Browsing by Author "Kansabe, Shirley"

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Collaborative dynamics in multisectoral nutrition governance of Uganda’s second nutrition action plan : a qualitative case study
(BMC Public Health, 2026-09-17) Kansabe, Shirley; Lubogo, David; Ssennyonjo, Aloysius
Background Malnutrition has various causal pathways that necessitate participatory design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of interventions, culminating in the current multisectoral collaborations for nutrition. In addition to the growing interest and investment in multisectoral collaboration, there is demand for knowledge on the processes of delivering collaborative nutrition plans and endeavours. These processes remain less studied and undocumented. Objective The study examined dynamics during national level implementation of Uganda’s second Nutrition Action Plan (UNAP) II, inspired by the reduction in stunting in Uganda alongside multisectoral nutrition governance under the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement. Methods 20 key informant interviews and 28 documents provided information for this case study. The interviews were conducted among representatives of key ministries, departments and agencies implementing UNAP II and representatives of the SUN Networks. The Integrative Framework for Collaborative Governance structured a primarily deductive thematic analysis of principled engagement, shared motivation and capacity for joint action. NVivo 12 was used to manage coding and analysis. Results Multisectoral coordination meetings supported accountability and joint planning. A recurrent cross-cutting pattern was mandate competition, described by participants as mandates being ‘hijacked’ when resources were attached to particular activities. Accounts linked these disputes to political pressure and role encroachment resulting in exclusion of some actors regarded as controversial. Trust, transparency and commitment varied across sectors and were closely tied to financial resources and individual actors. Capacity for joint action was constrained by weak knowledge management as well as limited financial, technical and human resources, much of which relied on donors. Formal allocation of roles did not by itself prevent mandate disputes or power imbalances. Conclusion Improving UNAP implementation requires stronger procedures for coordination, resolving disputes, knowledge management, continuity beyond individual focal persons and deliberate trust-building across participating organisations.
Food environment and dietary intake of female smallholder farmers in rural Uganda: the case of Mpigi district
(BMC Nutrition, 2025-11-18) Nambooze, Joweria; Kansabe, Shirley; Nakayiki Nyanzi, Lilian; Mbabazi, Muniirah; Mirembe, Winnie; Agole, David; Birungi, Tracy Lukiya; Kakande, James; Nantongo, Veronica
Background Malnutrition remains persistent among female smallholder farmers who produce most of the food consumed in Uganda; yet, information on their food environment is limited. We tested the hypothesis that rural female smallholder farmers rely mostly on the food they produce for their dietary intake. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 386 female smallholder farmers of reproductive in Mpigi district, Central Uganda. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour recall, producing the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) score, and facets of the food environment were assessed using self-reported perceptions and a seven-day food frequency questionnaire. The cost, and sources of the consumed foods were also assessed. The food-environment predictors of MDD-W were analyzed using binary logistic regression in Stata 15. Results Results revealed that less than half of the respondents, 43.3% (n = 167) met the MDD-W, whereas 56.7% (n = 219) did not. The respondents primarily depended on a bought food environment from which they obtained an average of 6.5 (± 2.9) food items compared to their own production 4.5 (± 2.4). Every household spent an average of United States Dollars (USD) 8.5 (± 7.9) to buy food in the seven days preceding the study. The odds that a woman met the MDD-W increased by 18% (p = 0.00) if they bought food, by 13% (p = 0.01) if they obtained food through their home-stead production, and by 4% (p = 0.00) if they had any positive or negative perceptions on physical access to food. Conclusions Compared with their own production, female smallholder farmers in rural areas like Mpigi depend more on the bought food environment for their dietary intake. Innovations that enhance physical and economic access to diverse diets, promote both diverse production and purchase alongside social behavior change communication, are recommended to improve the dietary diversity of female smallholder farmers in Mpigi.