Livestock ownership, animal source foods and child nutritional outcomes in seven rural village clusters in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa currently has the highest prevalence of malnutrition worldwide. In children under the age of 5 years, malnutrition can have long-term effects on physical and cognitive development, with implications at the national scale. Theoretically, livestock-based interventions are well placed to overcome constraints faced by micronutrient and/or food-based interventions. However, there is limited empirical evidence to support this hypothesis. Methods:This study utilised agriculture, nutrition and anthropometry data from the Millennium Villages Project to investigate relationships between livestock ownership, animal source foods (ASF) consumption and child nutritional outcomes across seven rural village clusters in Sub-Saharan Africa. Village clusters were located in different agro-ecological zones and included: Bonsaaso, Ghana; Mayange, Rwanda; Mwandama, Malawi; Tiby, Mali; Pampaida, Nigeria; Potou, Senegal; and Ruhiira, Uganda. Data from 1624 households (including 1543 children) were included in the analysis.Results: Overall, the proportion of children with stunting, underweight or wasting across the seven village clusters was 40, 18 and 5%, respectively. Livestock ownership, ASF consumption and child nutritional outcomes varied between village clusters. Households that owned livestock were generally more likely to consume associated ASF. For example, the proportion of households that consumed milk was higher in households that owned cows compared to those that did not in Pampaida, Mayange and Ruhiira (P < 0.05), while poultry meat consumption was generally higher in poultry-keeping households in Mayange and Ruhiira (P < 0.05). The relationship between ASF consumption and anthropometric measurements was complex, ranging from positively to negatively associated depending on the food commodity and village cluster. For instance, in Ruhiira, the mean weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) was significantly higher (better) in children from households that consumed eggs in the last 30 days, while in Potou, mean WAZ was significantly lower (worse) in children from households that consumed eggs in the last 30 days (P < 0.05). Conclusions:This study contributes to the growing body of research that investigates the relationships between livestock ownership, ASF consumption and nutritional outcomes in children. Our results reveal complex patterns that vary across agro-ecological zones. More research is needed to assess seasonal variations in these factors, effects of gender roles on intra-household distribution of ASF, as well as effects of zoonotic food-borne diseases on nutritional status of children in these sites.

Effect of locally produced complementary foods on fat‐free mass, linear growth, and iron status among Kenyan infants: A randomized controlled trial

“…The fact that all three foods had similar results in terms of impact on nutritional status could reflect a more systemic nonfood-related phenomenon in the environment. For example, exposure to environmental hazards may limit the benefits of ASFs through effects on gut integrity (Hetherington, Wiethoelter, Negin, & Mor, 2017;Kaur, Graham, & Eisenberg, 2017). Children may suffer from environmental enteric dysfunction, which has been associated with stunting by inflammation-mediated interference with the insulin-growth factor synthesis pathway and through negative impacts on absorption of nutrients (Owino et al, 2016).…”

Promotion of Egg and Eggshell Powder Consumption on the Nutritional Status of Young Children in Ethiopia

“…No other comparable intervention study was found in young children of resource-poor populations. One observational study reported an inconsistent effect of increased egg consumption on underweight in different rural villages of Sub-Saharan Africa [16]. A large scale study in India associated lower consumption of eggs with a two-fold increased odds of stunting in under two children [17].…”

Livestock Transfers, Food Security and Women’s Empowerment: Evidence from a Randomized Phased-in Program in Nicaragua

“…For instance, in Uganda, it is shown that large ruminants ownership increases dairy consumption but has no significant effect on beef consumption, while chicken consumption increases with the number of poultry owned (Azzari, 2014). Similarly, Hetherington et al (2006) study the relationship between livestock ownership and animal-source foods consumption in seven rural villages located in Sub-Saharan Africa and confirm that households with livestock ownership are more likely to consume animal-base foods.…”

“…Azzari et al (2014) show that small ruminant ownership decreases the probability of weight loss and underweight on children between three and five years old, while large ruminant ownership has the opposite effect probably due to animal health issues. Hetherington et al (2006) also show that the link between animal-based foods consumption and anthropometric measurements is not clear, as their findings vary between negative and positive effects, depending on the food commodity and the villages.…”