Development of Nutrition Educational Materials for Pediatric Oncology Patients in Tanzania

[摘要] PURPOSE More than 30% of children in sub-Saharan Africa are malnourished at baseline. Patients with cancer become further malnourished by metabolically active tumors and starvation during extended hospital stays when parents cannot afford food. If cancer outcomes could be improved by optimizing nutrition, then this would provide a cost-effective intervention for future implementation and research. The current study targeted caregiver nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practices to develop educational materials for children who are diagnosed with cancer at Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania. METHODS A quantitative survey developed using UN Food and Agriculture guidelines was used to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of nutrition among caregivers of children with cancer presenting from June to August 2019. On the basis of responses, targeted education materials—A2 posters, A4 posters, and 50 pamphlets—were developed in collaboration with a local nutritionist to address gaps in caregiver nutrition knowledge. RESULTS A total of 36 caregivers and 21 stakeholders completed surveys. The majority of caregivers reported food insecurity (94%) and limited knowledge on nutrition (92%). Identified key knowledge gaps included appropriate food selection, understanding of macronutrients, and food safety. Specific media—posters and pamphlets—were designed to be simple and targeted for specific symptoms, as well as to encourage positive eating habits among patients and families. CONCLUSION This study developed a targeted intervention to improve nutrition knowledge for caregivers of children with cancer. The multiple media sources created can be used alongside verbal education sessions by nutritionists to increase exposure and the likelihood of retention and application. Although this was developed at a single institution, the media created targeted consensus nutrition information for children with cancer and is mostly pictorial, so it can be used regardless of literacy or language. Implementation evaluation is ongoing, with plans to share these materials with pediatric cancer centers throughout Tanzania and sub-Saharan Africa.

[学科分类] 环境科学（综合）