National Nutrition Communication Campaign in Indonesia: a cross-sectional study of factors associated with exposure

Background Reducing childhood stunting continues to be a priority in Indonesia. In 2015, the National Nutrition Communication Campaign (NNCC) implemented mass media and interpersonal communication (IPC) interventions to disseminate stunting-related information. Whereas other studies of the NNCC’s impact on attitudes and behaviors are currently underway, the purpose of this study was to better understand the factors associated with exposure to the media and IPC components of the NNCC. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted following the NNCC media and IPC campaigns in rural Indonesia. The final study sample included 1734 mothers. Survey data was collected from each participant by trained interviewers using an electronic tablet. Responses relating to demographic and socioeconomic factors, use of social media and WhatsApp, and electronic device ownership were analyzed. Logistic regression analyses, using SAS version 9.4, were conducted to evaluate the relationship between technology-related items and exposure to both the media and the IPC interventions. Results Owning an internet device (OR = 1.643, CI = 1.237–2.183, p < 0.001), accessing social media (OR = 1.81, CI = 1.32–2.49, p < 0.001), using a device to access health information (OR = 2.068, CI = 1.469–2.911, p < 0.0001), and accessing WhatsApp (OR = 1.663, CI = 1.175–2.355, p < 0.05) were positively related to exposure to NNCC messages meant to change behavior to decrease stunting. In separate analyses, owning an internet device (OR = 0.609, CI = 0.459–0.81, p < 0.001) accessing social media (OR = 0.626, CI = 0.459–0.854, p < 0.05), using a device to access health information (OR = 0.528, CI = 0.377–0.740, p < 0.001), and accessing WhatsApp (OR = 0.688, CI = 0.489–0.968, p < 0.05) were negatively related to IPC exposure. Mothers with access to internet-accessible devices were more likely to be exposed to the media campaign component to decrease stunting while mothers without access to internet-accessible devices were more likely to be exposed through IPC. Conclusions Mothers who owned devices that could access the internet were more likely to have been exposed to the media campaign component to decrease stunting by behavior change but were less likely to participate in IPC activities. The opposite was true for mothers who did not have access to internet-accessible devices. These findings may be used to inform future community health efforts in rural Indonesia and similar regions that may be considering the use of both mass media and interpersonal interventions to influence health behaviors in order to decrease stunting.

Nutrition integrated agricultural extension—a case study in Western Kenya

Summary Integrating nutrition communication in agricultural intervention programs aimed at increased food availability and accessibility in resource-poor areas is crucial. To enhance the sustainability and scalability of nutrition communication, the present study piloted the approach of ‘nutrition integrated agricultural extension’ and tested nutrition-related outcomes with two types of nutrition messages (specific vs. sensitive) and two delivery channels (public sector vs. private sector). The study intervention comprised (i) vegetable seed kit distribution, (ii) ongoing agricultural extension activities by public or private sectors and (iii) nutrition communication with two different messages. The intervention was tested with three treatment arms and reached 454 farmers (&gt;65% female) in rural Kakamega County, Western Kenya. Pre-/post-surveys measured outcome variables focused on farmers’ nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and practices in vegetable production and consumption, and household dietary diversity score. Results showed that all treatments increased nutrition knowledge (p &lt; 0.05). Nutrition-specific communication was more effective than nutrition-sensitive communication. Nutrition communication through either the public or the private agricultural sector was both effective. Before the study intervention, many participants believed that vegetable consumption was beneficial and wanted to increase intake. After the intervention, the number of participants who felt eating more vegetables was challenging decreased slightly. Nutrition communication was found to be especially important in conveying recommended food amounts and promoting increased vegetable consumption. Seasonality affected on-farm crop diversity and vegetable consumption results in this study.

