Di Prima S, Nguyen Dinh D, Reurings DD, Wright EP, Essink D, Broerse JEW. Home-Grown School Feeding: Implementation Lessons From a Pilot in a Poor Ethnic Minority Community in Vietnam.
Food Nutr Bull 2022;
43:271-302. [PMID:
35470722 PMCID:
PMC9403386 DOI:
10.1177/03795721221088962]
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Abstract
Background:
Undernutrition threatens the health and future of preschool children in
disadvantaged remote communities. Home-grown school feeding (HGSF) in
nursery schools could positively impact children’s nutrition while creating
multiple benefits for the whole community. However, evidence is lacking on
implementation of HGSF within multi-sectoral programs in remote areas.
Objective:
This study assessed an HGSF pilot intervention, part of a nutrition-sensitive
agriculture (NSA) program, in a mountain ethnic minority community in
Vietnam. It aimed to identify the changes brought about by the intervention,
in particular diversity of children’s food, food sources, barriers and
facilitators to change, and future challenges and strategies.
Methods:
Mixed-methods assessment covered school meal diversity, cost, and food
sources but the key focus was on observed changes resulting from the HGSF
intervention and perceived barriers and facilitators to its implementation.
Data were collected mainly through semi-structured interviews (n = 30) and
seven focus group discussions (n = 76).
Results:
School meals contributed to increasing diversity of food consumed by
children. Above 30% of foods used were home-grown. Respondents reported
increased school attendance; children’s food preferences and hygiene
practices improved as did parents’ caring and feeding practices. Local food
systems became less cash-crop-oriented and more self-reliant, contributing
to household food security and income generation. Social capital increased.
Positive changes were attributed to HGSF and synergy among NSA program
components. Poverty and limited resilience to external shocks threatened
sustainability.
Conclusions:
Implementing HGSF within an NSA program in a mountainous ethnic minority area
with a high prevalence of undernutrition benefitted children and their
communities.
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