A Quest for Dietary Guidance in Ethiopia. From Qualitative Research to a Guidelines Proposal

Master's Thesis from the year 2017 in the subject Biology - Diseases, Health, Nutrition, grade: 3.95, Bahir Dar University (Bahirdar Institute of Technology), course: Applied Human Nutrition, language: English, abstract: Properly designed and evidence-based dietary guidelines make it easier for people to adopt healthy eating and lifestyle patterns that would promote their overall health and decrease their risk of acquiring diet-related chronic diseases (DRCDs). However, Ethiopia currently lacks this important public health tool. This study seeks to propose key diet and physical activity recommendations through soliciting experts' perspectives and critical review of relevant documents. A qualitative study was conducted in Addis Ababa city among key informants. Experts from eight organizations and institutions having interest in nutrition and health issues were purposively selected. Using a topic guide, data were generated through face-to-face in depth interviews with 10 experts. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematic analysis was performed. To complement with the interview of key informants, reviews of selected global as well as national documents were carried out, and the data generated thereof were summarized. Diet and health are closely related and nutrient deficiencies, diet-related chronic diseases as well as their risk factors are rampant, while food security remains a concern. Diet and nutrition literacy is said to be low, in Ethiopia. World-wide, about one-third of countries (five in Africa) have dietary guidelines, whose core messages are reasonably similar. Cognizant of the prevailing situation, some national strategic documents and interviewed experts are in favor of placement of dietary guidelines. The dietary habits and lifestyles of the populace are sub-optimal and they need to be improved timely through multi-sectorial efforts that include nutrition information and education, based on appropriate dietary guidelines.

Author: Asfaw Ayalew
Publisher: Grin Verlag
Published: 02/27/2019
Pages: 148
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.44lbs
Size: 8.27h x 5.83w x 0.34d
ISBN: 9783668856738

About the Author
Asfaw Ayalew Desta; MD, MSc, is an experienced medical doctor who has served in different capacities, ranging from general medical practitioner to mid-level public health manager, for over a quarter of a century. His long held passion for nutrition science led him to acquisition of an MSc degree in applied human nutrition from Bahirdar University, Ethiopia. Having realized the health promotive and disease preventive role of healthy lifestyles, he has continued to advance the agenda further. More specifically, he actively promotes healthy eating by different means. In a recent development, he dedicated a facebook page (www.facebook.com/asfawadesta/ ), for the sole purpose of providing evidence-based nutrition information to the Ethiopian public.


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