Reducing the dependency on rice as staple food in Indonesia - a behavior intervention approach.

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate factors influencing high consumption of rice in Indonesia and to conduct intervention strategies for reducing the high consumption of rice. In the first phase, 821 Indonesian participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire about knowledge and beliefs about rice as staple food. Most participants are unaware about the importance of reducing rice consumption. There were also several wrong beliefs found about consuming non rice as staple food. In the second phase of the study, 119 students, 44 housewives and 17 office-workers were involved in a campaign program to educate the participants about relevant knowledge concerning rice consumption. Knowledge about food and the awareness of reducing rice consumption of participants were increased after the campaign. In the third phase, 5 families (17 participants) were involved in a food provision program. For 21 consecutive days they were provided with various non-rice menus for their breakfast. Result shows that there was no intention of the participants to change their food choice after the food provision was over. We conclude that behavior intervention that is effective in reducing rice consumption in Indonesia is in the form of campaign; consist of importance of reducing rice consumption, food security that is alarming in Indonesia, and advantage of consuming non rice as staple food.