GENDER INEQUALITIES IN NUTRITION IN THE CONTEXT OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY FROM PAKISTAN USING THE DELPHI CONSENSUS TECHNIQUE

Abstract

The current body of knowledge concerning gender disparities in nutrition is not consistent and provides little help, if any, in developing nutrition policies. The main objectives of this study were to (1) seek experts’ narratives on gender disparities in nutrition, and (2) develop experts’ consensus on some policy guiding principles that may be used for developing nutrition policies. This study was descriptive in nature and utilized a three-round Delphi technique to gather responses from expertsin the field of nutrition and combine these responses into useful statements. The initial questionnaire for ‘Round one’ consisted of two open-ended questions; developed by the researcher, while subsequent questions were developed from the experts’ responses in the following Round. Question 1 sought the experts to identify experts’ narratives that best described the gender disparities in nutrition. Question 2 sought the experts to build a set of statements as guiding principles that may be useful for nutrition policy making process. Consequent upon repeated consensus building process, the experts identified and agreed upon 9 experts’ narratives and another 13 guiding principles. This narrative and guiding principles present a snapshot of and a guide to understand disparities in nutrition in a community like that of Pakistan. Larger research studies including international experts from various relevant academic and research domains are suggested for global consensus on the issue.