Nutrition communication about low FODMAP diet in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in Thai healthcare practitioners

Nowadays, communication is influential regarding the various communication channels that make the information spreading effectively to the audiences. Additionally, the senders are also another factor creating credibility to the receivers, particularly to the healthcare-related issue which is necessary to be guaranteed by the medical specialists. The Low FODMAP is a therapeutic diet which is recommended for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) patients. However, this diet has not been practiced widespread among Thai healthcare practitioners. As a matter of fact, these practitioners are familiar with a great number of diseases and closely well-educated with healthcare issues, they would significantly hold credibility affecting the medical usage to the society. Consequently, this article aims to educate all the staff in the healthcare and medical industry to gain sufficient knowledge of low FODMAP and be able to apply for further development.Keywords: nutrition communication, Low FODMAP, IBS, SIBO

#Healthy: smart digital food safety and nutrition communication strategies—a critical commentary

This paper explores how food safety and nutrition organisations can harness the power of search engines, games, apps, social media, and digital analytics tools to craft broad-reaching and engaging digital communications. We start with search engines, showing how organisations can identify popular food safety and nutrition queries, facilitating the creation of timely and in-demand content. To ensure this content is discoverable by search engines, we cover several non-technical aspects of search engine optimisation (SEO). We next explore the potential of games, apps, social media, and going viral for reaching and engaging the public, and how digital data-based tools can be used to optimise communications. Throughout, we draw on examples not only from Europe and North America, but also China. While we are enthusiastic about the benefits of digital communications, we recognise that they are not without their drawbacks and challenges. To help organisations evaluate whether a given digital approach is appropriate for their objectives, we end each section with a discussion of limitations. We conclude with a discussion of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the practical, philosophical, and policy challenges associated with communicating food safety and nutrition information digitally.

Plant-Based Diets-Environmental Benefits but Better Awareness Needed to Prevent Future Micronutrient Shortcomings

Plant-based diets are accelerating in their popularity and yet their nutritional viability remains a matter of interest. In the present review, data has been extrapolated from available studies assessing micronutrient profiles amongst those following plant-based diets. A total of five systematic review and meta-analysis papers collating evidence from 95 separate studies and six observational studies collating evidence from 16,262 participants were evaluated. Systematic and meta-analytical evidence showed that vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron and zinc shortfalls were most common. Observational evidence showed that vitamin B12, vitamin D, selenium and iodine deficits were most widespread. Low intakes of zinc, niacin, riboflavin and potassium were also reported. These findings suggest that stronger nutrition communication strategies are needed to improve the micronutrient profile of these diets. Supplementation strategies together with food fortification where appropriate could also help to bridge dietary gaps. Bearing this in mind, current supplementation guidance should also be updated to reflect contemporary dietary shifts. Ongoing research is also required to better understand the nutritional ramifications of these diets both across the lifecycle and in relation to a broader spectrum of health outcomes.

Health vs. hedonism: public communication of nutrition science

Do differences in narrative approach; hedonic language vs. scientific language, influence public perception and opinion of Nutrition and food consumption? Our study investigated this question using qualitative research via Focus Group (FG). The stimulus films and subsequent meals exemplified hedonic language and biomedical language respectively. The FG was chosen to elucidate alternative narrative tools for further research and public health communication. Five sessions were held over 4 weeks with 8–10 non-repeating participants at each session. Film clips were viewed in a dining room environment and food served in buffet style after viewing. 47 people participated in the focus groups (15 males, and 32 females [ages 18–78]). Recruitment was by social media, local news outlets, word of mouth, and printed material and followed up via email. Study eligibility included self-identifying as primary food provider/cook, being over eighteen years old, and providing informed consent. Qualitative content analysis and grounded theory was used for coding and analysis. Interpretive reading of the transcript identified manifest and latent content before a coding frame was arrived at based on the frequency of relevant categories. Cross-coding was undertaken and patterns identified according to our primary research question. Communication disparities suggested by previous research were confirmed in our findings with participants emphasizing that the personal impact of hedonic and psychosocial narrative on their personal food experience held greater weight than the ‘health’ narrative alone. We conclude that scientific nutrition communication paradigms are less effective than emotional narrative that engages passion, memory and deep feeling. The findings support a move towards nutrition communication strategies that incorporate wider human emotional experience through gastronomic narratives.