Vanuatu is a lower-middle income country in the Western Pacific experiencing a growing triple burden of malnutrition (TBM)(1). Increased consumption of processed foods, compounded by climate change and extreme weather events, is contributing to TBM and rising rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region(1). In Vanuatu, NCDs account for up to 60% of premature mortality, with women disproportionately affected(2). This is particularly concerning as the nutritional status of women of reproductive age (WRA) is a critical determinant of intergenerational health. Despite this, data on dietary intake, especially among women, remains limited in Vanuatu(3). This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by capturing the diet diversity and food insecurity experiences of Ni-Vanuatu women.
Utilising co-design principles, members of the Vanuatu Ministry of Health and grassroots non-profit organisation Wan Smolbag (based in Port Vila) provided invaluable input to ensure contextual relevance and cultural sensitivity in study design, survey tools, and data capture. Local research assistants travelled with University of the Sunshine Coast researchers to support data collection across urban, peri-urban, and rural communities on Efate Island between 2023–2024. Ni-Vanuatu women aged 18–85 years participated in interviews conducted in Bislama (the national creole language), completing either a modified Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) or 24-hour recall survey to capture dietary intake. The FAO Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) was also administered during 2024 data. The FIES asks eight questions on food security over the past 12-months.
Preliminary analysis of 921 participants (urban n=274; rural n=646) including 718 (78%) WRA, showed that 91% met the FAO’s Minimum Diet Diversity for Women (MDD-W), consuming at least five out of ten food groups in the previous day. However, intake of key nutrient-dense foods was low: 39% consumed eggs, 37% dairy, and 30% pulses or legumes. Descriptive and relational analyses, including chi-square testing, revealed significant differences (p<0.001) in consumption patterns between urban and rural women. While meat and poultry were the main protein sources (90%), over one-third (36%) were processed items of lower nutritional quality (e.g., corned beef, spam). FIES responses (n = 431) highlighted 72% of women experienced moderate or severe food insecurity over the past 12-months with 28% indicating severe food insecurity. Women reported being impacted by rising cost of fresh produce and environmental pressures on household gardens, particularly from the dual cyclones of March 2023.
This study provides a critical baseline for nutrition policy and future research in Vanuatu. It underscores the urgent need for targeted nutrition interventions to support WRA, whose health and dietary patterns directly influence the health of future generations. It also demonstrates the value of co-designed research and local capacity strengthening in capturing context-specific evidence for Pacific communities.