Food Sharing Practices in Households Receiving Supplemental Foods for the Treatment of Moderate Acute Malnutrition in Ethiopian Children

Abstract

The objective of this article is to evaluate food sharing practices in households receiving corn–soya blend (CSB) and ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) in southern Ethiopia. Ethiopian children with moderate acute malnutrition from 10 supplementary feeding sites received CSB (1413 kcal/day) or RUSF (500 kcal/day). Data on food sharing and consumption practices were collected from 1125 households via structured questionnaires administered by trained local health professionals after 6 weeks of treatment. CSB was shared among a significantly higher number of family members (1.9 ± 1.0) compared to RUSF (0.1 ± 0.4; P < .001). In only 14% of CSB households, children consumed equal or more than three quarters of the ration, compared to 98% of RUSF households. Only 9% of RUSF households reported food sharing, the majority (86%) of whom were children in the same household under 5 years of age. Comparatively, CSB was shared within the household with a greater number of family members and in greater quantities compared to RUSF. CSB was reported to be widely consumed by all members of the household, whereas RUSF was sparingly shared and only with children under 5 years of age in the household.