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. 2022 Jan 11;14(2):296.
doi: 10.3390/nu14020296.

Residential Food Environment, Household Wealth and Maternal Education Association to Preschoolers' Consumption of Plant-Based Vitamin A-Rich Foods: The EAT Addis Survey in Addis Ababa

Adane Kebede  1 , Magnus Jirström  2 , Alemayehu Worku  3 , Kassahun Alemu  4 , Hanna Y Berhane  5   6 , Christopher Turner  7 , Eva-Charlotte Ekström  6 , Yemane Berhane  6   8
Affiliations

Residential Food Environment, Household Wealth and Maternal Education Association to Preschoolers' Consumption of Plant-Based Vitamin A-Rich Foods: The EAT Addis Survey in Addis Ababa

Adane Kebede et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency is common among preschoolers in low-income settings and a serious public health concern due to its association to increased morbidity and mortality. The limited consumption of vitamin A-rich food is contributing to the problem. Many factors may influence children's diet, including residential food environment, household wealth, and maternal education. However, very few studies in low-income settings have examined the relationship of these factors to children's diet together. This study aimed to assess the importance of residential food availability of three plant-based groups of vitamin A-rich foods, household wealth, and maternal education for preschoolers' consumption of plant-based vitamin A-rich foods in Addis Ababa. A multistage sampling procedure was used to enroll 5467 households with under-five children and 233 residential food environments with 2568 vendors. Data were analyzed using a multilevel binary logistic regression model. Overall, 36% (95% CI: 34.26, 36.95) of the study children reportedly consumed at least one plant-based vitamin A-rich food group in the 24-h dietary recall period. The odds of consuming any plant-based vitamin A-rich food were significantly higher among children whose mothers had a higher education level (AOR: 2.55; 95% CI: 2.01, 3.25), those living in the highest wealth quintile households (AOR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.92, 2.93), and in residentials where vitamin A-rich fruits were available (AOR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.41). Further research in residential food environment is necessary to understand the purchasing habits, affordability, and desirability of plant-based vitamin A-rich foods to widen strategic options to improve its consumption among preschoolers in low-income and low-education communities.

Keywords: food availability; food environment; residential; vendors; vitamin A-rich fruits; vitamin A-rich vegetables.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Flow chart of households and children included in the study; (B) flow chart of vendors/food retail outlets included in the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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