Overview of the Ethiopian National Food Consumption Survey (NFCS): Implications for Fortification Programs
Aregash Samuel Hafebo *
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Papa Baba Lyssa Ndao
Micronutrient Initiative, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Sara Wuehler
Micronutrient Initiative, Ottawa, Canada.
Michelle Gibbs
Global Alliance fo Improved Nutrition, New Zealand, New Zealand.
Tibebu Moges
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Biniyam Tesfaye
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Aweke Kebede
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Tsehai Assefa
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dilnesaw Zerfu
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Berhanu Wedajo
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Andinet Abera
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Girma Mengistu
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Abdulaziz Adish
Micronutrient Initiative, Ottawa, Canada.
Amha Kebede
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: NFCS was developed in response to a request by the Federal Ministry of Health to obtain evidence to inform the National Fortification Strategy (NFS). This is one of the first nationally and regionally representative surveys to be conducted using individual-level 24-hour dietary recall data.
Methods: Approved survey protocols were used to collect information from 324 enumeration areas. The target population was young children (6-35 months), their closest female caregiver (15-49 years) and (in 30% of urban households) their closest male caregiver (19-45 years of age). Data collection included 24-hour dietary recall, anthropometry and household characteristics.
Results: Data were collected from 8267 households, 8079 children, 8133 women, and 380 men. In the NFCS 27% of children and 20% of women nationally, and 62% of children, 52% of women, 41% of men living in urban centers reported consuming potentially fortifiable wheat. The consumption of oil was much higher, with 70% and 50% of children and women nationally, respectively, and 82%, 72% and 66% of children, women and men living in urban centers. Geometric mean intake of wheat and oil (in consumers) was 28.3 g and 3.6 g per day for children; 64.8 g and 8.7 g per day for women; 53.0 g and 9.0 g per day for urban men, respectively.
Conclusions: These data are being used to develop the NFS and number of other diet-related strategies and programs. Hence, it provides an extensive resource to inform and guide nutrition policy, strategy, educational messages and program development for many coming years.