Fish is the Preferred Animal-Source Food in the Rural Community of Southern Bangladesh

Abstract

Increased intake of animal-source foods (ASFs) is crucial to tackle multiple nutritional challenges in Bangladesh, and contribute to achieving targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Qualitative and quantitative data were collected to assess current ASFs intake behaviors and preferred ASFs, among three types of households, namely 1. aquaculture intervention (AI); 2. aquaculture non-intervention (ANI); and 3. non-aquaculture non-intervention (NANI) households and children aged 6-59 months, to understand whether intake of ASFs vary by the types of households. Purposive sampling was conducted to obtain a total of 100 households (AI,50; ANI,25; NANI,25). Fish was the most commonly consumed (52.2-61.5%) and preferred (73.9-84.6%) ASF by the majority households, across study groups; although amount (mean ± SD) of intake (g/d/person) by NANI households was statistically significantly lower (NANI, 105.5 ± 53.3; p < 0.001), compared to other two groups (AI, 163.6 ± 64.7 and ANI, 159.6 ± 53). Fish species selection for household consumption was led by taste, health benefits, availability, and price. Pangasius was the first fish species of choice fed to children, due to having fewer small bones compared to other commonly consumed fish species. Dietary interventions to prioritize fish, in targeting increased intake of ASFs among study population, for improved food and nutrition security.

Micronutrient Adequacy in the Diet of Reproductive-Aged Adolescent Girls and Adult Women in Rural Bangladesh

“…More than four quintiles of the WRA had an inadequate dietary intake of folic acid, and nearly three quarters of them had an inadequate vitamin B12 intake in the preceding 24 h. These results are consistent with studies conducted in rural Bangladesh showing inadequate animal-source food intake as one of the contributing factors, particularly for lower dietary vitamin B12 intake [ 9 , 39 ], as animal foods are the only source of vitamin B12. Although fish is the most commonly consumed and preferred animal-source food in Bangladesh, the quantity of intake is minimal [ 9 , 39 ]. B vitamins play important roles in the normal functioning of our body; particularly, folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiencies are associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes [ 40 ].…”

Household Engagement in Both Aquaculture and Horticulture Is Associated with Higher Diet Quality than Either Alone

“…Secondly, households that produced nutrient-rich foods were likely to consume these same foods. These findings are consistent with those from other studies that have demonstrated that people eat many of the foods they produce [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. Dietary intakes largely depend on foods supplied from households’ own farms among smallholders, particularly if they are more distant from food markets [ 16 , 17 , 45 ].…”

“…As reported by households with both forms of engagement, the source of nutrient-rich foods was mostly from households' own production. Fish is the most commonly consumed animal source food (ASF) in Bangladesh [43,54,55] compared to other ASFs such as chicken, milk, eggs, duck, and red meat. Studies have shown that adding a small amount of ASFs to a plant-based diet can enhance the absorption of vitamins and minerals from these foods, and can significantly impact maternal health and child development [1,10,13].…”

Fish Acquisition and Consumption in the African Great Lakes Region through a Food Environment Lens: A Scoping Review

“…Economic access was examined in almost two thirds of included studies. Affordability relative to other animal-source foods and the opportunity for households to purchase small quantities of fresh fish or fish-based products according to their financial means are key advantages of fish, as has been highlighted elsewhere [ 65 , 66 , 67 ]. Despite this, diets containing optimal amounts of fish to meet nutrient requirements were shown to substantially increase the overall cost of diet in populations largely reliant on plant-source foods [ 41 ].…”