Acceptability and Feasibility of Community Gardening Interventions for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases among Indigenous Populations: A Scoping Review

Compared with non-Indigenous populations, Indigenous populations experience worse health across many outcomes, including non-communicable diseases, and they are three times more likely to live in extreme poverty. The objectives were to identify (1) the content, implementation, and duration of the intervention; (2) the evaluation designs used; (3) the outcomes reported; and (4) the enablers and the challenges. Using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a search of research databases and grey literature was conducted. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Papers reported on acceptability, nutrition knowledge, fruit and vegetable intake, self-efficacy, motivation, and preference concerning fruit and vegetable, diet, and gardening. No study measured all outcomes. All papers reported on acceptability, whether implicitly or explicitly. The evaluation used mostly pre- and post-intervention assessments. The effect of gardening on nutrition and gardening knowledge and fruit and vegetable intake was inconclusive, and was related to a general lack of robust evaluations. Applying the He Pikinga Waiora Framework, however, revealed strong evidence for community engagement, cultural centeredness, integrated knowledge translation and systems thinking in increasing the acceptability and feasibility of gardening in Indigenous communities. Despite environmental challenges, the evidence signaled that gardening was an acceptable intervention for the Indigenous communities.

Automated summary

Compared with non-Indigenous populations, Indigenous populations have poorer health outcomes, including non-communicable diseases, and higher rates of extreme poverty. A systematic review identified seven studies that examined the content, implementation, and outcomes of interventions in Indigenous communities. The studies reported on acceptability, nutrition knowledge, fruit and vegetable intake, self-efficacy, motivation, and preferences related to diet and gardening. The evidence on the effectiveness of gardening interventions for improving nutrition outcomes was inconclusive, highlighting the need for more robust evaluations. However, using a specific framework revealed strong evidence for the acceptability and feasibility of gardening in Indigenous communities.