Low Daily Intake of Fruits and Vegetables in Rural and Urban Bangladesh: Influence of Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors, Social Food Beliefs and Behavioural Practices

Sadia Mustafa,Soham Baksi,C Emdad Haque

doi:10.3390/nu13082808

Sadia Mustafa, Soham Baksi + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082808

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Journal: Nutrients	Publication Date: Aug 16, 2021
Citations: 10	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg

Abstract

Bangladesh is facing a large burden of non-communicable diseases. As a possible remedy, the WHO/FAO recommends consuming 400 g or five servings of fruits and vegetables every day; however, only a small proportion of the population practices this. The present study sets out to determine the sociodemographic factors that affect this low intake of fruits and vegetables, and the roles that beliefs and behavioural practices play in influencing food consumption. Logistic and ordered logistic regressions were used to identify what sociodemographic factors are significantly influencing fruit and vegetable intake, and to explain the role of social food beliefs. It was found that in Bangladesh 75% of urban and 92% of rural populations consume less than five servings a day. While gender was not found to be a significant factor, housewives appeared to be more at risk of a lower intake of fruits and vegetables. People with higher income, higher education, and who are older were all less likely to have problems with a low intake of fruits and vegetables. Higher education assisted in attaining positive beliefs and behavioural practices regarding food, while residing in a rural community was found to be a significant constraint.

Highlights

Around 41 million people die each year globally because of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), 77% of which occur in low and middle income countries (LMICs) [1]
Studies in Iran, Kenya and Tanzania respectively observed that 87.5%, 94% and 82% of adults eat less than five servings a day [4,5,6]
This result is consistent with many other LMICs, such as Mexico and Thailand, where fruits and vegetables are produced mainly to export to other countries [24]

Summary

Introduction

Around 41 million people die each year globally because of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), 77% of which occur in low and middle income countries (LMICs) [1]. Food choices cannot include everything edible, but need to be healthy and should contain fruits and vegetables In light of such findings, the WHO/FAO recommends a minimum 400 g (or five servings) of fruits and vegetables every day to curb NCDs [3]. Studies in Iran, Kenya and Tanzania respectively observed that 87.5%, 94% and 82% of adults eat less than five servings a day [4,5,6]. Research in Tanzania, Iran and Thailand found that rural inhabitants, the young and single, those with no income, people with high tobacco use and men were all more likely to have inadequate fruit and vegetable intake [4,6,7]. Income is an important determinant of fruit and vegetable intake; expenditure analysis in poor communities in South Africa showed spending $71.4 and more on food monthly and having a private vehicle increased the likelihood respectively to 1.6 and 2.1 times more to consume two or more servings of fruits and vegetables than those who spent less on food or used public transport to go to stores [8]

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