Parents’ perceptions of the content of pre-school lunch boxes following a nutritional programme in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Midigo, Odwour Erich
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Children -- Nutrition
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46429 , vital:39587
- Description: Rationale: Lunchboxes that parents prepare for preschool children have been noted to fall short of the recommended paediatrics dietary standards. No research has been done in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) to describe the perceptions of parents preparing the lunch boxes, particularly in underprivileged communities, and if nutrition education strategies can improve these practices. This study answered the following research question: How can nutrition education programmes play a role in parents’ perceptions about the content of the lunchboxes of children attending early childhood development centres (ECD) in underprivileged communities of NMB metropole? Aim: The research aimed at describing and exploring parents’ perceptions of the content of pre-school children’s lunch boxes following a nutrition programme.Methods: This descriptive, explorative study adopted a qualitative approach. Twenty-five participants were selected conveniently while five pre-schools were purposively sampled. Following the nutrition programme, data was collected through five Focus Group (FG) discussions and five interviews and was thematically analysed. The ethical principles that guided the study included justice, beneficence and autonomy. Results and Discussion: Five major themes and seventeen sub-themes emerged (1) Participants described the typical foodstuff in children’s lunch boxes which included both high quality and lower-quality foods and fluids; (2) Participants provided views (such as food preferences) on lunch box choices; (3) Principals appraised lunch box rules and the significance of revised rules to improve the lunch boxes;(4) Challenges such as poverty limited healthy food choices; (5) Participants commented on initiatives noted following the nutrition training; for instance, some schools commenced the cultivation of vegetable gardens. Conclusion and Recommendations: The study highlights that specific parent programmes helped to improve healthy lunch box choices in the study population. There is a need for parent programmes tailored to fathers. Dieticians and nutritionists in NMB can train practitioners as change agents in their respective schools.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Public open spaces in Motherwell NU1-9: accessibility and community perceptions
- Authors: Nkonki, Busisiwe
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Open spaces -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Urban geography Human geography Land use, Urban Cities and towns
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33397 , vital:32758
- Description: Public Open Spaces (POS) with social, environmental and economic benefits are associated with the enhancement of human settlement sustainability. POS give communities their individual character and identity and should be easily accessible spaces for the practice of democracy, free expression and strengthening of community ties. This study assumes that the use of a desktop study, tools such as GIS, an anonymous questionnaire and a POS assessment visit can assist in gaining a thorough understanding of the status quo in relation to the quantities, quality and accessibility of POS with social, environmental and economic benefits in Motherwell NU 1-9 as well as the perceptions of various user groups within the community. A highly inequitable distribution of POS in Motherwell NU1-9 is evident from the geospatial findings of the study. There are also varying levels of accessibility to the various POS per Neighbourhood Unit. From the assessment visit and photographic evidence, it is also clear that the various POS in Motherwell NU1-9 fail to meet the standards of quality POS as they are generally in a poor condition. The community perceptions vary according to different groupings of people within the study area. Most of the residents in Motherwell NU1-9 place value on POS with social, environmental and economic benefits and consider them a need. However, it is most unfortunate that the majority of the POS in the area do not respond to the unique needs of the residents. Finally, recommendations are made to transform the current situation of POS in Motherwell NU1-9 and assist in the provision of quality POS that are strategically located, equitably distributed and easily accessible POS that are able to accommodate all residents around the township as well as those who may be visitors.
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- Date Issued: 2019