Adolescent Nutrition—Developing a Research Agenda for the Second Window of Opportunity in Indonesia

Robert Sparrow, Rina Agustina, Hilde Bras, Grace Sheila, Matthias Rieger, Athia Yumna, Edith Feskens, Alida Melse-Boonstra*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)
51 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Recently, adolescence has been identified as a second window of opportunity for the correction of nutritional inadequacies. However, there is a lack of knowledge on evidence-based integrated nutrition strategies for adolescents in Indonesia. Objective: To provide a research agenda and the prioritization of research actions to tackle outstanding knowledge gaps on adolescent nutrition in Indonesia. Methods: A preliminary set of research topics was listed based on a desk study of the academic literature and policy documents. Second, a stakeholder meeting was held to further identify and discuss research topics related to adolescent nutrition in Indonesia. Third, an online survey was conducted in which respondents were asked to indicate priority research themes for the next 3 to 5 years and to rank a total of 23 research questions. Results: Most (52%) of the respondents who returned the survey (n = 27) prioritize research on implementation and program evaluation, while 30% prefer descriptive and explanatory research, and 19% place priority with intervention and discovery research. However, when we followed up with specific topics for each of these broad research areas, a more nuanced picture emerged, with intervention and discovery research taking a more prominent standing. Conclusions: In order to support the design, implementation, and effectiveness of integrated nutrition programs for Indonesian adolescents, in-depth studies should question the best intervention strategies, modes of delivery, and long-term outcomes, while nationwide and disaggregated data should investigate associations and trends over time and identify vulnerable groups.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S9-S20
JournalFood and Nutrition Bulletin
Volume42
Issue number1_suppl
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Jul 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Izwardy Doddy (former Director of Nutrition at the Ministry of Health), Nutrition International, UNICEF, and GAIN for their keen partnership in organizing the workshop. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This document was developed with the support of the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) under the Scientific Program Indonesia?the Netherlands, grant no. ANGIN 2017-017, and is a collaboration between the Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research; the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University Rotterdam; Universitas Indonesia; the SMERU Research Institute; the National Team for the Acceleration of Poverty Reduction (TNP2 K); and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.

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