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Dietary quality in rural areas, secondary towns, and cities: Insights from Tanzania

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  • Hannah Ameye

    (LICOS, Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance)

Abstract

The nutrition transition has come to the forefront of dietary studies in developing countries. However, how dietary quality in terms of macro- and micronutrient consumption differs between rural and urban regions is yet to be fully understood. This paper uses a dataset with detailed information on food consumption during a two-week period in Tanzania. This allows me to calculate the macro- and micronutrient content of these diets with respect to the dietary reference intakes (DRI). Households living in secondary towns are more likely to fulfil the DRIs for all nutrients, whereas households in Dar es Salaam consume more fat, saturated fat, and sugar, but less protein, fibre, and key micronutrients. The disparities in nutrient consumption between rural areas and secondary towns are partly explained by differences in wealth, educational levels, food prices and food accessibility. A better understanding is needed on the drivers behind dietary patterns in highly urbanized regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Hannah Ameye, 2023. "Dietary quality in rural areas, secondary towns, and cities: Insights from Tanzania," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(6), pages 1563-1584, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:15:y:2023:i:6:d:10.1007_s12571-023-01399-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-023-01399-9
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