Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
Methods: We conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 93 Sri Lankan adults residing in urban Colombo (n?=?56), and urban and rural sectors in Kalutara (n?=?29) and Trincomalee (n?=?8). Interview data were analysed thematically.
Results: Findings from this study suggest that women in Sri Lanka continue to shoulder the burden of food-related labour disproportionately to men but that this responsibility is not always a proxy for dietary decision-making power. While men are often absent from the kitchen, their role in food purchasing and payment is prominent in many households. Despite these observed gender differences in food labour and provisioning, "traditional" age- and gender-based consumption hierarchies with negative nutrition consequences for women and children are not common, indicating that Sri Lankan 'table culture' may be changing.
Conclusion: Dietary interventions with the aim of influencing day-to-day practice should be developed with an awareness of who is responsible for, who is able to perform, and who influences targeted behaviours.
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7678094 | BioStudies |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies