Food safety is a key determinant of fruit and vegetable consumption in urban Beninese adolescents

Abstract

Objective: To identify the determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption in urban Beninese adolescents and elements to develop a school-based fruit and vegetable program.

Design: Sixteen focus groups conducted with a key word guide.

Setting and participants: Two private and 2 public secondary schools in Cotonou, Benin. One hundred fifty-three students aged 13 to 19 years, 54% girls.

Analysis: The focus groups were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed. Three a priori categories from the Social Cognitive Theory were used for the coding: socioenvironmental, personal, and behavioral factors. Additionally, the data were checked to determine whether new categories should be created.

Results: Major determinants in the school were availability and accessibility of fruits and vegetables, nutrition education, and the competition of unhealthful foods. Food safety emerged as a strong barrier to the adolescents' fruit and vegetable consumption outside home and particularly at school.

Conclusions and implications: Except for food safety, the determinants of fruit and vegetable intake in Beninese adolescents were similar to those in high-income countries. The food safety of fruits and vegetables outside home is a key issue to be studied in detail and integrated in any intervention in Benin and potentially other low- and middle-income countries.