African Clinical Nutrition | 06 March 2001
Effectiveness of Nutrition Education Interventions in South African Primary Schools: A Review and Evaluation Study
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Abstract
South African primary schools face significant challenges in addressing malnutrition among students, necessitating effective nutrition education interventions. A systematic review was conducted using databases such as PubMed and Scopus to identify relevant studies on nutrition education in South African primary schools. Studies were selected based on specific criteria related to intervention design, implementation, and outcomes. Among the reviewed interventions, a particular programme that incorporated interactive multimedia elements showed a statistically significant improvement (\(p = 0\).03) in students' dietary knowledge scores compared to control groups, with a mean increase of 15%. The findings suggest that integrating interactive multimedia into nutrition education curricula can enhance student learning outcomes and positively impact nutritional practices. Schools should consider incorporating interactive multimedia as part of their existing nutrition education programmes to improve student dietary knowledge and behaviors. Nutrition Education, School-Based Interventions, South Africa, Primary Schools