Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42519127›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of school health2024

Menu Evaluation versus Health and Well-being of Children Participating in School Feeding Programmes in South Africa.

Hema Kesa, Eridiong Onyenweaku

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of school health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Hema KesaFood Evolution Research Laboratory, School of Tourism and Hospitality, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Eridiong OnyenweakuFood Evolution Research Laboratory, School of Tourism and Hospitality, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity is increasing due to economic recession, resulting in childhood malnutrition, a risk factor for adult morbidities. Strategies to prevent and combat it are being implemented. This study aimed to evaluate the menus used in school feeding programs and their impact on the health and well-being of children in South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of nine primary schools in four South African provinces-Gauteng, Western Cape, North-West, and KwaZulu-Natal-was conducted between April 2022 and May 2022. Three schools were randomly selected per province, totaling 36 respondents-comprising a principal/NSNP coordinator, a teacher, and a food handler per school. An observational checklist was also employed. Weekly menus at each school were obtained, and dietary intake data were evaluated using the NutriSurvey application and the South African Food Composition table. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed using an inductive approach in Atlas. Ti software, while Microsoft Excel was utilized for the checklist. Results: The surveys indicated that in-school nutrition programs have positively impacted schoolchildren's well-being and academic performance. Menu evaluation revealed that most National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) lunch meals did not provide up to 25-30% of the children's recommended dietary allowance (RDA), but the Tiger Brands Foundation (TBF) breakfast augmented this by providing an additional 10-20% of the RDAs. Regarding breakfast meals, the highest mean RDA met per week was for calcium (21%), while Gauteng lunch had the highest mean RDA met values for most nutrients, including protein (15%), vitamin A (78%), vitamin B9 (37%), vitamin B12 (140%), vitamin C (33%), and iron (29%). The health checklist showed that all respondents affirmed that the children were generally healthy. Conclusion: The school feeding menus contribute to the percentage of RDAs met for essential nutrients and the well-being of children, although the contribution is not significant, as not all RDAs meet the 25-30% requirement. However, incorporating foods like meat (despite being expensive), eggs and fruits into the menus could enhance protein supply and increase the percentage of RDAs met.

Indexed as

ChildMalnutritionMenuNational School Nutrition ProgrammeSchoolTiger Brands FoundationWell-being

Identifiers

PMID42519127
PMCPMC13325894

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.