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Nutritional Status of Children, Food Consumption Diversity and Ethnicity in Lao PDR

Author

Listed:
  • Samuel Kobina Annim

    (Department of Economics, University of Cape Coast, Ghana)

  • Katsushi S. Imai

    (School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester (UK) and RIEB, Kobe University (Japan))

Abstract

This study examines the effect of consumption of diversified diets and cultural practices on the nutritional status of children less than five years. The primary hypothesis of the study is that rearing of poultry, sheep and goats enable households to have access to diversified food items, which in turn increases the nutritional status of children in the household. Ordinary Least Squares and Instrumental Variable estimations techniques are employed based on a sample of over 10,000 children less than five years old from the 2011 Lao Social Indicator Survey. The main finding is that children in households that rear livestock consume diversified diets and that in turn leads to higher nutritional status. Both positive and negative statistically significant signs are observed for the prevalence of malnutrition across different ethnic groups in Lao PDR. Thus a one-size fit all intervention for malnutrition will have challenges. From a policy perspective, there should be a campaign for the consumption of diversified foods rather than a single or a couple of food items. To ensure the consumption of diversified food items, rearing of livestock has to be promoted through alternative options including educational campaigns.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel Kobina Annim & Katsushi S. Imai, 2014. "Nutritional Status of Children, Food Consumption Diversity and Ethnicity in Lao PDR," Discussion Paper Series DP2014-17, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University.
  • Handle: RePEc:kob:dpaper:dp2014-17
    as

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    File URL: https://www.rieb.kobe-u.ac.jp/academic/ra/dp/English/DP2014-17.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Katsushi S. Imai & Samuel Kobina Annim & Raghav Gaiha & Veena S. Kulkarni, 2012. "Does Women's Empowerment Reduce Prevalence of Stunted and Underweight Children in Rural India?," Discussion Paper Series DP2012-11, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University, revised Dec 2012.
    2. Duncan Thomas & John Strauss & Maria-Helena Henriques, 1991. "How Does Mother's Education Affect Child Height?," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 26(2), pages 183-211.
    3. Frost, Michelle Bellessa & Forste, Renata & Haas, David W., 2005. "Maternal education and child nutritional status in Bolivia: finding the links," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(2), pages 395-407, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Nunoo, Jacob & Nyanzu, Frederick, 2017. "Dietary pattern, socioeconomic status and child health outcomes in Ghana: application of multilevel analysis," MPRA Paper 80663, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Diversified diet; Livestock; Ethnicity; Height-for-age; Weight-for-Age and Weight-for-Height; Lao PDR;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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