The meaning of food and the The meaning of food and the contexts in which food is used: contexts in which food is used: Experiences from a population Experiences from a population residing in a black township in residing in a black township in South Africa.South Africa.

RESEARCHERSRESEARCHERS

Thandi Puoane, Princess Thandi Puoane, Princess Mantwa, Krisela Steyn, Debra Mantwa, Krisela Steyn, Debra Jackson, Jackson,

MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDYMOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY

In South Africa a complex picture In South Africa a complex picture relating to nutritional status of the relating to nutritional status of the population existpopulation exist

Under nutrition in children and Under nutrition in children and obesity in adults obesity in adults

Obesity is increasingly becoming a Obesity is increasingly becoming a serious public health problem serious public health problem among black women in South among black women in South Africa. Africa.

MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDYMOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY

In 1998 35.7% of African urban women In 1998 35.7% of African urban women were overweight (BMI 25-29.9) and were overweight (BMI 25-29.9) and obese (BMI obese (BMI >> 30) respectively 30) respectively

With urbanisation, With urbanisation, diet change to high diet change to high fat and low carbohydrate fat and low carbohydrate

Food plays an important role in the Food plays an important role in the culture of the black African populationculture of the black African population

MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDYMOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY

Studies show that the more urbanised Studies show that the more urbanised the black communities the higher the the black communities the higher the rate of obesity and the less prudent rate of obesity and the less prudent their diets become.their diets become.

Lacking in the literature is the Lacking in the literature is the information on socio-cultural factors information on socio-cultural factors which influence eating behaviours of which influence eating behaviours of the black African populationthe black African population

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

To explore perceptions of black To explore perceptions of black Africans residing in a black township Africans residing in a black township of Cape Town about the meaning of of Cape Town about the meaning of food, since understanding of the food, since understanding of the context in which food is used will be context in which food is used will be the basis for planning culturally the basis for planning culturally sensitive intervention for modifying sensitive intervention for modifying eating behaviours.  eating behaviours.  

METHODSMETHODS

Qualitative, exploratory Qualitative, exploratory research designresearch design

METHODSMETHODS

Participants were part of the Participants were part of the SACLA study, a cross-sectional SACLA study, a cross-sectional study designed to collect study designed to collect information on the prevalence and information on the prevalence and the risk factors for cardiovascularthe risk factors for cardiovascular

diseases in a black township, diseases in a black township, South AfricaSouth Africa

METHODSMETHODS

Purposive sampling to select 32 Purposive sampling to select 32 men and womenmen and women

6 participants for in-depth 6 participants for in-depth interviewsinterviews

26 for focus group discussions26 for focus group discussions

METHODSMETHODS

Subjects were selected based on Subjects were selected based on their responses to the question “I their responses to the question “I eat whenever food is available”eat whenever food is available”

9 men, 12 women who responded 9 men, 12 women who responded positively, 11 women who positively, 11 women who responded negativelyresponded negatively

DATA COLLECTIONDATA COLLECTION

In-depth interviewsIn-depth interviews with each of with each of the six participants the six participants

Focus group discussionsFocus group discussions of 8-10 of 8-10 men and women grouped by sexmen and women grouped by sex

““what does food mean to you, and what does food mean to you, and for what purposes is food used in for what purposes is food used in your family and in your your family and in your community? community?

DATA ANALYSESDATA ANALYSES

Data was content analysed by 2 Data was content analysed by 2 researchersresearchers

Themes that emerge were Themes that emerge were summarised and illustrated with summarised and illustrated with direct quotes from the focus direct quotes from the focus groups.groups.

  THE MEANING OF FOOD IN THE MEANING OF FOOD IN

RELATION TO HEALTHRELATION TO HEALTH

““Food is important because it keeps us Food is important because it keeps us alive. There are food with energy and alive. There are food with energy and vitamins and body building food. Don’t vitamins and body building food. Don’t eat only starch, you must combine it eat only starch, you must combine it with meat and vegetables”with meat and vegetables”

“ “ If you do not eat body building foods If you do not eat body building foods you become sick with diseases like you become sick with diseases like tuberculosis and malnutrition”tuberculosis and malnutrition”

THE RELATIONSHIP OF FOOD TO THE RELATIONSHIP OF FOOD TO THE BODYTHE BODY

“ “ A person who eats well looks A person who eats well looks fresh (plump) and happy”fresh (plump) and happy”

“ “ A person who does not eat A person who does not eat well becomes thin and looks well becomes thin and looks unhappy”unhappy”

THE SOCIAL MEANING OF FOODTHE SOCIAL MEANING OF FOOD  

Food is used in cultural events. Food is used in cultural events. Traditionally, food consumption in Traditionally, food consumption in these ceremonies differsthese ceremonies differs

““When there are bad news, we When there are bad news, we drink black tea, meat is not drink black tea, meat is not consumed during this time, it is consumed during this time, it is usually cooked on the day of usually cooked on the day of burialburial”. ”.

VALUES ATTACHED TO FOODVALUES ATTACHED TO FOOD

Food shows love, acceptance and Food shows love, acceptance and humanity (ubuntu).humanity (ubuntu).

““If you visit a person’s house and not given food, If you visit a person’s house and not given food, you feel you are not welcomed” you feel you are not welcomed”

Eating large portions of food send a Eating large portions of food send a message that one can afford to maintain message that one can afford to maintain herself herself

VALUES ATTACHED TO FOODVALUES ATTACHED TO FOOD

If food is available people should eat as If food is available people should eat as much as they can. Food is not measured.much as they can. Food is not measured.

People should share food with other peoplePeople should share food with other people

““Meat consumption on a daily basis is Meat consumption on a daily basis is

associated with a high socioeconomic associated with a high socioeconomic statusstatus

HOW VALUES ABOUT FOOD HOW VALUES ABOUT FOOD HAVE CHANGED HAVE CHANGED

The food has lost its value due to The food has lost its value due to adoption of western cultureadoption of western culture

““In the real sense food is becoming less In the real sense food is becoming less important nowadays, look at this important nowadays, look at this example when the wife says, if we are example when the wife says, if we are not getting that hi-fi set ,I would rather not getting that hi-fi set ,I would rather starve because the stomach has no starve because the stomach has no thank you, do you hear that”. thank you, do you hear that”.

  

HOW VALUES ABOUT FOOD HOW VALUES ABOUT FOOD HAVE CHANGEDHAVE CHANGED

Consumption of foods such as samp Consumption of foods such as samp (corn), beans, greens, and root plants (corn), beans, greens, and root plants is associated with poverty. is associated with poverty.

Once people move to the city, their Once people move to the city, their expenses increase, leaving them with expenses increase, leaving them with little money for food. They resort to little money for food. They resort to cheap unhealthy foods, such as tripe, cheap unhealthy foods, such as tripe, chicken skins, and pig’s feet.chicken skins, and pig’s feet.

CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that for effective This study shows that for effective behaviour modification psychological, behaviour modification psychological, and socio-cultural factors should also and socio-cultural factors should also be taken into consideration. be taken into consideration.

This study provides us with useful This study provides us with useful information, which can be used to information, which can be used to develop messages to influence develop messages to influence behavior modification. behavior modification.

RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

People should be taught that they do People should be taught that they do not need to prove to other people that not need to prove to other people that they can afford by using food because they can afford by using food because this lead to obesity-and CVDthis lead to obesity-and CVD

Media should be encouraged to used Media should be encouraged to used recipes which includes locally available recipes which includes locally available foodsfoods

Budgeting skills should be taught in all Budgeting skills should be taught in all schools to childrenschools to children