STRATEGIES FOR EMPOWERMENT OF NUTRITION AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN: A SCOPING REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjmhs.v5i1.194Keywords:
community empowerment, child nutrition, school feeding, public health interventions, school-age childrenAbstract
School-age children are in a critical stage of physical and cognitive development, and adequate nutrition is essential for achieving their full potential. Malnutrition during this period has immediate effects on growth, learning, and mental health, and long-term consequences for adult productivity and public health. While schools remain important entry points for nutrition interventions, sustainable improvements often depend on public health initiatives that target interventions through parental involvement, community engagement and empowerment and also policy settings. However, evidence on which strategies are most effective in shaping a conducive nutritional environment for school children remains limited. This review aimed to explore existing evidence on strategies for community empowerment to improve nutrition among school children. A scoping review was conducted using literature from Scopus and Science Direct. Six studies published from 2018-2023 were included, comprising quasi-experimental designs, randomized controlled trial, qualitative study, and case study. Articles were selected if they assessed community-based strategies addressing nutrition in school-age children. Three key strategies emerged; (i) children’s direct involvement in shaping their food choices, (ii) community engagement and empowerment in planning and delivering interventions, and (iii) school food programmes that provided structured nutrition support. These approaches demonstrated positive impacts on children’s nutritional status, knowledge, and dietary behaviours, with community ownership enhancing sustainability. Community empowerment strategies show promise in addressing school-age nutrition by improving dietary intake and fostering long-term health benefits. Successful interventions should be culturally sensitive, economically viable, and designed for sustainability. Future research should evaluate large-scale implementation and policy integration to maximize public health impact.
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