Food Choice Motives and Norms among Rural Women in Zambia

Alice Karanja, African Population & Health Research Center
Stepha McMullin, World Agroforestry (ICRAF)
Luzia Deißler, Leibniz Universität Hannover

Current food systems do not enable equitable and healthy food choices. This study investigates drivers and norms of food choice among rural Zambian women to inform potential interventions for healthier diets. 356 women from three Zambian provinces were interviewed using an adapted Food Choice Questionnaire. Participants rated the importance of 13 statements influencing their food choices, categorized across food environment and individual-based motives. Descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression were used to analyze variations across sociodemographic variables. In the food environment, food availability scored highest, followed by affordability, safety, and convenience. For individual motives, health/nutrition perception and mood ranked highest. Significant interactions were observed between various factors. Female-headed households were more likely to prioritize convenience, food availability, accessibility, health perception, and mood. Age, education, and unpaid childcare responsibilities influenced preferences for convenience. Larger families increased the likelihood of prioritizing convenience, mood, and affordability. Cultural norms and taboos limit women’s access to diverse and nutritious diets. The study provides insights into the relative importance of food choice motives and interactions between food environment and individual-based motives. Further research is needed to design targeted interventions and policies addressing diet-related challenges faced by rural women in Zambia, and other African contexts.

Keywords: Gender Dynamics, Population Policies, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Population, Environment, and Climate Change

See extended abstract.