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With research staff from more than 70 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

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Timothy Thomas

Timothy Thomas is a Senior Research Fellow in the Foresight and Policy Modeling Unit. His research focuses on the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity. Tim’s work involves developing innovative methods for simulated climate futures and model coordination between climate, crop, water, energy, and economics.

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Ampa Dogui Diatta

Research Analyst

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Bio

Ampa Diatta is a Senior Research Analyst in the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit, based in the IFPRI Dakar office. His work focuses on implementation research studies, policy analysis, and gender-based qualitative research. He also works on evidence synthesis, which involves identifying and mapping available research evidence through rapid reviews, systematic mapping reviews, and policy landscape analyses to generate and synthesize knowledge on optimal approaches to improve nutrition in the West Africa region. He is involved in the implementation of various quantitative and qualitative surveys in Africa. Before joining IFPRI, Ampa worked for Senegalese government in the Conseil National de Développement de la Nutrition (CNDN), where he was involved in the coordination of community nutrition programs. He holds a master’s degree in Human Food and Nutrition from the Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal.

Languages spoken: Diola, Wolof, French, English

Publications

Publications

Resource thumbnail

Abstract

Healthy diet perceptions and drivers of fruit and vegetable food choices among adolescents in Benin: A qualitative study

2026Iruhiriye, Elyse; Diatta, Ampa Dogui; Bodjrènou, Sam; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Eissler, Sarah; Mitchodigni, Irène Medeme; Cunningham, Kenda; Olney, Deanna K.; Bliznashka, Lilia
Details

Healthy diet perceptions and drivers of fruit and vegetable food choices among adolescents in Benin: A qualitative study

Objectives: Low fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption contributes to preventable mortality and morbidity from non-communicable diseases. Adolescence is a critical period to influence and change dietary choices. We aimed to understand factors that influence F&V food choices and identify barriers and facilitators to modifying F&V consumption among adolescents in Benin.

Year published

2026

Authors

Iruhiriye, Elyse; Diatta, Ampa Dogui; Bodjrènou, Sam; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Eissler, Sarah; Mitchodigni, Irène Medeme; Cunningham, Kenda; Olney, Deanna K.; Bliznashka, Lilia

Citation

Iruhiriye, Elyse; Diatta, Ampa Dogui; Bodjrènou, Sam; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Eissler, Sarah; et al. 2026. Healthy diet perceptions and drivers of fruit and vegetable food choices among adolescents in Benin: A qualitative study. Current Developments in Nutrition 10(Supplement 1): 108574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2026.108574

Country/Region

Benin

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Western Africa; Capacity Building; Healthy Diets; Fruits; Vegetables; Feeding Preferences; Adolescents

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2026.108574 Source record

Record type

Abstract

Resource thumbnail

Preprint

Healthy diet perceptions and drivers of fruit and vegetable food choices among adolescents in Benin: A qualitative study

2026Diatta, Ampa Dogui; Bodjrenou, Fifali Sam Ulrich; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Eissler, Sarah; Mitchodigni, Irene Medeme; Cunningham, Kenda; Olney, Deanna K.; Bliznashka, Lilia; Iruhiriye, Elyse
Details

Healthy diet perceptions and drivers of fruit and vegetable food choices among adolescents in Benin: A qualitative study

Globally, 75% of adolescents do not meet recommendations for fruits and vegetables (F&V) consumption. This study investigated drivers of F&V choices among adolescents in Benin and identified barriers and facilitators to modifying F&V consumption. We conducted 16 focus group discussions (FGDs) with 126 adolescents and 5 semi-structured school observations in December 2024. FGDs were purposively chosen to explore variation by region (north/south), school location (urban/rural), adolescent age (12 to 15 years/16-18 years) and gender (boys/girls). Inductive and deductive thematic content analysis was performed using Atlas.ti. Findings showed that adolescents perceived a healthy diet as one composed of meals providing nutrients and strength, and including F&V. At home, adolescents mentioned eating staples and other vegetables more than other food groups. The foods adolescents reported typically eating at school varied by age, gender, and location. The primary categories of factors that influenced adolescent F&V choices were: intrapersonal (knowledge related to healthy eating and the nutrition and health benefits of F&V, taste preferences, and health prioritisation), socio-cultural (family and peer influences), and food environment (low availability, low affordability, convenience, and desirability). DFC factors were consistent across adolescent age, gender, and location. Multiple, dynamic, and multilevel factors influence adolescent F&V choices. Interventions that simultaneously address multiple barriers and involve family and peers are likely to be more successful in promoting F&V consumption and healthy diets than interventions only addressing individual barriers.

