Expanding the food environment framework to include family dynamics: A systematic synthesis of qualitative evidence using HIV as a case study

Ramya Ambikapathi; Morgan Boncyk; Nilupa S Gunaratna; Wafaie Fawzi; Germana Leyna; Suneetha Kadiyala; Crystal L Patil

doi:10.1016/j.gfs.2024.100788

Expanding the food environment framework to include family dynamics: A systematic synthesis of qualitative evidence using HIV as a case study

Glob Food Sec. 2024 Sep:42:100788. doi: 10.1016/j.gfs.2024.100788.

Authors

Ramya Ambikapathi^{1

2}, Morgan Boncyk^{2

3}, Nilupa S Gunaratna², Wafaie Fawzi⁴, Germana Leyna^{5

6}, Suneetha Kadiyala⁷, Crystal L Patil⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Global Development, Cornell University, USA.
² Department of Public Health, Purdue University, USA.
³ Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, University of South Carolina, USA.
⁴ Department of Global Health, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, USA.
⁵ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciencesr, Tanzania.
⁶ Tanzania Food and Nutrition Center, Tanzania.
⁷ Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
⁸ Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.

Abstract

Food environment changes in low- and middle-income countries are increasing diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This paper synthesizes the qualitative evidence about how family dynamics shape food choices within the context of HIV (Prospero: CRD42021226283). Guided by structuration theory and food environment framework, we used best-fit framework analysis to develop the Family Dynamics Food Environment Framework (FDF) comprising three interacting dimensions (resources, characteristics, and action orientation). Findings show how the three food environment domains (personal, family, external) interact to affect food choices within families affected by HIV. Given the growing prevalence of noncommunicable and chronic diseases, the FDF can be applied beyond the context of HIV to guide effective and optimal nutritional policies for the whole family.

Keywords: Drivers of food choice; Family dynamics; Family food environment; HIV; Low- and middle-income countries; Qualitative evidence synthesis.

Publication types

Review