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Fish is the Preferred Animal-Source Food in the Rural Community of Southern Bangladesh

Author

Listed:
  • Rumana Akter

    (Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Room 533, Agriculture Building 7-B, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan)

  • Shakuntala H. Thilsted

    (WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung, 11960 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia)

  • Nazia Hossain

    (Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh)

  • Hiroe Ishihara

    (Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Room 533, Agriculture Building 7-B, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan)

  • Nobuyuki Yagi

    (Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Room 533, Agriculture Building 7-B, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan)

Abstract

Increased intake of animal-source foods (ASFs) is crucial to tackle multiple nutritional challenges in Bangladesh, and contribute to achieving targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Qualitative and quantitative data were collected to assess current ASFs intake behaviors and preferred ASFs, among three types of households, namely 1. aquaculture intervention (AI); 2. aquaculture non-intervention (ANI); and 3. non-aquaculture non-intervention (NANI) households and children aged 6–59 months, to understand whether intake of ASFs vary by the types of households. Purposive sampling was conducted to obtain a total of 100 households (AI, 50; ANI, 25; NANI, 25). Fish was the most commonly consumed (52.2–61.5%) and preferred (73.9–84.6%) ASF by the majority households, across study groups; although amount (mean ± SD) of intake (g/d/person) by NANI households was statistically significantly lower (NANI, 105.5 ± 53.3; p < 0.001), compared to other two groups (AI, 163.6 ± 64.7 and ANI, 159.6 ± 53). Fish species selection for household consumption was led by taste, health benefits, availability, and price. Pangasius was the first fish species of choice fed to children, due to having fewer small bones compared to other commonly consumed fish species. Dietary interventions to prioritize fish, in targeting increased intake of ASFs among study population, for improved food and nutrition security.

Suggested Citation

  • Rumana Akter & Shakuntala H. Thilsted & Nazia Hossain & Hiroe Ishihara & Nobuyuki Yagi, 2019. "Fish is the Preferred Animal-Source Food in the Rural Community of Southern Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-13, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:20:p:5764-:d:277574
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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