Technical summary

This qualitative study was set up to inform future interventions targeting preschool-aged children in urban low resource settings in South Africa. Since obesity is a complex public health issue, qualitative research provides opportunities to gain deep, context-specific insights about the individual, family, social, and environmental factors contributing to obesity. Seeing as preschool age children have limited individual agency, it is important to investigate the role and views of parents and other caregivers.

• Aims of the study
• Design
• Investigators
• Status
• Unit role
• Partners and Stakeholders
• Funding
• Data sharing

Aims of the study

To gain a better understanding of how parents or caregivers of young children in Soweto view childhood obesity and related health behaviours, and to situate the phenomenon of childhood obesity, and behaviours associated with obesity, in the context of the home environment in which preschool age children in Soweto live.

Design

This was a qualitative study, utilising a combination of in-depth interviews, and contextualising ethnographic field notes. In-depth interviews were carried out with caregivers of preschool age children in the homes of participants with the assistance of a local qualitative fieldworker. Recruitment was done via preschools in Soweto.

Investigators

Chief/Principal investigator

Sonja Klingberg – University of Cambridge

Co-Investigators

Dr Catherine Draper – University of the Witwatersrand
Dr Esther van Sluijs – University of Cambridge

Status

Data collection and analysis have been completed. Writing up and dissemination of findings are ongoing.

Unit role

Unit led study with responsibility for data.

Partners and Stakeholders

MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways to Health Research Unit (DPHRU) at the University of the Witwatersrand

Funding

MRC, Newton Fund.

Data sharing

Data currently unavailable. Data sharing will be facilitated in due course. Please see our Data Sharing pages for more information.