Abstract

Extensive evidence indicates that fruit and vegetable (F+V) consumption leads to reduced chances of diet related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, the F+V consumption levels remain low. This paper investigates the extent to which access to information technologies improves F+V consumption in South Africa. A nationally representative sample of 20,908 households was analysed using the Poisson and logit regression models. The study results indicated that most households do not consume sufficient F+V per day. Only 26% of the household heads consumed F+V at least five times a day. Access to mobile phones, radio, television, and internet was associated with increasing frequency of F+V consumption, and higher chances that a household would consume the minimum recommended levels. The association between the communication technologies and F+V consumption varied. Television access had the highest association with both foods, while internet was only significantly associated with vegetable consumption. Several demographic and socio-economic factors played a key role in shaping F+V consumption patterns. The results show that there is scope to disseminate nutrition awareness and education programs, through mobile phones, internet, radio and television in South Africa. The interventions to promote F+V consumption should be tailored according to the different socio-economic profiles of the population.

Highlights

  • Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of deaths globally and in South Africa [1,2].According to [1], NCDs accounted for 71% of the 57 million deaths in 2016, of which 15 million of these were premature

  • The results show that mostly middle-aged men, the majority (81%) of which belonged to the African race, headed the South African households

  • The consumption of fruit and vegetable (F+V) remains low in South Africa, as in many countries

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of deaths globally and in South Africa [1,2].According to [1], NCDs accounted for 71% of the 57 million deaths in 2016, of which 15 million of these were premature. The greatest burden of these NCDs is borne by low- and middle-income countries, where 78% of all NCD deaths and 85% of premature deaths occurred in 2016 [1]. This trend is expected to continue, with 80% of NCD related deaths in 2030 expected to be in these poor countries [3]. Unhealthy diets, which involve a low intake of fruits and vegetables, on one hand, and an excess intake of fat, sugar, and salt on the other, are a major cause of diet related NCDs in many countries, including in South Africa [2,4,5,6,7,8,9]. According to [7], the risk posed by unhealthy diets to morbidity and mortality exceeds that of the combined effect of unsafe sex, and alcohol, drug, and tobacco use

Methods
Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call