Multiple indicators of household dietary diversity in rural China: impacts of income and dietary knowledge

Mali’s population is experiencing lifestyle and dietary changes that are driven in part by urbanisation and income growth. Utilising two large-scale datasets, we bring new empirical evidence regarding whether Malians are shifting toward highly processed foods, meals purchased away from home, and sugary foods. We find that on-farm production represents only 25% of the food consumed by rural households during the hungry season, and 36% after harvest. Processed food shares are greater in urban (60%) than in rural areas (48%), and considerably higher overall than those reported for Eastern and Southern Africa, but with a lower portion of highly processed foods and negligible shares of meals consumed outside the home. Average household dietary diversity scores are higher in urban than in rural areas. Women’s and household diet diversity varies by season in both locations. About half of farm women interviewed did not meet minimum adequate dietary diversity during the lean season.

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Exploring Food Security and Household Dietary Diversity in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12051851 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 1851

Author(s):

Priviledge Cheteni ◽

Yohane Khamfula ◽

Gisele Mah

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Consumption ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Household Food ◽

Binary Model ◽

Food Security Status ◽

Food Consumption Score ◽

Household Dietary Diversity

Food security is one of the most severe challenges facing the majority of African countries. The objective of this study was to explore household food dietary diversity and food security in a rural area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A total of 296 household heads were randomly sampled to participate in the study. The Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) and Household Food Consumption Score (HFCS) were used to identify the consumption patterns of the households and their food security status. Meanwhile, a binary model was used to identify the variables that had an impact on household food security. Findings from the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) revealed that 61 percent of the households had lower dietary diversity and were consuming at least three food groups, which mainly include pulses, milk, and cereals. The results from the Household Food Consumption Score (HFCS), however, showed that the majority of the households had adequate levels of food consumption. The binary model revealed that age, household income, access to credit, and gender are statistically significant in influencing household food security status in the study area. It can be concluded that household dietary diversity is not guaranteed by food security, as proven by the regression model. Therefore, the government should consider the impact of low income on food security and it should intensify efforts directed at helping rural households to reduce incidences of food insecurity.

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Assessment of food security among households in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

International Journal of Social Economics ◽

10.1108/ijse-07-2016-0187 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 2-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ebenezer Toyin Megbowon ◽

Abbyssinia Mushunje

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Food Security ◽

Poisson Regression ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Eastern Cape Province ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Food Groups ◽

Content Type ◽

Dietary Diversity Score ◽

Household Dietary Diversity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze food security status and its determinants among households in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is based on the General Household Survey which was conducted in 2014 where 3,033 households were sampled from the province. Specifically, this study examines the determinants of food security proxy by dietary diversity (24-hour recall) using descriptive statistics, Poisson regression. A frequency count of food groups consumed household dietary diversity score was used as the explained variable. Findings The descriptive analysis shows that, although 61.7 percent of households in the study area have a high dietary diversity score, however, food group giving micronutrients are less consumed as food groups having cereals (maize), beef, sugar and oil was mostly consumed. Results on the marginal effect of Poisson regression indicate that household head characteristics (age, gender, education, marital status, and employment status), pension receiving households and geographical location significantly influence household dietary diversity. Originality/value This study advocates for the intensification of rural development and food security programs, formal and informal education for household heads, female empowerment and dietary enlightenment for households in order to promote the consumption of diverse diets and more healthful food groups.

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Verifying Validity of the Household Dietary Diversity Score

Food and Nutrition Bulletin ◽

10.1177/0379572115620966 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 27-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Wytse Vellema ◽

Sam Desiere ◽

Marijke D’Haese

Keyword(s):

Dietary Diversity ◽

Dietary Diversity Score ◽

Household Dietary Diversity ◽

Household Dietary Diversity Score

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Household Food Insecurity, Dietary Diversity, Stunting, and Anaemia among Left-Behind Children in Poor Rural Areas of China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16234778 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (23) ◽

pp. 4778 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yang ◽

Yuan ◽

Yang ◽

Zou ◽

Ji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Rural China ◽

Nutritional Intervention ◽

Food Group ◽

Hunan Province ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Left Behind ◽

Household Food

Left-behind children (LBC) are a newly emerged social group in China. Poor nutritional status is particularly prominent in this population. However, their food insecurity tends to attract very little attention. This study aims to investigate the relationship between food insecurity and undernutrition (stunting and anaemia) in 3 to 5-year-old LBC in rural China. Face-to-face interviews were administered to 553 LBC caregivers in 40 rural villages of Hunan Province, China. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to assess household food insecurity (HFI). Dietary diversity score (DDS) and food group consumption frequency were measured by 24 h-recall and food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). Hemoglobin tests and anthropometric measurements including height and weight were measured by trained health professionals. Logistic regression was constructed to assess the association between household food insecurity and dietary diversity, stunting, and anaemia. A high prevalence of household food insecurity was determined (67.6%). The weighted prevalence of stunting and anaemia were 16.6% and 26.5%, respectively. Food insecurity was positively associate with LBC stunting (severe HFI: OR = 6.50, 95% CI: 2.81, 15.00; moderate HFI: OR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.60, 7.54), and anaemia (severe HFI: OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.57). LBC with food insecurity had significantly lower dietary diversity than those who were food-secure (p < 0.001). The prevalence of household food insecurity among LBC in poor rural China is high and is associated with low DDS, stunting, and anaemia. Nutritional intervention programs and policies are urgently needed to reduce household food insecurity and undernutrition for this vulnerable population.

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