Differences in Underlying Causes of Infant Malnutrition Between a Pastoral and an Agro Pastoral Community in Ethiopia

Abstract

Objectives To determine the difference in underlying factors related to child nutritional status between pastoral and agro pastoral based communities in Ethiopia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in two rural pastoral communities located in the Somali region and agro pastoral community located in Southern Nations. Pairs of mothers and their infants aged 6 to 52 months were randomly selected to participate in the survey. Data was collected using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, Dietary Diversity, and Sanitation for Household Survey. Anthropometric measurements taken included height, length, and weight using WHO Anthro version 3.2.2. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences between communities. Logistic regression were used to analyze factors that contributed to infant health status. Results A total of 232 participants from both communities completed the survey. The agro pastoral community reported a higher food insecurity rate at 87% than the pastoral community at 70%. The prevalence of women not achieving the minimum dietary diversity was significantly higher in the pastoral community than the agro pastoral community (94% vs 68%, P < .001). Similarly, more households in the pastoral community reported accessing drinking water from unimproved sources (64% vs 0.9%, P < .001) and using unimproved toilet facilities (97% vs. 77%, P < .001) than the agropastoral community. Although almost all participants from both the agropastoral and pastoral communities reported washing their hands during critical times (100% and 96%) respectively. In addition, the pastoral community had significantly higher prevalence rates of infants’ wasting (44.5% vs 0%, P < .001) and underweight (47.8% vs 7.7%, P < .001) than the agro pastoral community. Conclusions Even though the prevalence of food insecurity was higher in the agro pastoral community than the pastoral community, they had lower rates of infant malnutrition. In contrast, although the pastoral community reported a lower rate of food insecurity, they had higher rates of child wasting and underweight, reported low dietary diversity, and poor hygiene practices. Based on these findings, dietary diversity and environmental sanitation may be protective of child wasting and underweight over and above food insecurity. Funding Sources Feed the Future Livestock Systems Innovation Lab (LSIL).