Collaborative Projects with UWC’s Department of Dietetics and Nutrition SOPH collaborates with the UWC Department of Dietetics and Nutrition and the DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security on a range projects led by Prof Rina Swart. They have been grouped as follows • Food and nutrition security • Food consumption patterns • The food environment, focusing on obesity prevention strategies Those participating in the research are drawn from a range of organisations, and are listed here. The SOPH also provides administrative support for these projects.
FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY Student food security UWC Dietetics & Nutrition: Rina Swart, Ernie Kunneke UWC Social Work: Rinie Schenck UWC students: Nolukholo Mabharwana, Morongoa Tlhako In our 2017 exploration of food and nutrition security among UWC students, food insecurity was reported by 28% of respondents, with 22% regularly going to bed hungry and 11% reporting severe food insecurity (regularly going without food for more than 24 hours). Two students continue to explore this topic under the supervision of Rina Swart. A review was done of all programmes on campus that support students who are food insecure – from individual departmental initiatives during examination periods to the programme that provides food parcels to students in need run by the institution. Another on-line survey of food insecurity of students at the four public universities in the Western Cape will be conducted in 2021. Young adults not employed and not in education and training (NEET) UWC Dietetics & Nutrition: Rina Swart, Ernie Kunneke UWC Social Work: Rinie Schenck UWC, Institute for Social Development: students North West University In 2018 a study was begun to explore the food and nutrition security of young adults (aged 18-25 years) who were not employed and were not engaged in education and training (NEETs) and who lived in Langa or Fisantekraal (Western Cape province) or Ikageng (North West province).
A standardised survey instrument and anthropometric measurements were used with 300 participants in Langa and Ijkaneneg – while in Fisantekraal, the dietary intake, anthropometric status and food acquisition patterns of young adults 18-24 years was taken. In all three sites the qualitative component, intended to explore the young adults’ perceptions of food environments in more depth, were prevented by COVID-19 restrictions. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with North West University, and includes support for postgraduate students from the Institute for Social Development at UWC.
FOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERNS Maternal health and nutritional status of mothers UWC Dietetics & Nutrition: Rina Swart UWC SOPH: Nazeeia Sayed (post-doctoral fellow) Stellenbosch University: Ronelle Burger Wits: Abigail Harper This project has supported a post-doctoral fellow to complete descriptive and inferential analyses regarding the maternal health and nutritional status of mothers, using the General Household Surveys, the Income and Expenditure Surveys, the National Income Dynamic Survey and the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SAN HANES); and, in particular, the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey data. During the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, data collected through momconnect were analysed to explore associations between breastfeeding and hunger as well as mental health and hunger during the hard lockdown period in 2020. The project is funded through the DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security.
Dr Nazeeia Sayed Dr Nazeeia Sayed is a registered dietician – and post-doctoral fellow at the SOPH. Her PhD assessed complementary feeding practices using nutrition modelling software and found iron, zinc and calcium as nutrients of concern in 6-11 month-old breastfed infants in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal. Findings of focus group discussions supported the inclusion of grandmothers in efforts to improve infant feeding. Since October 2020 Nazeeia has been working with Prof. Rina Swart and supporting the National Dietary Intake Survey. Her current research focus is on food environments and drivers of food choice.
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Nazeeia’s experience includes working in the areas of food composition, teaching community nutrition, project technical nutrition support, project management, partnerships, and communication development. From 2017-2019 she was an executive and management member of the Association for Dietetics in South Africa.
