Nonnative Cattle Ownership, Diet, and Child Height-for-Age: Evidence from the 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey

Abstract

Abstract. In underresourced settings where domestic animals and children often cohabitate, there is limited evidence about the net impact of domestic animal ownership on child health. We analyzed the 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey to determine whether household ownership of native cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, and nonnative cattle was associated with child height-for-age z-scores (HAZ), and to assess the influence of diet on this association in rural and urban environments. Using weighted multivariable linear regression, we found that nonnative cattle ownership was positively associated with HAZ in rural children 0 to < 2 years of age (+1.32 standard deviations [SD], 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.2-2.5) and 2 to < 5 years of age (+0.58 SD, 95% CI = 0.003-1.2), and urban children 2 to < 5 years of age (+1.08 SD, 95% CI = 0.38-1.8). Sheep ownership was positively associated with HAZ in rural children 2 to < 5 years of age (+0.29 SD, 95% CI = 0.002-0.58) and goat ownership was positively associated with HAZ in rural children 0 to < 2 years of age (+0.27 SD, 95% CI = 0.003-0.55). We observed no other significant associations. Children who lived in households that owned nonnative cattle consumed dairy more frequently; however, the relationship between child HAZ and nonnative cattle ownership was not mediated by child dairy consumption. These findings suggest that domestic animal ownership may not be detrimental to child HAZ, and that nonnative cattle ownership is beneficial for child HAZ through pathways other than dairy consumption.

Association of livestock ownership and household dietary quality: results from a cross-sectional survey from rural India

“…The main nding of association between dairy animal ownership and household milk consumption was corroborated by a large study from India [11], and also smaller studies from Ethiopia (23% increased frequency) [8], Uganda [12,22] and Kenya [23]. This was found to be especially important in areas without access to markets [8], which was not the case in our study area where dairies have been established.…”

“…A study from Ethiopia indicated positive impact on reducing stunting [8]. Studies from Uganda found signi cant positive impact [12], no impact [22], or even negative impact of dairy animal ownership on child nutrition, and hence, there must be other contextual factors, such as availability and use of sanitation and intra-household competition for resources. Small ruminants (e.g.…”

Environmental enteric dysfunction pathways and child stunting: A systematic review

“…126 articles were excluded based on a review of the title and abstract ( Fig 1 ). Of the 64 reports selected for full-text review, 24 were excluded: 7 studies reported results for one domain but did not include measurements of linear growth [ 71 – 77 ], 6 studies reported measurements of linear growth but did not report domain measurements [ 78 – 83 ], and 1 study abstract did not report results for domains or stunting [ 84 ]. Five abstracts [ 85 – 89 ] and five full-text articles [ 90 – 94 ] included overlapping EED measurements on the same study subjects and were excluded from our review.…”

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

“…Recent observational research on the impact of livestock managed in traditional extensive systems in sub-Saharan Africa on child stunting has yielded mixed findings ( S1 Table , [ 9 – 20 ]), with the most consistent evidence for a positive effect coming from analyses of the specific impact of dairy cow or goat ownership [ 9 – 13 ]. However, others have reported no association between livestock ownership and stunting [ 14 – 16 ], a modest relationship depending on how “livestock ownership” was operationalized [ 17 , 18 ], or even a negative effect in some situations [ 19 , 20 ].…”