Pacific peoples attitudes towards nutrition Flashcards
What does the term ‘Pacific peoples’ mean?
Broad, collective term used to describe dynamic and diverse groups of people from sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia
What is health to pacific peoples and what are some key values?
Health and wellbeing for pacific people is holistic and intrinsically related to identity, land, cultural values and responsibility
Core pacific values include reciprocity, respect, relationships and collectivism despite coming from vast linguistic, cultural, geographical, migration and political differences
How does food insecurity affect Pacific peoples?
Food insecurity effects 37.1% of Pacific peoples; 28.6% percent of Māori peoples
43% of household earning under $50,000 per year suffer food insecurity
Food insecurity has long term social impacts on those who experience it included reduced education, poor physical health financial strain, psychological distress
What influences Pacific peoples nutritional health
Food choices are influenced by food cost and availably, cultural practises, quantity and quality (the more you give, quantity, gives you a better perception in the community compared to what you are giving, quality)
Social, political, economic, environmental, cultural and health are all factors on how they view certain things
What are the social factors impacting pacific nutrition?
Intergenerational food - struggle for people to spend dinners together in Pacific communities as working many jobs to have to try make do for their families, lack of quality time at home results in struggle to see social factors of food
What are the political factors impacting pacific nutrition?
Government and local boards are influential in positioning fast-food restaurants in communities particularly in low socioeconomic areas. The supply of unhealthy leftovers to the Pacific region e.g. mutton flaps (off cut of lamb). Use of schools and worksites to promote healthier eating - low decile schools. Nutrition standard for marketing of foods and beverages to Pacific children and their families - easy to read and understand
What are the economical factors impacting pacific nutrition?
Healthy food choices are considered costly compared to fast foods, which are more affordable and confident. Take-away “meal deals” are seen as value for money
What are the environmental factors impacting pacific nutrition?
Climate change pressure sin the Pacific region - natural disaster. Demand for Pacific produce overseas. Encouraged to grow fruit and vegetables, lack of land ownership in NZ and no land space with gentrification on the rise in Pacific communities they’re being pushed away
What are the cultural factors impacting pacific nutrition?
Food is regarded as not only a source of nourishment but a way of conveying words of thanks, condolences, apology and hospitality. It is also used to build relationships and mark celebratory events such as birthdays, weddings and graduations
Perception and status matters
Reputation is important in Pacific cultures, as the population is small, and as many Pacific people know each other, there is potential for an impact on future working relationships
What are the health factors impacting pacific nutrition?
Based on daily food intake and consumption Pacific peoples are oblivious to health factors particularly nutritional values in food that they eat. Fast food has become normalised due to lack of quality family time and intergenerational transmission of nutrition
Detrimental health impacts leading threat to human health and are the largest cause of premature mortality in the Pacific and Pacific in the diaspora: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and respiratory diseases
What are recommendations for pacific nutrition?
Quality time is needed, which will result in quality food (social)
Provide strategic equitable nutritional outcomes for Pacific families and communities (political)
Increasing Pacific home ownership will see an increase in Pacific families growing fruit and vegetables on their land (environmental)
Lower costs of healthy food (economical)
Refine and reframe cultural practises to consider the nutrition of food, quality over quantity (cultural)
Improving the above will improve the health of pacific people as food plays an integral part in Pacific culture (health)
