Department of Food and Nutrition Consumer Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4001, South Africa.
UNICEF, Pretoria 0011, South Africa.
Nutrients. 2024 Oct 18;16(20):3542. doi: 10.3390/nu16203542.
Leveraging learner-driven insights to enhance the SFE can significantly influence food choices by decreasing the consumption of unhealthy foods and increasing access to healthier options. Using learners' voices as important stakeholders in the school food environment (SFE), this qualitative research study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of their perspectives, identify barriers and enablers to fostering a healthy SFE in South African public schools, and explore the link between the SFE and learners' food choices. Six focus group discussions (FGDs) with 4-6 participants were held in six schools, including three primary and three secondary schools in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education's iLembe district, SA, with learners aged 12-14 and 15-18 years, respectively. Learners were asked how schools could help them eat healthier and how their SFE benefitted them. The data were analysed using thematic data analysis methods. The FGDs generated 14 themes and subthemes. Emerging information suggests a lack of control over the sale of unhealthy food despite the existence of guidelines. This is further exacerbated by the marketing of unhealthy foods, which prevents learners from selecting healthier options. Furthermore, they stated that promoting the school food programme (SFP) and changing attitudes towards healthy food intake through comprehensive nutrition education are useful ways to enhance the SFE. The findings of this study underscore the critical role of learner insights in shaping effective strategies to improve the SFE.
利用学习者驱动的洞察力来增强 SFE（学校食品安全环境）可以通过减少不健康食品的消费和增加更健康选择的机会，对食品选择产生重大影响。本研究旨在深入了解他们的观点，确定促进南非公立学校健康 SFE 的障碍和促成因素，并探索 SFE 与学习者食品选择之间的联系，为此，我们将学习者视为学校食品环境（SFE）的重要利益相关者，使用了定性研究方法。在六个学校（包括三个小学和三个中学）中进行了六次焦点小组讨论（FGD），参与者为 4-6 人，年龄分别为 12-14 岁和 15-18 岁。参与者被问及学校如何帮助他们吃得更健康以及 SFE 如何使他们受益。使用主题数据分析方法对数据进行了分析。FGD 产生了 14 个主题和子主题。新出现的信息表明，尽管存在指导方针，但对销售不健康食品的控制不足。不健康食品的营销进一步加剧了这种情况，这使得学习者无法选择更健康的选择。此外，他们还表示，推广学校食品计划（SFP）和通过全面营养教育改变对健康饮食的态度是增强 SFE 的有用方法。这项研究的结果强调了学习者洞察力在制定有效策略以改善 SFE 方面的关键作用。
