing oor hierdie gekombineerde beleidsbenaderings in ʼn Suid-Afrikaanse konteks is nodig.
Description
Thesis (MNutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.
Keywords
Beverages -- Taxation -- South Africa, Nutrition policy -- South Africa, Food security -- South Africa, UCTD
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