A Descriptive Qualitative Study of the Perceptions of Regulatory Authorities, Parents, and School Canteen Owners in the South of Ecuador about the Challenges and Facilities Related to Compliance with the National Regulation for School Canteens

Belén Cabrera-Ledesma, Victoria Abril-Ulloa (), Verónica Pinos-Vélez and Valeria Carpio-Arias
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Belén Cabrera-Ledesma: Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010201, Ecuador
Victoria Abril-Ulloa: Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010201, Ecuador
Verónica Pinos-Vélez: Chemical Sciences Faculty, University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010201, Ecuador
Valeria Carpio-Arias: Research Group GIANH, School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Riobamba 060155, Ecuador

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Ecuadorian school population continues to increase. An important factor in children’s nutrition is the food offered in school canteens. The objective of this study was to explore the perceptions of the challenges faced by and facilities of school canteens in the provinces of southern Ecuador in terms of complying with national regulations. For this qualitative descriptive study, semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2021 with six school canteen owners, six school directors, five health experts, and seven parents of children attending school from three provinces, Cañar, Azuay, and Morona Santiago, in Ecuador. The data were transcribed and subsequently analyzed in ATLAS ti. The participants indicated several challenges to comply with the regulations of school canteens, such as the expenses generated by them, the lack of control of street food vendors in the surroundings of the schools, and the lack of trained personnel. Regarding the facilities, they highlighted that the regulation for cleaning and hygiene are more easily fulfilled. Standards and control of the food stipend in school canteens are required to ensure a supply of healthy food for the children. Multiple challenges and strategies are proposed to improve the eating habits of the school population and to improve the nutrition of schoolchildren.

Keywords: challenges to promote healthy eating; school canteens; healthy food; food; processed and ultra-processed products (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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