An assessment of the nutritional adequacy and quality of food provided to adult psychiatric patients in public psychiatric hospitals in the Eastern Cape
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Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Western Cape
Abstract
Introduction: The significant link between mental health and nutrition throughout one’s life
cannot be overstated. Yet this strong association is often neglected in the public healthcare
sector in South Africa, particularly in the case of people who are being treated for various types
of mental illness. It is therefore important to prioritise nutrition care through efficient and
effective hospital food services in public psychiatric facilities. Although hospital settings are
often perceived to provide efficient clinical care, the food provided to patients by hospital food
service units is often criticised for being bland, repetitive and/or unhealthy. At times, too,
inadequate food budget allocations by provincial health departments or poor supply chain
management practices result in patients receiving inadequate quantities of food at mealtimes,
which might lead to their becoming malnourished during their hospital stays. For psychiatric
patients in particular, malnutrition can have serious short and longer-term consequences.
Description
Magister Scientiae (Nutrition Management) - MSc(NM)
Keywords
Food handler, Food quality, Food intake, Food provision, Food safety, Hospital food services, Malnutrition, Plate waste, Psychiatric patients, Relevant training