Protein Availability and Consumption, and Stunting Rates, for Primary School Children in the Southern Regions of Ethiopia and Zambia

Authors

Megan Wackel, University of Nebraska LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

5-2020

Document Type

Presentation

Citation

Poster presented for NUTR 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health and for UCARE program, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Spring 2020

Comments

Copyright (c) 2020 Megan Wackel

Abstract

•Stunting is common in Sub-Sahara Africa, with millions of children who are short in stature also experiencing poor overall health and development, as well as poor school performance (Semba 2016; Semba, et al., 2016). •As many as 39% of children under 5 years of age in Ethiopia’s Sidama Region (formerly SNNPR) can be classified as stunted (CSA & ICF 2016). By comparison, 29% of under 5’s in Zambia’s Southern Province have short height for age (CSA, MOH, & ICF 2018). •Low protein and essential amino acid intake, among populations of 116 countries, has been suggested as the primary cause of stunting (Semba 2016; Semba, et al., 2016). •Given that Ethiopia and Zambia have high rates of stunting, children are unlikely to be consuming protein on a regular basis. Because data on protein availability and dietary intake are limited, this study was designed to explore availability and consumption patterns of protein-rich foods among primary school children in the southern regions of each country.