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Both children and adults of South Africa have been plagued with severe health problems
including, HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis, and heart disease. While none of these can be completely
cured with nutrition, an education about healthy lifestyles can greatly prevent or slow the
progression of a disease. In South Africa, nutrition education and intervention have very slowly
started to be acknowledged as a vital part of illness prevention. However, it will take many more
concrete efforts to evaluate the country’s levels of health and work to implement programs that
The lack of nutrition education in South Africa has given rise to inaccurate information
about what foods to consume as well as created a malnutrition issue across the country. Around a
third of preventable deaths around the world can be attributed to malnutrition.1 Malnutrition
stems from a lack of resources, poverty, illness, stress, and finally, lack of education.(2) Nutrition
education has been so poorly prioritized in the world that about 200 million children under five
years old are unable to fully develop due to lack of nutritional care.(1) The Integrated Nutrition
Programme (INP) of the Western Cape province describes the malnutrition problem as a “silent
epidemic,” as about 30% of South African children fail to fully develop due to poor nutrition.(2)
Those that poorly develop are greatly underserved in the nation and unable to live a fully
productive life. Ignorance regarding nutrition can also contribute to poor health which can
weaken the immune system. Diseases prevalent in South Africa, such as HIV/AIDS and
tuberculosis, greatly increase in severity without proper nutritive care.(3) It has been estimated
that about 30% of deaths in children can be attributed to lack of nutrition and a consequential
In response to the great increase in malnutrition, the South African government has made
some concrete efforts to aid the population. In 2003, vitamins and minerals began being added to
provide iodine to individuals.(4) In response to poor folic acid intake of mothers and newborns,
folic acid began to be fortified in various foods, greatly decreasing the number of birth defects.(4)
Fortifying foods has made a huge impact on the health of South Africans. However, a large part
of the widespread malnutrition issue still has to do with education and daily health practices. For
various reasons, almost 75% of South African mothers provide their newborns with formula or a
mixed diet, rather than solely breast milk.(4) Without the nutrients found solely in breast milk,
babies are susceptible to a high risk of illness, growth defects, and malnutrition.(4) Nutritive
education, particularly for mothers, would greatly assist the quality of health of both mothers and
their newborns.
Another large issue leading to malnutrition in South Africa is food security. The high
poverty and lack of resources in the country often lead families to spend their incomes on the
cheapest, and often more unhealthy foods available to them.(5) In a 2017 article by the South
Africa Times, it was found that “most poor families are spending up to 40% of their incomes on
food, and most of the energy they are getting was from cheap foods that are high in
carbohydrates.” (5) While a large part of choices that lead to poor diet can be made based on
availability and cost, education can greatly increase a person’s ability to make alternative and
malnutrition once the severe debilitating effects have taken their toll. However, through an
increase in proper nutrition education widespread throughout the country, malnutrition can be
Throughout South Africa, there are some nutritional guidance references currently
available to the public. However, the large number of malnourished individuals in the country
indicates that these guidelines are not fully utilized or understood. Only through proper nutrition
education can the vital information of these references be fully understood. One example of
these reference manuals includes the Food Based Dietary Guidelines, created in 2003 by the
Nutrition Society of South Africa, Department of Health, Medical Research Council, and other
organizations.(6) The target population of these guidelines are individuals 5 years of age and
older.(6) The guideline is helpful in that it identifies the various food groups that should be eaten
in a balanced manner. These include starches, fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, protein
foods, dairy, fat and oil, and water.(6) A flaw of the guideline though in comparison to the US
Dietary Guidelines is that it does not identify which foods to limit. Such foods include those high
in saturated and trans fats, salt, and/or sugar.(6) Without such knowledge, individuals using these
guidelines as a reference for their own daily habits can easily contribute to their own weight gain,
It has been proven through various research studies that implementation of nutrition
education programs works and can greatly increase quality of life for the affected individuals.
Between 1992 and 1995, the Nutrition Education Intervention Programme (NEIP) was
established that worked with lower income communities across South Africa.(7) For two years,
the program gave “a nutrition education and food aid programme…to one urban and three rural
areas.” (7) One of the rural areas acted as a control group, meaning it was not given any nutrition
practices before implementing the program.(7) The results of the intervention showed great
success. Those who received the nutrition education program in rural areas increased their
knowledge of healthy eating by 42.2-52.6%.(7) People of these households began including more
varied food groups in their meals and maintaining a healthy balance of foods. There was a
significant increase in the daily consumption of milk as well.(7) The overall results of the study
evidenced that nutrition education programs can alter dietary choices and habits on a daily basis
program was found to greatly increase the nutritional knowledge of students and begin to make
changes to decrease malnourishment of the country.(8) The Department recognized that poor
children in the country. Poor nutrition knowledge could stem from either a lack of education or
incorrect societal beliefs about certain foods or habits. In response, the DBE tactfully initiated
the implementation of the Nutrition Education Program (NEP) in 45 selected schools.(8) Doing
well as gain reassurance from their peers in their habits. Additionally, learning this vital
information at a young age encourages a healthier population growing up. Before implementation
of the program, the educators were assessed with a questionnaire to evaluate their prior nutrition
knowledge. One of the most important findings of this study was that many educators were
to students.
Across the country of South Africa, malnutrition continues to be one of the highest risks
of illness and disability. Without proper nutritive care and education, mothers cannot properly
birth or raise healthy children. The children then develop incorrect knowledge about how to live
a balanced lifestyle, and the cycle continues. Although the country provides some guidelines and
material on how to maintain a healthy diet, very little information emphasizes why nutrition is so
important. It has been proven that providing such education influences both children and adults,
and results in changed daily habits. In order to combat illness, poverty, and low amount of
resources, as well as create a healthier South African population, nutrition education must gain
status as a priority in schools and government. Without desire and concrete action to achieve a
healthy population, the quality of life for all South Africans will continue to remain the same, or
worse, decline.