Exploring health and nutrition stakeholders' expectations and perception toward establishment of the Food and Nutrition Surveillance in Iran. (23rd February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Amini, Maryam; Ghodsi, Delaram; Doustmohammadian, Azam; Nikooyeh, Bahareh; Neyestani, Tirang R.
• Is Part Of: International journal of health planning and management. Volume 36:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 885
• Page End: 895
• Publication Date: 2021-02-23
• Subjects: FNS -- Food and Nutrition Surveillance -- stakeholder; Health planning -- Periodicals; Health services administration -- Periodicals; Santé publique -- Planification -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Administration -- Périodiques; 362.1068
• DOI: 10.1002/hpm.3130
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0749-6753

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Food and Nutrition Surveillance (FNS) is an essential and practical tool for providing timely information at specified times for policy making. This study aimed to explore policymakers' expectations and perception on establishment of the FNS in Iran before its establishment. Materials and methods: Data in this qualitative study were gathered through documents review (23 relevant documents) and seventeen semi‐structured interviews with key informants in the field of food and nutrition at the national and provincial level selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were content analysed using MAXQDA (2010). Findings: Most of the participants defined the FNS as a continuous monitoring system. They expected the FNS to identify and recognize food and nutrition problems; to create a common language and provide an inter‐disciplinary cooperation. From the participants' point of view the most important barriers to establishing of the FNS included lack of cooperation and resistance at different levels, lack of support and partnership among the stakeholders, lack of justification and awareness of the stakeholders, mismanagement and misuse of data, inattention to infrastructure. Conclusions: Most of the stakeholders believed that the FNS was supposed to monitor food and nutrition status continuously to provide timely and accurate information for policy making.