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Hidden hunger or knowledge hunger? Nutritional knowledge, diet diversity and micronutrient intake in Rwanda: The case of Vitamin A

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  • Okello, Julius J.
  • Sindi, Kirimi
  • Low, Jan
  • Shikuku, Kelvin M.

Abstract

The problem of hidden hunger has emerged as one of the major development issues alongside food security. This problem highlights the likelihood of households having access to inadequate amount of key micronutrients in a diet despite having access to adequate quantities of food. , This paper uses a recent detailed household consumption data to investigate households’ nutritional knowledge, the diversity of diets consumed, and the micronutrient uptake, focusing specifically on Vitamin A. The study finds high knowledge of Vitamin A but low understanding of the function of Vitamin A in human bodies. We find a disconnect between the knowledge of Vitamin A and diets consumed by the respondents. Further, the use of diet diversity scores (DDS) reveal a narrow range of foods consumed, with children age 6-23 months most affected. However, the predictions from DDS stand in stark contrast with actual consumption of Vitamin A rich foods. The study concludes that there is high awareness of Vitamin A and Vitamin A-rich foods among rural households although this knowledge does not directly translate into consumption Vitamin A rich foods. The study also concludes that care needs to be taken in using different measures of diet diversity to proxy micronutrient uptake. It discusses policy recommendations of these findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Okello, Julius J. & Sindi, Kirimi & Low, Jan & Shikuku, Kelvin M., 2013. "Hidden hunger or knowledge hunger? Nutritional knowledge, diet diversity and micronutrient intake in Rwanda: The case of Vitamin A," 2013 Fourth International Conference, September 22-25, 2013, Hammamet, Tunisia 161278, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaae13:161278
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.161278
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thiele, S. & Weiss, C., 2003. "Consumer demand for food diversity: evidence for Germany," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 99-115, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mwiti, Florine Karuru & Okelo, Julius & Munei, Kimpei, 2015. "Assessment Of Willingness To Pay For Quality Sweetpotato Planting Materials: The Case Of Smallholder Farmers In Tanzania," Dissertations and Theses 269713, University of Nairobi, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    2. Pambo, Kennedy & Otieno, David & Okello, Julius J., 2015. "Willingness-to-Pay for Sugar Fortification in Western Kenya," 2015 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 26-28, San Francisco, California 202970, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. repec:ags:aaea15:200414 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Kennedy Otieno Pambo & David Jakinda Otieno & Julius Juma Okello, 2017. "Analysis of Consumer Preference for Vitamin A-Fortified Sugar in Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 29(4), pages 745-768, August.

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