Camel milk consumption is associated with less childhood stunting and underweight than bovine milk in rural pastoral districts of Somali, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Undernutrition is a major global health problem. Various types of animal milk are used for feeding children at early ages; however, associations of camel milk (CaM) and bovine milk (BM) with the nutritional status of children have not been explored. A comparative community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pre-schoolers in rural pastoral districts of Somali, Ethiopia. Children were selected from households with lactating camels or cows. Anthropometric measurements followed standard procedures for height-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-height scores. Independent sample t-tests identified significant differences in anthropometric indices based on the type of milk consumed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between milk consumption and other predictors of growth failures. The prevalence of stunting was 24⋅1 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 20⋅5, 28⋅3] of pre-schoolers, 34⋅8 % (95 % CI 29⋅9, 39⋅6) were wasted and 34⋅7 % (95 % CI 30⋅1, 39⋅9) were underweight. Higher proportions of BM-fed children were severely stunted, wasted and underweight compared with CaM consumers. Using logistic regression models, children who consumed BM [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2⋅10; 95 % CI 1⋅22, 3⋅61] and who were anaemic (AOR: 4⋅22; 95 % CI 2⋅23, 7⋅98) were more likely to be stunted than their counterparts, while girls were less likely to be stunted than boys (AOR: 0⋅57; 95 % CI 0⋅34, 0⋅94). Similarly, children who consumed BM (AOR: 1⋅97; 95 % CI 1⋅20, 3⋅24), who were anaemic (AOR: 2⋅27; 95 % CI 1⋅38, 3⋅72) and who drank unsafe water (AOR: 1⋅91; 95 % CI 1⋅19, 3⋅07) were more likely to be underweight than their counterparts. In conclusion, CaM consumption was associated with lower prevalence of stunting and underweight than BM. Promoting CaM in pastoralist areas may help to curb the high level of undernutrition.

The impact of livestock interventions on nutritional outcomes of children younger than 5 years old and women in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Some studies had multiple outcomes. For the nutritional outcomes measured, dietary diversity was reported by 9% ( n = 5) of the studies ( 46 – 50 ), consumption of ASFs by 18% ( n = 10) of the studies ( 27 , 46 , 50 – 57 ), hemoglobin concentration and prevalence of anemia by 7% ( n = 4) of the studies ( 51 , 58 – 60 ), stunting or HAZ z-scores by 33% ( n = 18) of the studies ( 27 , 46 – 48 , 51 – 53 , 55 – 57 , 61 – 68 ), wasting or WHZ z-scores by 15% ( n = 8) of the studies ( 27 , 46 , 47 , 51 , 55 – 57 , 61 ), and 18% ( n = 10) reported on underweight or WAZ z-scores ( 27 , 46 – 48 , 53 , 60 , 61 , 68 – 70 ) Based on study design, of the 29 studies reviewed, 14% ( n = 4) were livestock oriented impact evaluations, 4% ( n = 1) evaluated dairy sensitive value chains, 41% ( n = 12) were observational studies, and 41% ( n = 12) were experimental studies ( Supplementary Table 1 ).…”

“…Based on our evidence synthesis, a sizeable percentage of articles showed that livestock interventions improved access to and consumption of nutrient-dense animal-source foods ( 27 , 46 , 50 – 57 ), attaining minimum dietary diversity ( 46 – 50 ), hemoglobin concentration, and prevalence of anemia ( 51 , 58 – 60 ). Additionally, some livestock interventions improved children’s stunting or height-for-age (HAZ) z-scores ( 27 , 46 – 48 , 51 – 53 , 55 – 57 , 61 – 68 ), wasting or weight-for-height (WHZ) z-scores ( 27 , 46 , 47 , 51 , 55 – 57 , 61 ), and underweight or weight-for-age (WAZ) z-scores ( 48 , 61 , 68 , 69 ), which are indicators of chronic and acute nutritional status in children.…”

Nutrition Intake as a Risk Factor of Stunting in Children Aged 25–30 Months in Central Jakarta, Indonesia

“…Stunting will reduce productivity as adults and cause a decrease in human resources always in the future (Sjarif et al 2019). Childhood stunting has significant and long-term consequences for individuals, families, and countries (Muleta et al 2021).…”

“…Stunting in children is mostly caused by poor nutrition, a high disease burden, inadequate child feeding, poor sanitation, and a lack of access to high-quality health and nutrition services (Muleta et al 2021). For children's growth and development, an adequate intake of macro-and micronutrients (such as energy, protein, and vitamins A, C, and calcium) is important.…”