VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION AND PROMOTION AMONG SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN WEST AFRICA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND NARRATIVE SYNTHESIS

Abstract

Low vegetable consumption among school-age children and adolescents put them at risk of micronutrient malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. There is a dearth of synthesized literature on vegetable intake and interventions to promote increased consumption among this age-group in West-Africa. This study pooled evidence on vegetable consumption and interventions to promote vegetable consumption among school- age children and adolescents (6-19 years) in West-Africa. Quantitative and qualitative studies from year 2002 to 2023 were electronically searched in PubMed, African Journals Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar databases. PRISMA system was adhered to in reporting this review (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023444444). Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical evaluation tool was used to appraise quality of studies. Forty (40) studies met the search criteria out of N= 5,080 non-duplicated records. Meta-analysis was not possible due to high heterogeneity. Low vegetable consumption expressed in frequency or amounts was recorded among the school-age children and adolescents in the reviewed studies.

Intervention studies were mostly among adolescents; the most common type of intervention was the use of nutrition education. Insufficient evidence and high heterogeneity of studies reflect the need for more high-quality interventions using globally identified standards but applied contextually. School-age children appear to be an under-served population in West-Africa with regards to nutrition interventions to promote vegetable consumption.

There is a need for multi-component intervention studies that encourage vegetable consumption as a food group. Gardening, parental involvement, gamification and goal setting are promising components that could improve availability, accessibility and consumption of vegetables.