Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39239695›Full record

ArticleMaternal & child nutrition2025

Low awareness and affordability are major drivers of low consumption of animal-source foods among children in Northern Ethiopia: A mixed-methods study.

Taddese Zerfu, Alan Duncan, Isabelle Baltenweck, Geraldine McNeill

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Maternal & child nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Taddese ZerfuGlobal Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh (UoE)-Easter Bush Campus, Roslin, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-5190-9845
Alan DuncanGlobal Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh (UoE)-Easter Bush Campus, Roslin, UK.
Isabelle BaltenweckInternational Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya.
Geraldine McNeillGlobal Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh (UoE)-Easter Bush Campus, Roslin, UK.

Funding

Edinburgh and Southeast Scotland City Region Deal Award for Data Driven InnovationEuropean Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme 801215International Livestock Research InstituteUniversity of Edinburgh Data-Driven Innovation Programme
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Animal-source foods (ASFs), contain high amounts of essential nutrients that are readily absorbed by the body. However, children in resource-constrained settings often have limited access to these nutritious foods. This study aimed to investigate the reasons for the low consumption of ASFs among children in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. A community-based mixed-methods study was conducted, using exploratory qualitative methods supplemented by the analysis of secondary data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). The qualitative study employed a multiphase stepwise design and the maximum variation purposive sampling technique, enroling a diverse range of participants such as mothers and/or caregivers, household heads, religious and community leaders, health and nutrition experts, and others. The qualitative data were analysed using a thematic framework analysis method, while the quantitative data were analysed using SPSS v22 statistical software. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of ASFs among children under 5 years of age in the region. Despite the large and diverse livestock populations available, only 13.2% of children consumed at least one animal-source food (ASF) in the prior day. The most consumed ASFs were dairy and eggs, whereas beef, organ meat, and seafood were the least consumed. Household demographics such as residence, literacy level, paternal age, and household wealth quintiles influenced the overall consumption of ASFs. The main reasons for the low consumption of ASFs among children were unaffordability and poor awareness among caregivers. In addition, religious misconceptions, price hikes, limited availability during certain seasons, low productivity, insufficient support from health professionals, and time constraints for caregivers were also mentioned as significant barriers to ASF consumption in the area. The consumption of ASFs among children in Ethiopia, particularly in the Amhara region, remains very low. This is mainly due to the caregivers' levels of awareness and unaffordability of ASFs. It is recommended that behavioural and sociocultural interventions be implemented that target caregivers to improve the consumption of ASFs among children.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeAdultAnimalsChild, PreschoolDairy ProductsDietEggsEthiopiaFamily CharacteristicsFemaleFood SupplyHumansInfantMaleMeatSeafoodanimal source foodsawarenesscarechildren

Identifiers

PMID39239695
PMCPMC11650074

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.