Diet Diversity is Negatively Associated with Stunting among Ethiopian Children 6-35 Months of Age.

Objectives: In 2011, the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey reported 44% of children under five years-of-age were stunted (i.e., height-for-age z-score (HAZ) below -2) and 11% were consuming minimum diet diversity (DD), a World Health Organization core indicator for infant and young child feeding. DD has been found to be negatively associated with stunting among children 6-23 months-of-age. Our objective was to determine the association between DD and stunting among Ethiopian children. Methods: We used nationally and regionally representative data from the 2011 Ethiopian National Food Consumption Survey, weighted for relative population sizes (N=6819 children 6-35 monthsof- age). A DD score was calculated for each child by categorizing individual foods consumed in quantities > 5 g in the past 24-hours into the United Nations Children's Fund seven food groups for DD. We used Chi-square to determine in which regions children were consuming minimum DD, defined as ≥4 food groups. We used logistic regression to determine the association between DD and stunting, including all potential socioeconomic, demographic and physiological confounders. Results: DD was negatively associated with stunting (OR= 0.965, p<0.0001). Nationally, 14.9% of children consumed adequate DD, with highest rates observed in the Addis Ababa (27.7%) and Harari (23.9%) region (p<0.0001). Conclusions: As with other populations, our Ethiopian findings suggest that increasing DD may be one method of reducing child stunting rates. Due to broad variations in regional dietary consumption in Ethiopia, future research will include more specific validation exercises of DD as a marker of dietary consumption in this population.

Some Indigenous Vegetables of the Hamer and Konso Communities, South Ethiopia: Mineral Composition and Effect of Processing on their Anti-nutritional and Carotenoids Constituents.

Objectives: To evaluate the level of micronutrients, anti-nutritional factors and carotenoids of selected green leafy vegetables (GLVs) of wild and semi-wild origin, which are used by the Hamer and Konso communities (south Ethiopia). It is also aimed to study effect of processing on antinutritional factors and carotenoids of the vegetables. Methods: Edible parts of target plants were collected, lyophilized and analyzed for minerals, antinutrients and carotenoids. Effect of processing on level of anti-nutrients and carotenoides were also investigated. The chemical compositions were determined using standard methods. Results: On dry weight basis, the GLVs (13) constituted total mineral of 12.5%-25.6%; Ca being highest (1100 - 3419 mg %) and exceptionally high for Justicia ladanoides (6177 mg %). Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn ranged from 11.7-23.14, 175-2049, 3.4-9.9 and 1.2-3.3 mg %, respectively. Antinutrients include phenolics (158-1564 mg %), tannins (448-2254 mg %) and oxalates (238-14067 mg %). The total carotenoids (Xanthophylls and Provitamin A carotenoids) content was 117-140 mg %. Except lyophilization, drying methods (sun, shade and drier) significantly reduced most carotenoids and anti-nutrients. Blanching (hot water, saline water and steam) for short duration reduced anti-nutrients but not carotenoids. Drying and blanching combination treatments reduced both anti-nutrients and carotenoids. Conclusions: The indigenous vegetables are good sources of minerals; pro-Vitamin A and other carotenoides. Their use by the community must be encouraged to tackle micronutrient deficiency and age related diseases. Drying (mainly under direct sun) vegetables should be avoided to retain their constituents of nutritional and biomedical importance.