Access to Information Technologies and Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables in South Africa: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data.

Sikhulumile Sinyolo,Mudzunga Neluheni,Conrad Murendo,Catherine Ndinda,Sithembile A Sinyolo

doi:10.3390/ijerph17134880

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

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

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