Urban Physical Food Environments Drive Dietary Behaviours in Ghana and Kenya: A Photovoice Study

Overview

Journal Health Place

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Public Health

Date 2021 Aug 10

PMID 34375838

Citations 14

Authors

Rebecca Pradeilles

Ana Irache

Milkah N Wanjohi

Michelle Holdsworth

Amos Laar

Francis Zotor

Akua Tandoh

Senam Klomegah

Fiona Graham

Stella K Muthuri

Elizabeth W Kimani-Murage

Nathaniel Coleman

Mark A Green

Hibbah Araba Osei-Kwasi

Marco Bohr

Emily K Rousham

Gershim Asiki

Robert Akparibo

Kobby Mensah

Richmond Aryeetey

Nicolas Bricas

Paula Griffiths

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We identified factors in the physical food environment that influence dietary behaviours among low-income dwellers in three African cities (Nairobi, Accra, Ho). We used Photovoice with 142 males/females (≥13 years). In the neighbourhood environment, poor hygiene, environmental sanitation, food contamination and adulteration were key concerns. Economic access was perceived as a major barrier to accessing nutritionally safe and healthy foods. Home gardening supplemented household nutritional needs, particularly in Nairobi. Policies to enhance food safety in neighbourhood environments are required. Home gardening, food pricing policies and social protection schemes could reduce financial barriers to safe and healthy diets.

Citing Articles

Food Environments and Diet Quality Among Vendors and Consumers in Five Traditional Urban Markets in Kenya.

Demmler K, van der Steen S, Trevenen-Jones A, de Kanter E Nutrients. 2025; 17(1.

PMID: 39796550 PMC: 11723231. DOI: 10.3390/nu17010116.

Editorial: Nutrient density: evidence of multisectoral approaches for improved nutrition.

Mchiza Z, Ortenzi F, Parker W Front Nutr. 2025; 11:1542624.

PMID: 39758308 PMC: 11695188. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1542624.

Affordability of family foods is associated with Nutritional Status of women with pre-school children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Abdelmenan S, Worku A, Berhane H, Berhane Y, Ekstrom E Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):665.

PMID: 39753634 PMC: 11699057. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-83064-5.

Urban Nutrition in the Global South: A Narrative Review of Current Research.

Choudhary N, Brewis A J Urban Health. 2024; 101(6):1279-1294.

PMID: 39623224 PMC: 11652467. DOI: 10.1007/s11524-024-00944-x.

Experiences of Food Insecurity Among Pregnant Adolescents and Adolescent Mothers in Ghana: A Photovoice Method.

Posey I, Nsiah-Asamoah C, Fergusson Russell N, Darkwa Entwi E, Okronipa H Int J Public Health. 2024; 69:1607043.

PMID: 38808213 PMC: 11130365. DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2024.1607043.

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