Evaluation of a Community Intervention for Food and Nutritional Education in Quilombola Communities of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: A Community Assessment with Quanti-Quali Approach.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a community-based food education intervention aimed at improving dietary quality in Brazilian quilombola communities.

METHODS

This non-randomized cluster community trial used a mixed-methods approach with census-like sampling in four communities in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, selected for their high prevalence of overweight and food insecurity. The self-declared household food provider was interviewed before and after the intervention, which consisted of six fortnightly nutrition education workshops (April-July 2015), open to all community members. Sociodemographic data were collected by a structured questionnaire, and dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour recall. Outcomes included consumption of table sugar, soft drinks and artificial juices, fruits, vegetables, and natural fruit juice. Foods were also classified as traditional or non-traditional based on focus groups and interviews with community leaders. Intervention effects were analyzed using Generalized Estimation Equations (α = 0.05, intention-to-treat). Qualitative data from focus groups were analyzed using NVivo and categorized by thematic similarity.

RESULTS

A total of 178 and 156 individuals were assessed before and after the intervention, respectively. The percentage of energy from traditional foods increased in the intervention group, though not significantly (p = 0.235). The proportion of vegetable consumption increased significantly (p = 0.037). Sugar intake decreased in the intervention group, with a significant difference compared to the control at follow-up (p = 0.043). Qualitative findings indicated increased appreciation and consumption of traditional and locally produced foods, along with greater awareness of the health risks of ultra-processed foods.

CONCLUSION

The intervention improved dietary quality in these communities, supporting its potential application in other quilombola and vulnerable populations.