Year published

2026

Authors

Diatta, Ampa Dogui; Bodjrenou, Fifali Sam Ulrich; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Eissler, Sarah; Mitchodigni, Irene Medeme; Cunningham, Kenda; Olney, Deanna K.; Bliznashka, Lilia; Iruhiriye, Elyse

Citation

Diatta, Ampa Dogui; Bodjrenou, Fifali Sam Ulrich; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Eissler, Sarah; Mitchodigni, Irene Medeme; et al. 2026. Healthy diet perceptions and drivers of fruit and vegetable food choices among adolescents in Benin: A qualitative study. MedRXiv Preprint. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.06.30.26356853

Country/Region

Benin

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Western Africa; Capacity Building; Healthy Diets; Fruits; Vegetables; Feeding Preferences; Adolescents; Qualitative Analysis

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.06.30.26356853 Source record

Record type

Preprint

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

The effects of an integrated nutrition-sensitive WASH, gender and poultry-value chain intervention on enteropathogen carriage in Burkinabe children: A secondary outcome analysis of the SELEVER cluster-randomized trial

2026
Morren, K.; Gelli, Aulo; Awonon, Josué; Becquey, Elodie; Diatta, Ampa Dogui; Diop, Loty; Ganaba, R.; Headey, Derek D.; Hien, A.; Ngure, F.
…more Pedehombga, A.; Santacroce, M.; Toe, L. C.; Verweij, J. J.; Verhoef, H.
Details

The effects of an integrated nutrition-sensitive WASH, gender and poultry-value chain intervention on enteropathogen carriage in Burkinabe children: A secondary outcome analysis of the SELEVER cluster-randomized trial

Background We examined effects of a 3-year poultry- and livestock-focused Water, Sanitation and Hygiene intervention (WASH) on enteropathogen prevalence and density (SELEVER trial; ISRCTN16686478). Methods Clusters of peri-urban and rural Burkinabe households were randomly assigned to: Control (no intervention), SELEVER (poultry rearing, nutrition, basic hygiene practices, and women empowerment) and SELEVER+WASH (additional intensive poultry- and livestock-focused community-led total sanitation). Base- and endline fecal samples were collected from children aged 24-59 months and analyzed using real-time qPCR to detect and quantify 24 enteropathogen targets. Analysis of effects on enteropathogen carriage and density was by intent to treat using logistic, log-linear and two-part regression. Results We enrolled 1,054 children and analyzed 883 children with endline fecal samples (attrition 15.0%). Almost all children (94.6%) were infected with at least one pathogen. Children in SELEVER+WASH arm had lower prevalence of Shigella/EIEC infection and unconditional mean DNA content compared to control (prevalence difference: -9.0%, 95% CI: -15.4%, -2.6%; unconditional DNA content: -56.5%, 95% CI: -78.8%, -11.1%) and SELEVER arms (prevalence difference: -7.7%, 95% CI: -14.2%, -1.3%; unconditional DNA content: -67.5%, 95% CI: -86.0%, -24.2%). Prevalence and unconditional DNA density of Hymenolepis nana was also lower in the SELEVER+WASH arm compared to control (prevalence difference: -4.9%, 95% CI: -9.4%, -0.5%; unconditional mean DNA content: -52.4%, 95% CI: -77.0%, -1.4%) and SELEVER (prevalence difference: -5.2%, 95% CI: -9.8%, -0.6%; unconditional mean DNA content: -52.7%, 95% CI: -79.0%, -0.7%). Conclusions A poultry- and livestock-focused WASH intervention was associated with reductions in prevalence and density of Shigella/EIEC and Hymenolepis nana infections in young children in Burkina Faso.

Year published

2026

Authors

Morren, K.; Gelli, Aulo; Awonon, Josué; Becquey, Elodie; Diatta, Ampa Dogui; Diop, Loty; Ganaba, R.; Headey, Derek D.; Hien, A.; Ngure, F.; Pedehombga, A.; Santacroce, M.; Toe, L. C.; Verweij, J. J.; Verhoef, H.

Citation

Morren, K.; Gelli, Aulo; Awonon, Josué; Becquey, Elodie; Diatta, Ampa Dogui; et al. The effects of an integrated nutrition-sensitive WASH, gender and poultry-value chain intervention on enteropathogen carriage in Burkinabe children: A secondary outcome analysis of the SELEVER cluster-randomized trial. Journal of Infectious Diseases. Article in press. First published online on September 15, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiag459

Country/Region

Burkina Faso

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Western Africa; Water; Hygiene; Gender; Nutrition; Value Chains; Children; Randomized Controlled Trials

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiag459 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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June 16 to 26, 2025

10th annual Agriculture, Nutrition and Health (ANH) Academy Week

IFPRI is participating in the 10th annual Agriculture, Nutrition and Health (ANH) Academy Week from June 16-26, 2025. The ANH Academy Week is a series of annual events that bring together the community of researchers, practitioners and policymakers working at the intersection of agriculture, food systems, nutrition and health. The objective of the ANH Academy […]