Comparison of Two Pathways Linking Agriculture to Child Health: Dietary Diversity and Micronutrient Intake in the Malagasy Highlands

Rising micronutrient deficiencies threaten the well-being of preschool-aged children, as is the case for disadvantaged farmers in Madagascar. However, effective interventions to improve their nutritional status are still unknown. This study investigates the disjointed link between agriculture – food/nutrition security and food/nutrition security - nutritional status through a dual approach. Using a panel dataset, our result supports the link between production diversity – dietary diversity, and dietary diversity - improvement in children’s wasting. Importantly, the finding highlights an association of own production of pulse with energy/micronutrient intake and that of energy/zinc intake with the reduction of undernourished and stunted child, respectively.

日益严峻的微量营养素缺乏问题，正威胁着学龄前儿童的健康福祉，马达加斯加的弱势农户群体亦面临相同困境。然而，目前仍未确立可有效改善这两类人群营养状况的干预方案。本研究采用双重研究方法，探讨农业与粮食/营养安全、粮食/营养安全与营养状况之间的断裂关联。本研究基于面板数据集（panel dataset）开展实证分析，结果证实：生产多样性与膳食多样性之间、以及膳食多样性与儿童消瘦状况改善之间存在显著关联。尤为关键的是，本研究发现两项重要关联：农户自家种植食用豆类与儿童的能量/微量营养素摄入水平显著相关；而儿童的能量摄入、锌摄入则分别与营养不良儿童占比下降、发育迟缓儿童占比下降相关。