A qualitative study of factors affecting food choices of the elderly

Elderly people in low-income settings such as Botswana rely on low-quality diets that contribute to poor nutritional status. The risk of malnutrition and poor nutritional status is present due to physiological changes occurring with ageing, poverty and dependency on others for care or access to food. Malnutrition and poor nutritional status contribute to disease burden by worsening pre-disposition to disease and lengthening recovery. The aim of this study was to explore factors influencing food choice in the elderly in Chobe District Botswana in order to make recommendations for healthy public policy development and implementation. Eating a nutritionally adequate and healthy diet depends less on individual choices than on food availability and food affordability. Healthy public policies through food and nutrition must extend beyond the health sector to non-health sectors.