Erfahre in dem Video mehr über die Datenerhebung meiner Masterarbeit. Der Videodreh fand hauptsächlich in den beiden Communities Behenjy & Ankazomiriotra statt. Mirindra & Sitraka standen mir als Übersetzer & Forschungspartner tatkräftig zur Seite. 

Jacqueline, MSc in Life Sciences – Food, Nutrition and Health

deutscher Untertitel verfügbar

Fotos auf eingeblendeten Poster-Collagen (3:18-3:25) von canva.com, FAO Photo Library, madagaskarhaus.ch, Ribeli J.

Mit Hilfe des AiNA soa Teams durfte ich im Rahmen meines Masterstudiums an der Berner Fachhochschule, Hochschule für Agrar- Forst- und Lebensmittelwissenschaften (HAFL) eine Forschungsarbeit verfassen, welche der folgenden Hauptfragestellung nach ging: Welchen Einfluss haben kulturelle Praktiken auf die Ernährungsdiversität von Kindern im Alter zwischen 6-59 Monaten in der Vakinankaratra Region im Hochland von Madagaskar?

Das AiNA soa Team half mir bei folgenden Punkten:

  • Knüpfen von wertvollen Kontakten & Partnerschaften
  • Kontakt zum Forschungsministerium für die offizielle Forschungsgenehmigung
  • Besuch der Gemeinden vor meiner Ankunft
  • Abklärungen bzgl. Schlaf- und Transportmöglichkeiten
  • Übersetzungs- und Transkriptionsarbeiten
  • Forschungspartner

Herzlichen Dank für die gelungene Zusammenarbeit! Die Forschungsarbeit wurde im März 2022 im Journal „BMC Nutrition“ publiziert.

Abstract

Background: More than 1.7 million children in Madagascar are stunted, with low dietary diversity being a determinant. Although diverse crops are produced in the Vakinankaratra region, it registers the highest stunting prevalence rate nationally. While children’s diets may be influenced by region-specific cultural factors, little is known about this link so far. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of cultural habits on dietary diversity in children between 6 to 59 months in the Vakinankaratra region.

Methods: A mixed method design with a qualitative lead approach was used, including three transect walks, six focus group discussions and 51 semi-structured interviews with caregivers. The interviews contained a quantitative part to assess the four feeding indicators: ‘minimum meal frequency’, ‘minimum dietary diversity’, ‘minimum acceptable diet’ and the consumption of iron-rich foods. Participants were selected by convenience sampling. Data was collected in November 2019 in three communities displaying maximal possible variation.

Results: Subsistence farming with diverse crops and livestock was found to be a common practice. Minimum meal frequency was achieved by 78% of the sixty included children. In total, 45% attained minimum dietary diversity and 40% consumed a minimum acceptable diet. Across the three communities, the range of children attaining a minimum acceptable diet was 25–60%. Older, no longer breastfed children were prone to not achieving a minimum acceptable diet. Although caregivers had a basic idea of important foods for child development, these were often not available to or affordable for them. An effect of cultural events on diet, especially diversity, was found. Whilst for annual events this effect was short-term, the region-specific ceremony of reburying the dead (Famadihana) was found to have a long-term influence on the diet of certain families.

Conclusions: The dietary diversity of children under five in the Vakinankaratra region is influenced by cultural factors like agricultural practices, caregivers’ knowledge of child nutrition, food taboos and a region-specific cultural event. Cultural determinants, especially important traditions that result in significant expenditures, may thus influence the quality of children’s diet and should therefore be considered in future nutrition programmes and research on child malnutrition and stunting.

Keywords: Child nutrition, Malnutrition, Dietary diversity, Stunting, Cultural habits, Madagascar