Tropentag, September 17 - 19, 2018 in Ghent "Global food security and food safety: The role of universities"

Dietary Diversity and Consumption of Foods from Different Food Groups among Small Holder Women Farmers in Kenya, Malawi and Uganda

¹Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Cent. for Intern. Dev. and Environm. Res., Germany
²Egerton University, Department of Human Nutrition, Kenya
³Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Inst. of Agric. Policy and Market Res., Germany
⁴Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Inst. of Nutritional Science, Germany

Abstract

Inadequate dietary intake among women of reproductive age remains a challenge in some countries of sub-Saharan Africa. This study compared the dietary diversity and consumption of foods from different groups among women in three African countries.
Cross- sectional agriculture-nutrition baseline surveys were conducted in Teso sub-county (Kenya), Kapchorwa District (Uganda) and Lilongwe District (Malawi) between May - November 2016, targeting 1263 farm households with children aged under five years. All three study regions relied on small holder maize farming. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to assess demographic and socio-economic characteristics. A Minimum Dietary Diversity Score for Women (MDD-W, max 10 groups) was calculated based on a 24h-recall. Anthropometric measurements were taken to calculate body mass index (BMI).
Mean (SD) BMI was similar in all three countries (Kenya: 23 kg m^-2 ± 4; Malawi: 23 kg m^-2± 3; Uganda: 23 kg m^-2 ± 4). Mean number of food groups consumed differed significantly between the countries 4.2 ± 1.2 (Kenya), 3.9 ± 1.4 (Malawi), 4.3 ± 1.2 (Uganda), (p ≤ 0.05). The proportion of women who achieved MDD-W in Uganda, Kenya and Malawi were 44.5 %, 41.2 % and 33.5 %, respectively. “Grains, white tubers and plantain” was the most consumed food group (Kenya: 100%; Malawi: 93%; Uganda: 100%). There where great differences in the proportion of women who consumed foods from other food groups. While the least consumed food group in Kenya was nuts and seeds (6 %), eggs were least consumed by women in Uganda (5%) and Malawi (<1%). Only one in 10 women in Kenya (11%) and Uganda (9%) consumed vitamin A rich fruits and vegetables in contrast to 34% in Malawi. Animal source food consumption was twice to three times higher in Kenya compared to Malawi and Uganda (Kenya: 64 %, Malawi: 28 %, Uganda: 21 %).
The low proportion of women who achieved MDD-W indicates a high risk for micronutrient deficiencies in all three regions. Region specific agriculture and nutrition interventions are needed to improve the availability and consumption of the different non-staple foods.
The study was funded by the BLE with support from the BMEL.

Keywords: Dietary diversity, food security, hidden hunger, nutrition

Contact Address: M. Gracia Glas, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Cent. for Intern. Dev. and Environm. Res., Giessen, Germany, e-mail: maria.g.glaszeu.uni-giessen.de