Does livestock ownership contribute to animal-source foods’ (ASFs) consumption and children’s growth: a longitudinal study in India

Geetika Gunjan () and Suresh Sharma ()
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Geetika Gunjan: CESS
Suresh Sharma: Institute of Economic Growth (IEG)

Journal of Social and Economic Development, 2024, vol. 26, issue 2, No 7, 474-498

Abstract: Abstract The role of livestock ownership in related animal-source foods’ (ASFs) consumption and in determining a child’s nutritional status is well explored in a wide range of countries. However, there is a paucity of Indian literature in this context. The current study aims to fill this research gap. The objective of the paper is to establish the relationship between livestock ownership, ASFs’ consumption, dietary diversity, and dietary adequacy among children in India. Further, the study also investigates the impact of livestock ownership on a child’s nutritional status. The study has utilized the Young Lives longitudinal data, collected in 2001, 2004, and 2009 from undivided Andhra Pradesh, India. Multilevel linear and nonlinear mixed models have been used in the study. The study finds a significant association between livestock ownership and ASFs’ consumption among children. Livestock ownership enhances related ASFs’ consumption, dietary diversity score, and dietary adequacy of the household members, including children. Large ruminants are used for income generation, which help in diversifying the consumption basket. However, there is no significant association between livestock ownership and children’s nutritional status, the consumption of ASFs and children’s nutritional status. Education plays a determining role in children’s nutritional status. The engagement of less-educated women in livestock ownership may cause the absence of association. The provision of safe drinking water and toilet facilities help in reducing water-related diseases and diarrhoea frequency among adults and children that positively impact nutritional outcomes.

Keywords: Nutrition security; Child malnutrition; Livestock ownership; Animal-source foods (ASFs); Dietary outcomes; Socio-economic factors (SEFs); Young Lives India (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J1 J13 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s40847-023-00277-6

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