Abstract
Background
Low fruit and vegetable (FV) intake in low- and middle- income countries, associated with non-communicable diseases and micronutrient deficiencies, requires food system interventions FV addressing affordability, acceptability and accessibility. Periodic FV intake monitoring during interventions informs progress towards achieving increased intakes and contributes to understanding the effectiveness of these interventions.
Objective
This study evaluates the trend in FV intake before, during and after implementation of a set of nutrition-sensitive food system interventions addressing accessibility, affordability and acceptability to increase FV consumption over a 1-year period in Vietnamese and Nigerian low-income urban and peri-urban females.
Methods
We used the Diet Quality Questionnaire to assess FV food groups consumption among 600 Vietnamese (Hanoi) and 610 Nigerian (Ibadan) females, before, during and after the interventions (Vietnam: July 2020 - September 2021; Nigeria: November 2020 – December 2021). A FV score was compared between exposure groups with (mixed) count modelling. The trend in consumption of individual FV groups was analysed with mixed logistic regression.
Results
The FV score was stable over time and a small increase was observed after the intervention period especially in Nigeria and in urban Vietnam. A decrease in the total score was observed in peri-urban Vietnam. Fluctuations were detected in the probability of consumption of individual FV groups over time especially within the fruit groups, probably due to seasonal availability. The degree of exposure could not explain differences in FV intake.
Conclusions
We found a marginal increase in the proportion of females consuming FV during the interventions in both countries. The FV score appeared to be a simple, quick and easy to use indicator for monitoring diversity, variety and consumption.
Low fruit and vegetable (FV) intake in low- and middle- income countries, associated with non-communicable diseases and micronutrient deficiencies, requires food system interventions FV addressing affordability, acceptability and accessibility. Periodic FV intake monitoring during interventions informs progress towards achieving increased intakes and contributes to understanding the effectiveness of these interventions.
Objective
This study evaluates the trend in FV intake before, during and after implementation of a set of nutrition-sensitive food system interventions addressing accessibility, affordability and acceptability to increase FV consumption over a 1-year period in Vietnamese and Nigerian low-income urban and peri-urban females.
Methods
We used the Diet Quality Questionnaire to assess FV food groups consumption among 600 Vietnamese (Hanoi) and 610 Nigerian (Ibadan) females, before, during and after the interventions (Vietnam: July 2020 - September 2021; Nigeria: November 2020 – December 2021). A FV score was compared between exposure groups with (mixed) count modelling. The trend in consumption of individual FV groups was analysed with mixed logistic regression.
Results
The FV score was stable over time and a small increase was observed after the intervention period especially in Nigeria and in urban Vietnam. A decrease in the total score was observed in peri-urban Vietnam. Fluctuations were detected in the probability of consumption of individual FV groups over time especially within the fruit groups, probably due to seasonal availability. The degree of exposure could not explain differences in FV intake.
Conclusions
We found a marginal increase in the proportion of females consuming FV during the interventions in both countries. The FV score appeared to be a simple, quick and easy to use indicator for monitoring diversity, variety and consumption.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 102050 |
| Journal | Current Developments in Nutrition |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 7 Dec 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2024 |
