Working Document Series Open Access 2012 RUF-31859

Constraints to Use of Animal Source Foods in Diets of 2 - 5 year old Children from Rural Communities in Kamuli District, Uganda

E.K. ColecraftA. LarteyS. OlukaO. Sakyi-Dawson

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Abstract

202 words

This cross sectional study, conducted in 2007 assessed household constraints to use of animal source foods (ASF) in diets of 2-5 year old children in rural Kamuli District in eastern Uganda. Assessments were made at food security levels on availability, accessibility and utilisation using a combination of Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) methods. Survey data showed that 38.0% (29.4-46.7 C.I) and 9.9% (4.6-15.2 C.I) of all children were stunted and underweight, respectively. Less than half of 8 ASF groups had been consumed within households one week preceding the study. Unlike eggs from home production, most ASF were purchased. Having a small number of index children in the household, male gender of index child, living with an educated caregiver and/ or biological father positively influenced diverse ASF intake significantly. In bivariate analyses, children from low wealth households were significantly more wasted and stunted than children from medium-to-high wealth households. Perceptions of key informants and focus group participants elicited low income, lack of access to technology and markets, inequitable household food allocation, inadequate knowledge, and beliefs as constraints to ASF use. Interventions to address household constraints to use of ASF in diets of 2-5 year old children must be sought especially in communities with ASF.

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