Exploration of plant-based diet in non-communicable disease management based on agro nursing †

Objective This study aimed to explore farmers’ consumption patterns of local vegetables and fruits and to examine their potential contribution to the management of hypertension through the development of an agro-nursing-based plant-based diet in Jember Regency. Methods A qualitative approach is used to explore sources of vegetables and fruits that can be used as a plant-based hypertension diet and the problem of the farmers’ hypertension. The data collection involved 4 months of participant observation (PO) in the community and focus group discussions (FGDs) with the key informants until data saturation, with 25 informants (consisting of community health workers [CHW], locally known as “kader” in Indonesia, and farmers). We used Leininger’s 4 phases of qualitative analysis to develop a thematic structure of this study. Results Seventeen patterns generated 2 themes through the analysis of all data. The plant-based diet was found to be integrated into their daily behavioral activities. Farmers’ consumption patterns and types of vegetables and fruits consumed were also identified in this study. Consumption patterns and the ability of the family also became the basis for farmers to meet the consumption of vegetables and fruits which are also useful for lowering their blood pressure. Conclusions This study demonstrates that farmers maintain dietary patterns characterized by regular consumption of vegetables and fruits, which indicates the integration of a plant-based diet into their daily routine. Such dietary practices contribute to managing hypertension, as consistent intake of fruits and vegetables helps maintain stable health.