Socio-ecological factors influencing dietary behaviours among adolescents and young adults in rural Eastern Uganda: A qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) worldwide display poor dietary behaviors, including high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables. These issues are more pronounced in Sub-Saharan Africa, such as rural Eastern Uganda, where 45.3% of adolescents eat low-diversity diets high in refined grains and fats. Such diets raise the risk of malnutrition and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, there is limited contextual evidence on the multi-level factors influencing AYAs' dietary behaviors in rural Uganda. This study examined socio-ecological factors shaping dietary behaviors among AYAs in this setting.

Methods

A qualitative study guided by the socio-ecological model (SEM) was conducted in Mayuge Distr

SUBMITTER: Buyinza T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12671741 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature