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Table 3 Stakeholders’ Perceptions on the Nutrition and Dietetics Related Challenges Faced by Communities

From: Stakeholders’ perceptions of the nutrition and dietetics needs and the requisite professional competencies in Uganda: a cross-sectional mixed methods study

Graduates Perceptions (N = 114)

Academic Staff and Work/internship Supervisors Perceptions

Nutrition and dietetics related challenges

Respondents n(%)*

Illustrative quotes

Malnutrition in its different forms

69(60.5)

“There is a high prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition in addition to other diseases …”

“Some clients present with obesity, diabetes, asthma, cancer, and constipation. We see people of three categories; those that come for prevention, those who seek curative services, and those seeking treatment for infectious conditions”.

“Disability due to micronutrient deficiencies, severe underweight, high stunting, wasting, anaemia, …”

Poor nutrition knowledge

49(43.0)

“Some community members lack knowledge on which foods to eat, how to prepare food, and on the frequency of feeding …”

“Lack of extensive knowledge on cause-effect relation of disease and malnutrition …”

Food insecurity

43(37.7)

“90% of all the problems are because of food [insecurity] …”

“Limitations in food access and availability …”

“… household food insecurity …”

Non-communicable/chronic diseases

29(25.4)

“Non-communicable disease rates …”

Undesirable cultural and religious beliefs and practices

17(14.9)

“Cultural beliefs and food taboos …”

Low dietary diversity

12(10.5)

“Very few families can afford to eat the recommended minimum dietary diversity …”

“Most people only have two meals a day and children are fed the same number of times as adults …”

Misleading information on nutrition

11(9.6)

“Limited access to information on nutrition & dietetics …”

Inadequate maternal, infant, young child, and adolescent nutrition feeding practices

9(7.9)

“… most children are weaned early and left under the care of their grandparents …”

“… poor maternal and child health care …”

Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene practices

8(7.0)

“Poor hygiene and sanitation …”

Insecurity and economic related challenges

7(6.1)

“… sociocultural economic challenges …”

“… border insecurity and cattle rustling by the Turkana …”

Limited access to and utilization of land for production

6(5.3)

 

Climatic changes

5(4.4)

“… drought [and] occasional floods …”

Poor post-harvest handling and food quality control practices

2(1.8)

 
  1. *Multiple response analysis with percentage computed based on number of respondents rather than the total number of responses; HN/HND Human Nutrition/Human Nutrition and Dietetics