Advertising of Unhealthy Foods and Beverages Around Primary and Junior High Schools in Ghana’s Most Urbanized and Populous Region
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Frontiers
Abstract
Introduction: The advertising of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and
beverages is a common feature in obesogenic food environments. Such
advertising, within and around settings where children live, learn, and play,
negatively affects their food acquisition and consumption. We examined the
extent and nature of food and beverage advertising around primary and junior
high schools in Ghana’s most populous and urbanized region, Greater Accra.
Materials and methods: Outdoor advertisements for foods and beverages
within a 250m road network distance of 200 randomly sampled schools
were geocoded. For each food and beverage advertisement, information was
collected on the setting, type, size, and number of product types featured
in the advertisement. Promotional techniques (promotional characters and
premium offers) used in advertisements were documented. Advertised
foods and beverages were classified using the INFORMAS and NOVA food
classification systems.
Results: A total of 5,887 advertisements were identified around the schools
surveyed, 42% of which were for foods and beverages. Advertisements were
most prevalent at food outlets (78% of all food advertisements), but also
along roads and on non-food structures. Overall, 70% of food advertisements
featured non-core/unhealthy products, while 12 and 14% had core/healthy and miscellaneous (including soup cubes, seasonings, and tea) products.
About 4% of food advertisements had only a product/brand name or logo
displayed. One out of two of the foods and beverages advertised were ultra-
processed foods, 30% processed, 3% processed culinary ingredients, and
17% unprocessed or minimally processed foods. Sugar-sweetened beverages
were the most advertised food product type (32%). Promotional characters
were found on 14% of all food advertisements (most–69% were cartoons or
manufacturer’s characters), while 8% of all food advertisements had premium
offers (including price discounts and gift/collectables).
Conclusions: There is an abundance of unhealthy food advertisements around
primary and junior high schools in the Greater Accra Region. Policy actions
such as restricting the promotion of unhealthy foods in children’s settings are
needed to protect pupils from such advertising practices.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
food environments, food advertising, unhealthy foods
Citation
Amevinya GS, Vandevijvere S, Kelly B, Afagbedzi SK, Aryeetey R, Adjei AP, Quarpong W, Tandoh A, Nanema S, Agyemang C, Zotor F, Laar ME, Mensah K, Laryea D, Asiki G, Holdsworth M and Laar A (2022) Advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages around primary and junior high schools in Ghana’s most urbanized and populous region. Front. Public Health 10:917456. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.917456