Conduct a qualitative multi-country study on the effects of sociocultural and obesogenic environmental factors on adolescent self-perception regarding body image, mental health and health and nutrition related lifestyle choices.
OBJECTIVES & SCOPE OF WORK
General Objective
Under the overall guidance of the Regional Nutrition Specialist and in coordination with the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Specialist, other LACRO staff and country offices (COs), the contracted institution will undertake a qualitative multi-country study, including a desk review and field research regarding the interplay between sociocultural and obesogenic environmental influences on:
A) Self-perception, body image and mental health
B) Health and nutrition-related lifestyle choices including healthy food, engaging in physical activity, and including both risk factors and protective factors.
Scope of work
The institution will work closely with COs of selected countries, the LACRO Nutrition Specialist, the MHPSS Specialist, the Food Systems Specialist and the Regional Survive and Thrive Advisor to conduct the following tasks to achieve the deliverables:
1. Develop a research protocol and work plan: This study will have two components 1) desk review and 2) field research in three countries selected based on the desk review, and local needs/prioritization (identified in coordination with UNICEF Country Offices). The protocol draft should include: title, introduction, research objectives, ethical considerations, methodology (including local country coordination), data collection tools (including local adaptation), data collection tools, references timeline, etc. This will be reviewed by UNICEF LACRO and the research team must make changes accordingly.
2. Development of the data collection methodology and study protocol: This should include the recompilation of existing assessment tools (incl. cultural adaptation) and/or development of culturally adapted data collection tools (i.e. focus groups guides and semi-structured interviews).
3. Ethical approval: The research team must submit the field research protocol for ethics committees review and approval.
4. Desk review of existing documentation, reports, national surveys, scientific articles, and other publications, relevant to LAC region, regarding:
a. The role of sociocultural and obesogenic environmental factors, in shaping self-perception regarding a) body image, weight, mental health outcomes (e.g.depression and anxiety symptoms) and b) their capacity to adopt healthy lifestyles habits (health eating and physical activity).
b. Coping strategies employed by adolescents to overcome the environmental influences and mitigate the effects of social stigma associated with overweight.
c. Psychosocial factors that impact the strategies employed by adolescents to adopt healthy lifestyle and nutrition habits.
d. Social media exposure and food marketing targeting children and adolescents.
e. Other key aspects identified as essential for the study (i.e. 2023 Thematic Report on Childhood Overweight in Latin America and the Caribbean). This will be defined based on key information found during the desk review that is consider relevant by the research team to explore further.
5. Data collection: Conduct interviews and other feasible participatory methods, as needed, to key informants such as media experts, digital experts, policy makers, youth leaders and community influencers, and others identified as relevant.
6. Analyse the data collected using adequate tools for qualitative (SenseMaker, NVIVO) and/or quantitative (R, SPSS or STATA) data.
7. Draft report with the findings and recommendations and finalize it after receiving inputs from UNICEF.
8. Final report of the project including Abstract, keywords, introduction, methodology, ethical considerations, results, conclusions, discussion, recommendations for country teams, contribution, declaration of conflict of interest, references
. In addition, include recommendations for youth engagement, including key messages targeting children and adolescents, based on the study results.
9. Policy brief: Develop a policy brief with a summary of the findings and recommendations (1 regional and 1per country).
10. Dissemination activities: Support the dissemination and presentation of the findings in relevant fora and events, including through the development of a PowerPoint presentation.
11. Follow up reporting: The research team will engage in regular meetings with the UNICEF LACRO team to provide updates on the study's progress and to collaboratively assess and refine the research approach as needed.
12. Submission and publication in scientific journal: Follow-up to comments and recommendations during publication process of the policy brief and scientific publications,both in Spanish and English.
