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

Rumana Akter,Shakuntala H. Thilsted,Nazia Hossain,Nobuyuki Yagi,Hiroe Ishihara

doi:10.3390/su11205764

Rumana Akter, Shakuntala H. Thilsted + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205764

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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.

Highlights

Despite a significant improvement in reducing hunger and food insecurity in Bangladesh, malnutrition continues to remain a serious public health concern [1]; 35% of children under five years children are stunted, and 35% of adolescent girls and 16% of adult females have low body mass index (BMI) [2]
People were more likely to consume the fish species that was available from their own production
Selection of fish species for consumption was led by the taste, health benefits, or nutrition knowledge of household members, availability in the market, price, and age of child

Summary

Introduction

Despite a significant improvement in reducing hunger and food insecurity in Bangladesh, malnutrition (under- and over-nutrition) continues to remain a serious public health concern [1]; 35% of children under five years children are stunted (low height for age), and 35% of adolescent girls and 16% of adult females have low body mass index (BMI) [2]. While there is a steady but slow decrease in under-nutrition among young children and women; a sharp continual increase in over-nutrition (overweight and obesity), is seen among the same population [3,4]. Multiple micronutrient (essential vitamins and minerals, for example, vitamin A, vitamin B12, folic acid, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, calcium, iron, zinc, and iodine) deficiencies reported in Bangladesh, are highly prevalent especially among women of reproductive age (15–49 years), and pre-school and school-aged children [5,6,7,8]. Co-existence of these nutritional problems reflects a monotonous dietary pattern, high in energy but low in a variety of essential micronutrients [9,10,11,12]. Poor diet quality, which lacks diversity is associated with higher nutritional deficiencies, globally, and especially in low-income countries [13]. Young children and women are vulnerable to this situation [14,15]

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