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Access to Information Technologies and Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables in South Africa: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data

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Relation http://oar.icrisat.org/11538/
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134880
doi:10.3390/ijerph17134880
 
Title Access to Information Technologies and Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables in South Africa: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data
 
Creator Sinyolo, S
Ndinda, C
Murendo, C
Sinyolo, S A
Neluheni, M
 
Subject Information Technology
Vegetable and Field crops
Food and Nutrition
Southern Africa
 
Description Extensive evidence indicates that fruit and vegetable (F+V) consumption leads to reduced
chances of diet related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, the F+V consumption
levels remain low. This paper investigates the extent to which access to information technologies
improves F+V consumption in South Africa. A nationally representative sample of 20,908 households
was analysed using the Poisson and logit regression models. The study results indicated that most
households do not consume sufficient F+V per day. Only 26% of the household heads consumed F+V
at least five times a day. Access to mobile phones, radio, television, and internet was associated with
increasing frequency of F+V consumption, and higher chances that a household would consume
the minimum recommended levels. The association between the communication technologies
and F+V consumption varied. Television access had the highest association with both foods,
while internet was only significantly associated with vegetable consumption. Several demographic
and socio-economic factors played a key role in shaping F+V consumption patterns. The results
show that there is scope to disseminate nutrition awareness and education programs, through mobile
phones, internet, radio and television in South Africa. The interventions to promote F+V consumption
should be tailored according to the different socio-economic profiles of the population.
 
Publisher MDPI
 
Date 2020-07
 
Type Article
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/11538/1/ijerph-17-04880.pdf
Sinyolo, S and Ndinda, C and Murendo, C and Sinyolo, S A and Neluheni, M (2020) Access to Information Technologies and Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables in South Africa: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (TSI), 17 (13). pp. 1-17. ISSN 1660-4601