Date
12-19-2024
Department
School of Health Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences (PhD)
Chair
Sheila Davis
Keywords
Nutrition education, nutrition policies, overweight, obesity, childhood overweight, childhood obesity, Caribbean
Disciplines
Health and Physical Education | Nutrition
Recommended Citation
De Velde, Shondell M., "Exploring Nutrition Teachers' Perspectives of Enacted Nutrition Policies to Address Childhood Obesity in The Bahamas" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6404.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6404
Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain a comprehensive understanding of nutrition teachers' perspectives on enacted nutrition policies aimed at combating childhood obesity in The Bahamas. The central phenomenon of the study is teachers' perspectives of enacted nutrition policies to address childhood obesity in The Bahamas. The Health Belief Model (HBM) developed by Irwin M. Rosenstock in the 1950s was used to provide a theoretical framework, that can be used to understand nutrition teachers' perceptions and actions related to enacted nutrition policies. The HBM delves into an individual’s motivation to accept healthy behavior and is thus constructed to provide explanations and predictions of health behaviors. The application of the HBM provided the researcher with greater insights into nutrition teachers’ perspectives, attitudes, and behaviors toward enacted nutrition policies aimed at addressing childhood obesity in The Bahamas. Nutrition teachers in the context of this study were responsible for promoting and incorporating concepts of enacted nutrition policies, facilitating the school’s nutrition programs, teaching nutrition content, and guiding students’ instructional activities. The primary method of data collection was semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted face-to-face, at the school where the participants were employed. Data analysis began after completion of the interview transcription process, where data was coded using two qualitative data analysis software, being NVivo 14 and Leximancer 5.0. The King's template was employed to identify and organize themes based on participants' responses.
