The role of seasonality on the diet and household food security of pregnant women living in rural Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Stevens, Briony; Watt, Kerrianne; Brimbecombe, Julie; Clough, Alan R.; Judd, Jenni; Lindsay, Daniel

doi:10.1017/s136898001600183x

Cited by 54 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…In the present study, the mean score difference between seasons for vitamin A-rich fruits/vegetables was similar to the overall DDS mean difference between seasons (0.55 ± 0.07 vs.0.54 ± 0.08); emphasizing that the difference in mean DDS between seasons was mainly due to the difference in consumption of vitamin A-rich fruits and/or vegetables. A recent study in Bangladesh [ 43 ] also reported that differences in DDS by season corresponded with differences in consumption of dark green leafy vegetables and vitamin A-rich fruits/vegetables.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Notably, seasonality is known to influence household food security [ 43 , 44 , 63 ] which is a key determinant of household dietary diversity as food insecure households often consume low-quality monotonous diets which are low in micronutrients [ 2 , 64 ], but the present study did not include any measure of food security. Nonetheless, food security is well associated with household demographic and socioeconomic characteristics including occupation [ 26 , 65 , 44 ], education [ 26 , 65 ] and household size [ 26 , 65 ]; thus our adjustment for education, occupation and child compound size may have partly accounted for the effect of household food security.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonality affects dietary diversity of school-age children in northern Ghana

et al. 2017

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Background and objectivesDietary diversity score (DDS) is relatively easy to measure and is shown to be a very useful indicator of the probability of adequate micronutrient intake. Dietary diversity, however, is usually assessed during a single period and little is known about the effect of seasonality on it. This study investigates whether dietary diversity is influenced by seasonality.MethodsTwo cross-sectional surveys were conducted in two different seasons—dry season (October 2010) and rainy season (May 2011) among the same school-age children (SAC) in two rural schools in northern Ghana. The study population consisted of 228 school-age children. A qualitative 24-hour dietary recall was conducted in both seasons. Based on 13 food groups, a score of 1 was given if a child consumed a food item belonging to a particular food group, else 0. Individual scores were aggregated into DDS for each child. Differences in mean DDS between seasons were compared using linear mixed model analysis.ResultsThe dietary pattern of the SAC was commonly plant foods with poor consumption of animal source foods. The mean DDS was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the rainy season (6.95 ± 0.55) compared to the dry season (6.44 ± 0.55) after adjusting for potential confounders such as age, sex, occupation (household head and mother) and education of household head. The difference in mean DDS between dry and rainy seasons was mainly due to the difference in the consumption of Vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables between the seasons. While vitamin A-rich fruits (64.0% vs. 0.9%; P < 0.0001) and vitamin A rich dark green leafy vegetables (52.6% vs. 23.3%, P < .0001) were consumed more during the rainy season than the dry season, more children consumed vitamin A-rich deep yellow, orange and red vegetables during the dry season than during the rainy season (73.7% vs. 36.4%, P <0.001).ConclusionSeasonality has an effect on DDS and may affect the quality of dietary intake of SAC; in such a context, it would be useful to measure DDS in different seasons. Since DDS is a proxy indicator of micronutrient intake, the difference in DDS may reflect in seasonal differences in dietary adequacy and further studies are needed to establish this.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonality affects dietary diversity of school-age children in northern Ghana

et al. 2017

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“…By applying the presented portfolio approach, the increased availability and consumption of fruits during both seasons (rainy and dry) could help to close the remaining nutrient gaps identified. Several other studies from various countries have also found an association between seasonality, production diversity and key food security and nutrition (dietary diversity) indicators (Kumar et al 2015;Ng'endo et al 2015;Ng'endo et al 2017;Stevens et al 2017). Ideally, for future portfolio development, the collection of individual-level food consumption data at multiple times in the year to cover varying seasons, matched with repeated fruit phenology data capture, would ensure more robust location-specific recommendations for portfolio entry.…”

Section: Closing Micronutrient Gaps In Local Food Production Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing fruit tree portfolios that link agriculture more effectively with nutrition and health: a new approach for providing year-round micronutrients to smallholder farmers

et al. 2019

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A sufficient intake of fruits can alleviate micronutrient deficiencies and reduces the risks of a number of associated diseases. In many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, however, the production and consumption of fruits are inadequate on average and in particular so in specific seasons. To better incorporate fruits into local food systems while addressing the challenge of seasonal availability, World Agroforestry (ICRAF) has developed a methodology based on “fruit tree portfolios” that selects socio-ecologically suitable and nutritionally important fruit tree species for farm production, to meet local consumption needs. We here present this approach and illustrate it with data from a case study involving Western and Eastern Kenya. The approach uses mixed methods to capture on-farm fruit tree diversity and seasonality at a household level (n = 600 in our case study), the months of household’s food security and insecurity (n = 600) and food consumption patterns at an individual level, to identify dietary gaps (n = 294 women and child pairs in our example). In our case study, 31 fruit tree species were reported on farms in our Western Kenya sample (9 of which were indigenous) and 51 (27 indigenous) in Eastern Kenya. In addition, the median number of food-insecure months per household was four (ranging from 0 to 9 months) in Eastern Kenya and three (0 to 12 months) in Western Kenya. Finally, using 24-h recalls the proportion of women that had consumed a fruit the day before the interview was around 55% in Western Kenya and 80% in Eastern Kenya, with consumption averaging 93 and 131 g, respectively. Using these parameters for each site and fruit tree phenology and food composition data sets, we derived context-specific recommendations that involve promoting 11 fruit tree species to address micronutrient gaps.

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“…These are important because the two years of the survey were conducted in two distinct seasons, with the 2011/2012 wave of the survey conducted mainly during the dry season and the 2015 wave conducted mainly during the monsoon season. Seasonality is very important for diet quality and composition in Bangladesh (Hassan et al, 1985;Stevens et al, 2017), and including year and survey month is the best way to capture both between season and between year differences that may influence diet.…”

Section: Fixed Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can women’s empowerment increase animal source food consumption in flood prone areas of Bangladesh?

Institute¹

2018

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established in 1975, provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition. IFPRI's strategic research aims to foster a climate-resilient and sustainable food supply; promote healthy diets and nutrition for all; build inclusive and efficient markets, trade systems, and food industries; transform agricultural and rural economies; and strengthen institutions and governance. Gender is integrated in all the Institute's work. Partnerships, communications, capacity strengthening, and data and knowledge management are essential components to translate IFPRI's research from action to impact. The Institute's regional and country programs play a critical role in responding to demand for food policy research and in delivering holistic support for country-led development. IFPRI collaborates with partners around the world.

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The role of seasonality on the diet and household food security of pregnant women living in rural Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Cited by 54 publications

References 20 publications

Seasonality affects dietary diversity of school-age children in northern Ghana

Seasonality affects dietary diversity of school-age children in northern Ghana

Developing fruit tree portfolios that link agriculture more effectively with nutrition and health: a new approach for providing year-round micronutrients to smallholder farmers

Can women’s empowerment increase animal source food consumption in flood prone areas of Bangladesh?

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