Factors Influencing Community Health and Nutrition

You have learnt about what  happens  to the food once it is consumed and its relation to health. Before consumption, there are very many factors-social,  cultural, economic psychological etc. which  determine the food behaviour and  ultimately  community nutritional status and  health. This unit presents a detailed discussion on these factors. 

What constitutes food for any community may have little direct meaning on what is physiologically consumable or on what could provide adequate nutrition. Each community has set its own limits in what it considers as edible and how the food should be prepared, cooked and served? How many of us have accepted new foods, though nutritious? Its because we are all  squeamish about what we eat. This is again because of our cultural beliefs and traditions which influence the kind, amount and accessibility of food, available to our community more than  the economic factors. This socio-cultural aspects related to food behaviour of a community cannot be dismissed and must be respected as a collective shared experience and thoughts of the community. A sound understanding of this behaviour is, therefore, essential to improve the'dietary patterns of the community. This unit presents detail discussion on this aspect. 

Major determinants like genetics, health services, environment and personal  health behaviour which influence the community health are also discussed in this  unit. 

Objectives 

After studying this  unit, you will  able to: 

• list  the major determinants of food behaviour and community health, and 
• discuss the  influence of these determinants on community  nutrition.