RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The banana project: a qualitative study of caregivers’ and teachers’ experiences of preschool children participating in a free banana school fruit scheme in rural Tanzania
JF BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health
JO BMJ Nutrition
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e000403
DO 10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000403
A1 Anne Katrine Sandnes Ebitu
A1 Liv Fegran
A1 Kristin Haraldstad
A1 Berit Johannessen
A1 Mercy Grace Chiduo
A1 Olav Johannes Hovland
YR 2022
UL http://nutrition.bmj.com/content/early/2022/07/06/bmjnph-2021-000403.abstract
AB Introduction Good nutrition is the foundation of sustainable growth and development among children. The United Nations aims to achieve food security and improve nutrition through its Sustainable Development Goal 2 - Zero Hunger. In close collaboration with local communities and authorities, the Tanga International Competence Centre, Tanzania, supports projects aimed at achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. One of their initiatives, The Banana Project, which is a free school fruit scheme, started in 2011 based on a recognised need for nutritional support among preschool children at a rural school in Tanga District. In the interest of improving nutrition, the free school fruit scheme provides one banana 5 school days a week to each child in the class. This study aimed to explore caregivers’ (parents and/or guardians) and teachers’ experiences with preschool children’s participation in the project, with a specific focus on nutrition and health.Methods This qualitative study was performed in 2017. A total of 16 semistructured indepth interviews with 14 caregivers and 2 teachers of the preschool children participating in the project were conducted. Data were analysed using a hermeneutic perspective.Results Caregivers and teachers of the preschool children participating in the intervention experienced that bananas (1) reduced children’s hunger and nutritional deficiency, (2) increased fruit intake and improved their appetite for other foods, (3) improved their physical health and provided energy, and (4) supported cognitive and socioemotional development.Conclusion These findings indicate that the banana intervention has several benefits to preschool children and has an impact on their families. To improve health and reduce the risk of malnutrition of children in rural Tanzania, The Banana Project can be an recommended as a simple, cost-effective and sustainable health and nutrition promotion initiatives.No data are available.