Seasonality and household diets in Ethiopia

Hirvonen, Kalle; Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum; Hassen, Ibrahim Worku

doi:10.1017/s1368980015003237

Cited by 123 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…10 Concerning a sufficient and well-balanced protein nutrition, the consumption of animal-source foods and of pulses and nuts is of particular relevance, because these two food groups are the main sources of high-quality protein, in addition to cereals, which typically provide the bulk of total protein in developing countries (Millward 1999;Pereira and Vincente 2013;Schönfeldt and Hall 2012;Young and Pellett 1994 where markets are less developed and consumers' market access is often limited in rural areas (Kolavalli et al 2012;Quaye 2008). This is consistent with evidence from the agricultural economics literature showing that the link between agricultural production and household food consumption is particularly strong in the presence of market imperfections (Barrett, Reardon, and Webb 2001;de Janvry, Fafchamps, and Sadoulet 1991;Dillon, McGee, and Oseni 2015;Hirvonen, Taffesse, and Hassen 2016).…”

Section: Household Food Consumption Patterns and Trends In Southern Asupporting

confidence: 90%

Achieving a nutrition revolution for Africa: The road to healthier diets and optimal nutrition

Ayalew¹,

Hoffmann²,

Lindahl³

et al. 2016

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Focusing the 2015 Annual Trends and Outlook Report (ATOR) on nutrition will contribute to a broader understanding of the critical role of nutrition in achieving international, continental, and national economic growth targets through agriculture, food security, and nutrition. This report presents information and analysis in support of evidence-based policy making that should inform the second generation of CAADP national investment plans now being developed. This is an important moment for shaping the region’s future and ensuring that the much-needed agriculture-led growth and development agenda can simultaneously deliver on improving nutrition, saving lives, improving productivity and health, and curbing nutrition-related diseases and the associated public health expenditures. These investment plans should address not only the usual elements of undernutrition but also widespread micronutrient deficiencies (termed “hidden hunger”) and the growing problem of overweight and obesity that is associated with economic growth.1 introduction 2 The African union policy environment toward enabling action for nutrition in Africa 3 Africa’s progress toward meeting current nutrition targets 4 Economic development and nutrition transition in Ghana: taking stock of food consumption patterns and trends 5 Making African agriculture and food systems work for nutrition: what has been done, and what needs to be done? 6 Lessons learned from the evaluation of Helen Keller International’s enhanced homestead food production program 7 The role of biofortification as part of more diverse diets in Africa: progress, challenges, and opportunities 8 The role of mycotoxin contamination in nutrition: the aflatoxin story 9 The challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned in evidence-informed decision making in Africa 10 Evaluating nutrition-sensitive programs: challenges, methods, and opportunities 11 Supporting multisectoral action: capacity and nutrition leadership challenges facing Africa 12 Tracking key CAADP indicators and implementation processes 13 Summary and policy recommendations: toward a nutrition revolution for AfricaReportPRIFPRI1; ReSAKSS; HarvestPlus; B Promoting healthy food systemsDSGD; WCAO; ESAO; HarvestPlus; PHND; A4NH; MTIDCGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH

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Section: Household Food Consumption Patterns and Trends In Southern Asupporting

confidence: 90%

Achieving a nutrition revolution for Africa: The road to healthier diets and optimal nutrition

Ayalew¹,

Hoffmann²,

Lindahl³

et al. 2016

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“…This could then explain some of the seasonal weight fluctuations among children located closer to food markets. Nevertheless, it is likely that households also cut back on quantities consumed during the lean season (see Hirvonen, Taffesse, and Worku 2015). Unfortunately, due to lack of data we cannot verify this hypothesis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…As a result, food prices in these markets closely follow the local food production patterns. High food prices in the lean season, together with low incomes and depleted food stocks, compel households to cut back on their food consumption and change the content of their diets (Hirvonen, Taffesse, and Worku 2015). This paper also speaks to the fast evolving research literature focusing on linkages between agriculture and nutrition (Carletto et al 2015, Herforth, Jones, andPinstrup-Andersen 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Most farmers in sub-Saharan Africa rely on rain-fed agriculture (Faurès and Santini 2008), resulting in considerable seasonal variations in local food availability and prices (Hirvonen, Taffesse, and Worku 2015, Kaminski, Christiaensen, and Gilbert 2014, Gilbert, Christiaensen, and Kaminski 2015. Moreover, a large body of literature documents how children's and adults' anthropometric outcomes fluctuate across agricultural seasons (Ferro-Luzzi et al 2001, Maleta et al 2003, Alemu and Lindtjørn 1995, Leonard 1991, Panter-Brick 1997, Dercon and Krishnan 2000, thus confirming the link between seasonal energy stress and undernutrition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…12 This is followed by the harvest period, typically occurring between October and November (Hirvonen, Taffesse, and Worku 2015). After the harvest, households depend largely on their stored food stocks.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Does Market Access Mitigate the Impact of Seasonality on Child Growth?

