Researchers in Ethiopia tested a program that helped families raise more chickens and taught parents why eggs are important for growing children. The program also made eggs cheaper so more families could afford them. After running the program for about a year, they found that the number of young children eating a healthy variety of foods jumped from about 30% to 76%. This happened because more families understood why good nutrition matters and could actually afford to buy eggs. The study shows that when you combine teaching, affordability, and local food production, you can make a real difference in how well children eat.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a program that helps families produce eggs, teaches parents about good nutrition, and makes eggs cheaper could help young children eat more nutritious foods
  • Who participated: Young children aged 6-23 months and their mothers in two areas of Ethiopia (Bishoftu and East Shoa Zone). The study checked on the same communities four different times over about a year
  • Key finding: The percentage of children eating a healthy variety of foods more than doubled—from 30% to 76%. Egg eating increased from 24% to 75%, and mothers’ knowledge about feeding children improved from 53% to 78%
  • What it means for you: If you live in a place where eggs are hard to get or afford, programs that help local egg production and teach families about nutrition could help your children grow stronger and healthier. However, this study was done in Ethiopia, so results might be different in other places

The Research Details

Researchers visited the same communities four times over about a year to see how things changed. Each time, they asked mothers about what their children ate in the past 24 hours and tested their knowledge about good feeding practices. This type of study is called a ‘repeated cross-sectional survey,’ which means they checked the same area multiple times but didn’t necessarily follow the exact same families each time.

The program they tested had three main parts: First, they helped local farmers set up ‘Egg Hubs’—small businesses focused on raising and selling eggs. Second, they taught mothers and community members why eggs and other nutritious foods are important for babies and young children. Third, they made eggs cheaper through a subsidy program so more families could afford to buy them.

Researchers measured success using something called ‘minimum dietary diversity’ (MDD), which is a simple way to check if children are eating foods from enough different groups—like grains, vegetables, proteins, and dairy. They also asked mothers seven questions to see if they understood better how to feed their children well.

This research approach is important because it shows real-world results in actual communities, not just in a laboratory. By checking the same area four times, researchers could see how things gradually improved, which helps prove the program actually caused the changes. The combination of measuring what children actually ate, testing mothers’ knowledge, and talking to people in interviews gives a complete picture of how the program worked

The study was published in a well-respected scientific journal (Scientific Reports), which means experts reviewed it before publication. The researchers used a clear method to measure dietary diversity that’s recognized worldwide. However, the study doesn’t specify exactly how many families were involved in each survey round, which makes it harder to judge how reliable the numbers are. The study also didn’t have a comparison group (like communities that didn’t get the program), so we can’t be 100% certain the program caused all the improvements—other things happening in the community might have helped too

What the Results Show

The main finding was dramatic: the number of children eating a healthy variety of foods increased from 29.7% in the first survey to 76.2% in the final survey. This means that by the end of the program, more than three-quarters of young children were eating foods from different food groups, compared to less than one-third at the start.

Egg consumption showed similar improvement, rising from 23.6% of children eating eggs to 74.5%. This is important because eggs are one of the cheapest and most nutritious animal foods available, packed with protein and other nutrients growing children need.

Mothers’ understanding of how to feed children well also improved significantly. The percentage of mothers with good knowledge about child feeding jumped from 52.7% to 78.2%. Additionally, mothers’ positive attitudes toward recommended feeding practices increased from 76.3% to 87.2%, meaning more mothers believed that feeding children well was important and doable.

These improvements happened over the course of the program’s implementation, suggesting that the combination of local egg production, education, and affordability worked together to create change.

Beyond the main findings, the qualitative interviews (conversations with families) revealed that mothers felt more confident about feeding their children and understood why different foods matter. Families reported that having local access to eggs through the Egg Hubs made it easier to include them in their children’s diets. The program also appeared to strengthen community awareness about nutrition, suggesting that the education component had broader effects than just individual families

This research builds on previous studies showing that in Ethiopia, egg consumption is very low—only about 13 eggs per person per year, compared to much higher consumption in other countries. Earlier research has shown that poor dietary diversity is a major reason why children in Ethiopia don’t grow as well as they could. This study is one of the first to show that a combined approach—improving local production, teaching families, and making food affordable—can significantly change eating habits. It suggests that previous efforts focusing on just one approach (like education alone or subsidies alone) might not be as effective as doing all three together

The study doesn’t tell us exactly how many families were surveyed each time, which makes it hard to know how confident we should be in the numbers. The study didn’t compare communities that got the program to communities that didn’t, so we can’t be completely sure the program caused all the improvements—other changes in the area might have helped too. The study was done in specific areas of Ethiopia, so the results might not work the same way in other countries or regions with different cultures and food systems. We also don’t know if the improvements lasted after the program ended or if families went back to old eating habits

The Bottom Line

If you’re involved in nutrition programs or community health work, this research suggests that combining three things works well: (1) helping local farmers produce affordable nutritious foods like eggs, (2) teaching families why these foods matter for children, and (3) making the foods affordable through subsidies or price support. This approach appears moderately to highly effective based on the results shown. However, more research is needed to confirm these results work in other places and to see if improvements last long-term

This research is most relevant for: government nutrition programs in low-income countries, community health workers, farmers and food producers, nonprofit organizations working on child nutrition, and families in areas where children aren’t eating enough variety of nutritious foods. It’s less directly applicable to wealthy countries where eggs and diverse foods are already affordable and available. Parents in areas with food shortages might find the ideas helpful for advocating for local food production programs

Based on this study, improvements in children’s eating habits appeared within several months of the program starting, with the biggest changes visible within about 6-12 months. However, the study didn’t follow families long-term, so we don’t know if these improvements stay the same after a year or if they continue to improve. Most families would likely need at least 3-6 months to see noticeable changes in their children’s growth and health from improved nutrition

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track the number of different food groups your child eats each day (grains, vegetables, fruits, proteins including eggs, dairy). Aim to include at least 4-5 different groups daily. Use a simple checklist: Did my child eat grains today? Vegetables? Protein? Dairy? Fruits? Mark yes/no for each
  • If you have access to eggs, commit to including them in your child’s meals at least 3-4 times per week. Set a weekly reminder to buy eggs at the market or from local producers. If eggs aren’t available, the app could help you identify other affordable protein sources in your area and track when you use them
  • Weekly: Count how many different food groups your child ate each day and average it over the week. Monthly: Review the trend—are you seeing improvement? Take photos of meals to visually track variety. Every 3 months: Assess whether your child seems more energetic, is growing well, and is getting sick less often. Share this information with your child’s healthcare provider

This research describes results from a specific program in Ethiopia and may not apply the same way in other locations or populations. The study shows association and improvement over time but doesn’t prove the program was the only cause of changes. Before making major changes to your child’s diet or starting a nutrition program in your community, consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian who understands your local food system and your child’s individual health needs. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical or nutritional advice. If your child has allergies, digestive issues, or other health conditions, discuss any dietary changes with a healthcare provider first.