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. 2023 Jan 19:9:1082161.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1082161. eCollection 2022.

Determinants of maternal, infant, and young child nutrition during the 1,000-day window of opportunity in Solomon Islands: A focused ethnographic study

Kelsey Grey  1 , Stephen R Kodish  2   3 , Salome Aroma Namohunu  4 , Jill Losi  4 , Maryam Matean  1 , Uma Palaniappan  5 , Martina Northrup-Lyons  1 , Arlin Cherian  1 , Stanley Gwavuya  5 , Judy McLean  1 , Wendy Erasmus  5
Affiliations

Determinants of maternal, infant, and young child nutrition during the 1,000-day window of opportunity in Solomon Islands: A focused ethnographic study

Kelsey Grey et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

Introduction: This focused ethnographic study used qualitative, ethnographic, and participatory methods to explore determinants of maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) during the first 1,000 days of life as part of efforts to address the double burden of malnutrition in Solomon Islands.

Methods: An iterative study design was used to first explore and then confirm findings related to food and nutrition security and social and behavioral determinants of MIYCN in urban and rural settings. The first phase included in-depth interviews, household observations, free lists, and seasonal food availability calendar workshops while the second phase included focus group discussions, pile sorts, participatory community workshops, and repeated household observations.

Results and discussion: We found that MIYCN is shaped by a complex interaction of factors at the macro- and micro-levels. At the macro-level, globalization of the food system, a shifting economy, and climate change are driving a shift toward a delocalized food system based on imported processed foods. This shift has contributed to a food environment that leaves Solomon Islanders vulnerable to food and nutrition insecurity, which we found to be the primary determinant of MIYCN in this context. At the micro-level, this food environment leads to household- and individual-level food decisions that often do not support adequate MIYCN. Multi-sectoral interventions that address the macro- and micro-level factors shaping this nutrition situation may help to improve MIYCN in Solomon Islands.

Keywords: MIYCN (maternal; Pacific Island Countries; Solomon Islands; and young child nutrition); infant; infant and young child feeding; qualitative research.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Map of Solomon Islands within the Pacific region, highlighting Guadalcanal Province in blue and Honiara in yellow (bottom left) (11).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Multi-dimensional scaling map depicting affordability of child foods in Kola’a (urban site); Stress: 0.093; Eigen value: 8.427; Eigen ratio: 3.243.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Multi-dimensional scaling map depicting affordability of child foods in Malango (rural site); Stress: 0.042; Eigen value: 13.264; Eigen ratio: 3.025.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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