Examining the association between livestock ownership typologies and child nutrition in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between livestock ownership and dietary diversity, animal-source food consumption, height-for-age z-score, and stunting among children living in wildlife “buffer zones” of Zambia’s Luangwa Valley using a novel livestock typology approach.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of 838 children aged 6–36 months. Households were categorized into typologies based on the types and numbers of animals owned, ranging from no livestock to large numbers of mixed livestock. We used multilevel mixed-effects linear and logistic regression to examine the association between livestock typologies and four nutrition-related outcomes of interest. Results were compared with analyses using more common binary and count measures of livestock ownership.ResultsNo measure of livestock ownership was significantly associated with children’s odds of animal-source food consumption, child height-for-age z-score, or stunting odds. Livestock ownership Type 2 (having a small number of poultry) was surprisingly associated with decreased child dietary diversity (β = -0.477; p<0.01) relative to owning no livestock. Similarly, in comparison models, chicken ownership was negatively associated with dietary diversity (β = -0.320; p<0.01), but increasing numbers of chickens were positively associated with dietary diversity (β = 0.022; p<0.01). Notably, neither child dietary diversity nor animal-source food consumption was significantly associated with height, perhaps due to unusually high prevalences of morbidities.ConclusionsOur novel typologies methodology allowed for an efficient and a more in-depth examination of the differential impact of livestock ownership patterns compared to typical binary or count measures of livestock ownership. We found that these patterns were not positively associated with child nutrition outcomes in this context. Development and conservation programs focusing on livestock must carefully consider the complex, context-specific relationship between livestock ownership and nutrition outcomes–including how livestock are utilized by the target population–when attempting to use livestock as a means of improving child nutrition.

Why are animal source foods rarely consumed by 6-23 months old children in rural communities of Northern Ethiopia? A qualitative study

“…Similarly, livestock ownership was reported as a facilitator to the consumption of ASFs among communities of other studies [41,70]. On the contrary, livestock ownership was not significantly associated with children's odds of ASF consumption, child height-for-age zscore or odds of stunting in the Luangwa Valley [71]. This difference could occur due to the total livestock holdings in the population and market-based production of livestock.…”

Factors Associated with Household Food Security in Zambia

“…Livestock incomes and ownership are viewed as a potential approach to help minimize food security. Dumas et al [21] investigated the impact of livestock ownership on food consumption in eastern Zambia. The results did not show association between livestock ownership and dietary diversity among the children in Zambia.…”

Introduction: Nutrition, Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change Issues in Africa

“…This research will also capture some of the contemporary policy-oriented nutrition research, with the aim of documenting recent findings and developing new solutions. As a follow-up to other recent work on the impact of agricultural development interventions on children nutrition outcomes (Dumas et al 2018 ; Owusu et al 2016 ), this study will generate relevant and most updated information for updating and developing appropriate gender-sensitive policies on climate change and nutrition relations. In other words, this study will provide more understanding on the full range of issues on the climate change—nutrition outcomes nexus, as well as recommend evidence-based policy interventions.…”

“…Based on the seemingly inadequate amount of studies and documentation on the role of ineffective land property rights in influencing nutrition outcomes, this research will be leveraging on the combination of mainstream and out-of-the box thinking to generate more novel ideas on the impact of land rights on strategically selected nutrition outcomes—undernourishment, micronutrient deficiencies, stunting, etc. As one of the value added of this study, it is expected that some of the outcomes of the study will propose effective policies that could address the underlying contribution of gender inequality to the land rights—malnutrition dynamics, placing particular emphasis on women’s economic and social empowerment, and through that promoting nutrition outcome (Dumas et al 2018 ; Owusu et al 2016 ; Allendorf 2007 ; Galiani and Schargrodsky 2004 ).…”

“…From a gender perspective, when women are self-employed as farmers, they generate limited incomes because they do not have rights to own or inherit land and to access input or credit markets. Further, land grabbing influence nutrition outcomes, vis-a-vis the different roles and responsibilities of men and women in securing adequate food and nutrition at the household level (Dumas et al 2018 ; Owusu et al 2016 ; Menon et al 2014 ; Vogl 2007 ). This shifting gender roles due to land ownership dynamics can affect household welfare where women access to productive resources, especially land, may influence children’s nutrition (Allendorf 2007 ; Galiani and Schargrodsky 2004 ).…”