2016

Innocenti Working Papers

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In 1988 the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) established a research centre to support its advocacy for children worldwide and to identify and research current and future areas of UNICEF's work. The prime objectives of the Office of Research are to improve international understanding of issues relating to children's rights and to help facilitate full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in developing, middle-income and industrialized countries.The Office aims to set out a comprehensive framework for research and knowledge within the organization, in support of its global programmes and policies. Through strengthening research partnerships with leading academic institutions and development networks in both the North and South, the Office seeks to leverage additional resources and influence in support of efforts towards policy reform in favour of children.Publications produced by the Office are contributions to a global debate on children and child rights issues and include a wide range of opinions. For that reason, some publications may not necessarily reflect UNICEF policies or approaches on some topics. The views expressed are those of the authors and/or editors and are published in order to stimulate further dialogue on child rights.The Office collaborates with its host institution in Florence, the Istituto degli Innocenti, in selected areas of work. Core funding is provided by the Government of Italy, while financial support for specific projects is also provided by other governments, international institutions and private sources, including UNICEF National Committees.Extracts from this publication may be freely reproduced with due acknowledgement. Requests to translate the publication in its entirety should be addressed to: Communications Unit, florence@unicef.org.For further information and to download or order this and other publications, please visit the website at www.unicef-irc.org. Abstract: Seasonality in agricultural production continues to shape intra-annual food availability and prices in low-income countries. Using high-frequency panel data from northern Ethiopia, this study attempts to quantify seasonal fluctuations in children's weights. In line with earlier studies, we document considerable seasonality in children's age and height adjusted weights. While children located closer to local food markets are better nourished compared to their counterparts residing in more remote areas, their weights are also subject to considerable seasonality. Further analysis provides evidence that children located closer to food markets consume more diverse diets than those located farther away. However, the content of these diets varies across seasons: children are less likely to consume animal source foods during the lean season. This leads us to conclude that households located near these food markets are not able to insulate their children from seasonal weight fluctuations. We discuss some policy options with potential to address this threat to child well-being. Correspondence sho...

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Seasonal changes in body composition in children from Maya agriculturalists in central Yucatán, Mexico

Gurri,

Ruiz‐García,

Vallejo‐Nieto

et al. 2024

American J Hum Biol

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IntroductionDevelopment policies have aimed to substitute subsistence agriculture for cash crops or other cash generating activities to encourage local farmers to depend on store‐bought groceries available year‐round instead of seasonal subsistence crops. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that increased dependence on store bought foods has decreased seasonal changes in nutritional status and fat mass in Maya Children from Yucatan, Mexico.MethodsWeight for age (W/A), body mass index (BMI), and tricipital Skinfold z scores in children under the age of 10 years from 14 Maya rural towns with different degrees of development were compared longitudinally between scarcity and abundance seasons using a repeated measures analysis of variance. Height for age (H/A) z scores were also estimated.ResultsOrigin of food consumed corresponded to the town's degree of development. Nutritional status (W/Az) and adiposity, BMI, and tricipital z scores were significantly lower during the scarcity season in every community. W/Az, tricipital skinfold z, and H/Az scores were significantly higher in developed than in traditional towns, yet in both types of town W/Az and H/Az scores were below the WHO standard mean. Tricipital skinfold z score was only below the WHO standard amongst traditional towns during the scarcity season.ConclusionsIncreased dependence on store foods failed to eliminate significant losses in body fat during the scarcity season. This failure may be affecting linear growth and promoting a thrifty phenotype that is seen in short and stocky individuals with a tendency to accumulate fat during abundance seasons.

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Seasonality and household diets in Ethiopia

Cited by 123 publications

References 38 publications

Achieving a nutrition revolution for Africa: The road to healthier diets and optimal nutrition

Achieving a nutrition revolution for Africa: The road to healthier diets and optimal nutrition

Does Market Access Mitigate the Impact of Seasonality on Child Growth?

Seasonal changes in body composition in children from Maya agriculturalists in central Yucatán, Mexico

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