Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12348/4459
Inland fisheries critical for the diet quality of young children in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract
- Animal-source foods (ASF), such as fish, provide a critical source of nutrients for dietary quality and optimal growth of children. In sub-Saharan Africa, children often consume monotonous cereal-based diets, a key determinate of malnutrition such as stunting. Identifying existing sources of ASF for children’s diets will inform the development of nutritious food systems for vulnerable groups. Here we adopt a food systems framework (sensu HLPE, 2017) to examine links between aquatic- and terrestrial-based ASF sources with ASF consumption and dietary diversity in rural children aged 6-23 months in sub-Saharan Africa. Employing a novel approach, we merged existing geo-tagged nationally-representative datasets, including Demographic and Health Surveys for Malawi (2015-16, n=3995) and Zambia (2013-14, n=2333) with spatial data on proximity to inland fisheries (waterbodies ≥0.1km2) and formal markets. We found that children living closer to inland fisheries were more likely to consume fish and aquatic-based ASF, and exhibit higher dietary diversity. Children did not always consume more ASF if they lived were closer to a formal market or in a house that owned livestock. We found that inland fisheries are one of the most important sources of ASF for rural children in sub-Saharan Africa. We also demonstrate that secondary datasets provide a useful methodology for understanding the role of food systems for diets. As food systems transition, it is important that policy and programs preserve components of the existing food system – namely inland fisheries - to ensure the ongoing provision of nutrient-dense fish and aquatic-based ASF for the dietary quality of infants and young children.
- External link to download this item: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100483
Collections
Date
- 2021
Author
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O'Meara, L.
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Cohen, P.J.
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Simmance, F.
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Marinda, P.
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Nagoli, J.
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Teoh, S.
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Smith, S.F.
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Mills, D.J.
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Thilsted, S.H.
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Byrd, K.A.
Author(s) ORCID(s)
- Lydia O'Mearahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0670-5322
- Philippa Jane Cohenhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9987-1943
- Fiona Simmancehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9505-0198
- Joseph Nagolihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8919-1397
- Shwu Jiau Teohhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7676-8583
- David Jonathan Millshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0181-843X
- Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilstedhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4041-1651
- Kendra A Byrdhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4528-752X
Subject(s)
AGROVOC Keywords
Type
- Journal Article
Publisher
- Elsevier (12 months)