Behaviour change communication influences on food consumption behaviours and the demand for diverse nutritious foods in the Makoni District, Zimbabwe

TL;DR

This study shows that communication programs in Zimbabwe helped smallholder farmers improve nutrition knowledge and food diversity, but local markets had little impact on food demand.

Contribution

The study demonstrates how behavior change communication can effectively stimulate demand for nutritious foods in rural Zimbabwe.

Findings

Participants improved nutrition knowledge and crop diversification through the intervention.

Access to varied foods, including new crops, increased among participants.

Local markets had minimal influence on the demand for nutritious foods.

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of nutrition behavioural change communication interventions and food consumption behaviours and demand for nutritious foods in Makoni district, Zimbabwe. The study employed an observational and cross-sectional design using mixed—methods. The population was smallholder farmers’ households with children six to twenty-four months old. Secondary data was obtained from the main intervention reports. The total sample size of this project comprised of five personnel participating in the implementation of the intervention for key informant interviews; forty participants for the in-depth interviews; and a total of 81 participants for eight focus group discussions. Participants indicated that the Livelihoods and Food Security Programme intervention successfully increased their nutrition knowledge, enhanced their ability to diversify crop production, and improved their access to varied foods, including some new crops. Local markets had little influence on the demand for nutritious foods by the intervention population. The interventions were effective in stimulating demand for diverse and nutritious foods in Makoni District.

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