In the past decade Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have become a highly visible public
health issue in Senegal. In the absence of adequate and affordable care people diagnosed with
NCDs seek to manage their symptoms through the adoption of healthy diet. However, in
households built on collective eating, dietary change is extremely ...
In the past decade Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have become a highly visible public
health issue in Senegal. In the absence of adequate and affordable care people diagnosed with
NCDs seek to manage their symptoms through the adoption of healthy diet. However, in
households built on collective eating, dietary change is extremely challenging. Drawing on
participant observation, biographical interviews and focus groups with women in six
households in the Dakar suburb of Pikine, this paper presents a relational analysis of the
reception and translation of dietary advice within low income households. Women diagnosed
with chronic disease strategically “bracketed” advice that not possible to enact, prioritised
collective transformation over individual change, and valued consumption that demonstrated
“respect” and solidarity over “healthy eating”. I show that relational approaches open up new
intervention and health promotion strategies for the prevention and management of Non
Communicable Diseases outside of the global North.