Exploring nutrition counselors’ perceptions of a 6-week Nutrition Intervention Program in Cameroon,Africa: A qualitative study using reflective journaling

Abstract

Background

Cameroon, Africa, scores as one of the highest for malnutrition worldwide, significantly affecting maternal and childhood health. In response, the Cameroonian government pledged in 2013 to support nationwide policies that promote and protect breastfeeding and address malnutrition. To meet these needs, the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services created the Nutrition Improvement Program (NIP) to provide nutrition counseling within their hospital system. The NIP trains nutrition counselors through a 3-month training and internship program.

Aim

This study explored the experiences of NIP trainees in Cameroon using reflective journaling.

Methods

39 participants documented their experiences during training through reflective journaling. Three researchers independently coded and analyzed the entries to identify common themes through triangulation.

Summary

Analysis of journals unveiled positive and negative experiences and highlighted seven main themes: feelings of fulfillment, self-evaluation and analysis, relationships with the NIP hospital system, their educational environment, resources, barriers to completing the training, and their overall perceptions towards their trainers. The journals unveiled a transformative mindset towards current and new exercises implemented into nutrition counselor training and revealed disparities and areas of opportunity to enhance nutrition counselors’ practices. Trainees’ reflections called for continued support of the NIP training and increased resources to support the ongoing battle of malnutrition.