The key to improving women’s health in developing countries

Healthy culinary practices to curb obesity in Ghanaian women

Dr. Osei-Kwasi aims to answer that question by investigating what goes on in the kitchens of Ghanaian women residing both in the UK and Ghana, with the aim of empowering these women to make healthy culinary choices. As she explains, her research focuses on women because “traditionally they are responsible for food provisioning and preparation in most Ghanaian homes”. The overall objective of the project is to lay the building blocks for the development of context-specific and culturally sensitive nutrition education to improve the traditional diets of African women, through channels such as electronic and social media.

In her current project, the nutritionist wants to go even further. Her new objective is to understand exactly why Ghanaians cook the way they do and how. “I’m going to observe, not just ask. I’m going to go to people’s home, look at them cook, see which ingredients they use, how much salt they put in, how much fat, oil, spice, what types, how long they cook it for… But that’s not all, I also want to understand why they cook the way they do. So, I’m going to ask how they perceive the Ghanaian traditional diet, why they think it’s healthy, and if they’re willing to adopt healthy cooking practices.”

By mapping the culinary practices of Ghanaian’s households, Dr. Osei-Kwasi’s project sets out to deliver precious and unprecedented knowledge about several dietary causes behind the prevalence of excessive weight and obesity in this community. By focusing on the preparation methods, as well as willingness to adopt healthy cooking practices, the team will help develop tailored measures to reduce the onset of obesity and prevent micronutrient deficiencies. 

Empowering women worldwide

Since gender disparities cause and exacerbate many of the health risks facing women in developing nations, programs focusing on empowerment show the greatest promise of improving conditions. As Thoai Ngo explains, “too many well-meaning development actors regard girls as victims to be saved, rather than as the innovative, energetic game changers they are.”

Expanding women’s agency means unlocking their potential to solve major problems in society, including those pertaining to their own health. By expanding access to care like Dr. Aduragbemi Banke-Thomas, or educating women about diet and health like Dr. Hibbah Osei-Kwasi, initiatives that enable women to take control of their own lives can have a transformative effect on women and their role in society.