Exploring Barriers and Strategies for Improving Women's Dietary Quality in Rural Northern Ghana: A Qualitative Study

Abstract This qualitative study seeks to investigate the perceptions, attitudes, and contextual factors that influencing women's dietary quality in rural communities in the Northern Region of Ghana, focusing on the barriers hindering access to nutritious foods. Through exploratory descriptive design, a total of 90 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) were involved in focus group discussions (FGDs) across three districts, which is Sagnarigu Municipality, Kumbungu District, and Tolon District. The key themes that were identified included limited dietary diversity and reliance to staple foods, cultural food-sharing practices, economic and the seasonal barriers to nutritional variety, awareness and strong desire for improved nutrition, and community specific suggestions for dietary improvement. Economic challenge, particularly availability of seasonal nutritious foods and limited income, were seen as a primary barriers to their dietary diversity. Cultural food sharing practices were found to affect the fair distribution of nutrients within households in the communities. Despite the above challenges, participants willingly expressed a strong desire to improve on their diets and also proposed solutions which includes financial support to women, cooperative farming and nutrition education. The findings in this study points out the complex interplay of economic, cultural, and environmental factors influencing food access and emphasize on the need of community-based interventions to enhance dietary quality in rural areas.