TY - JOUR
T1 - Mapping food system drivers of the double burden of malnutrition using community-based system dynamics
T2 - a case study in Peru
AU - Quinteros-Reyes, Carmen
AU - Seferidi, Paraskevi
AU - Guzman-Abello, Laura
AU - Millett, Christopher
AU - Bernabé-Ortiz, Antonio
AU - Ballard, Ellis
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - Background: Peru is facing a double burden of malnutrition (DBM), characterized by the co-existence of undernutrition and overnutrition. Double-duty actions that concurrently target common drivers of undernutrition and overnutrition, while ensuring no unintended side effects, are recommended to effectively address the DBM. To understand these complex common mechanisms and design context-specific double-duty actions, there is a need for participatory systems approaches. This paper provides a case study of applying a community-based system dynamics approach to capture stakeholder perspectives of food system drivers of the DBM in two regions in Peru. Methods: We implemented a multi-stage community-based system dynamics approach, which included processes for research capacity building for systems approaches, and the designing, piloting, and implementation of stakeholder workshops. A total of 36 stakeholders, representing diverse perspectives, participated in five group model building workshops. Stakeholder views are presented in a causal loop diagram that showcases the feedback mechanisms between key food system drivers of overweight and stunting in Peru. Results: The causal loop diagram highlights that prioritization of undernutrition over overnutrition in the policymaking process, due to Peru’s historically high levels of undernutrition, may undermine action against the DBM. It also describes potential mechanisms of unintended impacts of undernutrition policies on the DBM in Peru, including impacts related to within-family distribution and quality of food provided through food assistance programs, and unintended impacts due to regional dynamics. Conclusions: This paper highlights the importance of a participatory approach to understand local needs and priorities when recommending double-duty actions in Peru and shares practical methodological guidance on applying participatory systems approaches in public health.
AB - Background: Peru is facing a double burden of malnutrition (DBM), characterized by the co-existence of undernutrition and overnutrition. Double-duty actions that concurrently target common drivers of undernutrition and overnutrition, while ensuring no unintended side effects, are recommended to effectively address the DBM. To understand these complex common mechanisms and design context-specific double-duty actions, there is a need for participatory systems approaches. This paper provides a case study of applying a community-based system dynamics approach to capture stakeholder perspectives of food system drivers of the DBM in two regions in Peru. Methods: We implemented a multi-stage community-based system dynamics approach, which included processes for research capacity building for systems approaches, and the designing, piloting, and implementation of stakeholder workshops. A total of 36 stakeholders, representing diverse perspectives, participated in five group model building workshops. Stakeholder views are presented in a causal loop diagram that showcases the feedback mechanisms between key food system drivers of overweight and stunting in Peru. Results: The causal loop diagram highlights that prioritization of undernutrition over overnutrition in the policymaking process, due to Peru’s historically high levels of undernutrition, may undermine action against the DBM. It also describes potential mechanisms of unintended impacts of undernutrition policies on the DBM in Peru, including impacts related to within-family distribution and quality of food provided through food assistance programs, and unintended impacts due to regional dynamics. Conclusions: This paper highlights the importance of a participatory approach to understand local needs and priorities when recommending double-duty actions in Peru and shares practical methodological guidance on applying participatory systems approaches in public health.
KW - Community-based system dynamics
KW - Double burden of malnutrition
KW - Double-duty actions
KW - Food system
KW - Group model building
KW - Peru
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105010846554
U2 - 10.1186/s44263-024-00045-6
DO - 10.1186/s44263-024-00045-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 39681951
AN - SCOPUS:105010846554
SN - 2731-913X
VL - 2
JO - BMC Global and Public Health
JF - BMC Global and Public Health
IS - 1
M1 - 15
ER -