Background: In Ethiopia, maternal under nutrition is still one of the public health problems. As one of the options to addressing the problem, fish production using pond has been practiced in the country. For instance, in Southern Ethiopia, farmers are producing fish using constructed ponds on their farms. However, the contribution of the aquaculture initiative in improving nutrition is less documented.
Method: We conducted a study using both quantitative and qualitative methods with multistage sampling technique. Women who are 19 - 49 years of age, from fish producing (FP) [n = 61] and none-fish producing (NFP) [n = 117] households residing in three districts participated. Fish consumption frequency was measured using three consumption patterns (i.e. frequent, occasional and non-fish eaters). Women’s dietary diversity score (WDDS) was determined by intake of 9 food group with reference period of 24 hours. Nutritional status of the women was determined using body mass index. In addition, focus group discussion and key infor- mant Interviews were done.
Results: Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was the most common pond species and most species preferred for sale (i.e. income). Respondents from none-fish producing households were less likely to consume fish frequently (odds ratio = 0.044, p < 0.001) than those in fish producing households. The mean (± standard deviation) dietary diversity score in women from fish producing house- holds (5.50 ± 2.16) was significantly higher than their none-fish producing counterparts (4.09 ± 1.98, p < 0.001). No differences (p > 0.05) in mean height, weight and body mass index were found between women in fish producing and none-fish producing house- holds.
Conclusion: The short period of time (< 5 years) since the introduction of fish-ponds and the simple measure used to assess nutri- tion status (i.e. Body mass index) may explain the lack of difference observed in the nutrition status of the women. However, aqua- culture has great potential in improving the food and nutrition security (e.g. nutrients, income) and the results illustrate some of the benefits of pond-fish production in southern Ethiopia (i.e. more fish consumption and improved dietary diversity score). Further research is necessary to determine the longer-term impact of pond fish production on the nutrition status of women.
keywords: Aquaculture; Dietary Diversity; Fish Consumption; Nutrition Status; Reproductive Age; Women
Derese Tamiru Desta., et al. “Household Pond Fish Production Increases Fish Consumption Frequency and Dietary Diversity of Reproductive Age Women in the Southern Ethiopia”. EC Nutrition 14.4 (2019): 332-343.
© 2019 Derese Tamiru Desta., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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