Researchers in Ethiopia studied 522 families to understand why many young children (ages 6-23 months) aren’t eating enough vitamin A-rich foods. They found that only about half of these children were getting enough vitamin A daily. The study discovered that children were more likely to eat these foods if their mothers had more education, if the family had reliable access to food, and if they saw nutrition information on TV or radio. The findings suggest that teaching mothers about nutrition and making sure families have enough food could help more children get the vitamin A they need for healthy eyes and strong bodies.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How many young children in an Ethiopian town were eating foods rich in vitamin A, and what factors helped or prevented them from eating these foods
  • Who participated: 522 households with children between 6 and 23 months old living in Jigjiga town in the Somali region of Ethiopia
  • Key finding: Only about half (49.8%) of the young children studied were eating vitamin A-rich foods on a daily basis. Children were nearly 3 times more likely to eat these foods if their mothers had secondary school education or higher, and about 3 times more likely if their families saw nutrition messages on media like TV or radio.
  • What it means for you: If you live in similar communities or work in child nutrition, this suggests that improving mothers’ education about nutrition and making sure families have steady access to food are practical ways to help children get better nutrition. However, this study was done in one specific town in Ethiopia, so results may not apply everywhere.

The Research Details

Researchers visited 522 households in Jigjiga town and asked mothers or caregivers questions about what foods their young children had eaten in the past 24 hours. They specifically looked for foods high in vitamin A, like liver, eggs, orange vegetables, and leafy greens. The researchers used a method called ‘multi-stage sampling,’ which means they randomly selected neighborhoods first, then randomly selected households within those neighborhoods. This helps make sure the results represent the whole town fairly.

They then analyzed the information to find patterns—looking at which families’ children ate more vitamin A-rich foods and which didn’t. They used statistical tools to figure out which factors (like mother’s education, access to media, or food security) were most strongly connected to children eating these foods.

This type of study is useful because it takes a snapshot of what’s actually happening in a real community right now. By asking families directly about their eating habits, researchers can identify specific problems and solutions that make sense for that area. Understanding why some children eat better than others helps health workers and governments create better programs to improve child nutrition.

This study has several strengths: it included a decent-sized sample (522 households), used random selection methods to avoid bias, and looked at multiple factors that might affect vitamin A intake. However, the study only captured one day of eating habits (the 24 hours before the survey), so it might not show typical patterns if that day was unusual. The study was also done in just one town, so the results may not apply to other areas with different cultures, economies, or food availability. Additionally, the study relied on mothers’ memories of what children ate, which might not be perfectly accurate.

What the Results Show

About half of the children (49.8%) had eaten vitamin A-rich foods in the day before the survey. This means the other half had not eaten any of these important foods that day.

Children who were older (12-23 months) were more likely to be eating vitamin A-rich foods compared to younger children (6-11 months). Specifically, children aged 12-17 months were nearly 3 times more likely to eat these foods, and children aged 18-23 months were about 2 times more likely.

Mothers’ education made a big difference. When mothers had completed secondary school or higher education, their children were 2-3 times more likely to eat vitamin A-rich foods. This suggests that educated mothers may know more about nutrition or have better access to information about healthy foods.

Families that saw nutrition messages on TV, radio, or other media had children who were about 3 times more likely to eat vitamin A-rich foods. Families with reliable access to enough food (food security) also had children eating more vitamin A-rich foods—about 2.4 times more likely. Interestingly, religion also played a role: children in Protestant families were significantly more likely to eat these foods, though this finding was based on smaller numbers and should be interpreted carefully.

The study identified several other patterns worth noting. The combination of multiple factors seemed to matter—families that had both education, media exposure, and food security did even better. This suggests that improving nutrition requires addressing multiple issues at once, not just one factor. The fact that older children ate more vitamin A-rich foods might reflect that younger babies are still primarily breastfeeding and eating softer foods, while older babies can eat more varied solid foods.

Previous research has shown that vitamin A deficiency is a serious problem in many developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This study confirms that pattern in Ethiopia’s Somali region. Other studies have also found that mother’s education and access to information are important for child nutrition. This research adds to that evidence by showing these factors matter specifically for vitamin A intake in this community. The finding about food security aligns with global research showing that families struggling with hunger often can’t afford nutrient-rich foods.

The study only looked at one day of eating, so it might not represent typical eating patterns. Some families might have eaten vitamin A foods the day before but not usually. The study was done in just one town, so results may not apply to rural areas or other regions. The study relied on mothers’ memories, which can be inaccurate. The study couldn’t prove that education or media exposure actually causes better nutrition—only that they’re connected. Finally, the study didn’t measure actual vitamin A levels in children’s blood, so we don’t know if the foods eaten were enough to prevent deficiency.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, communities should focus on: (1) Educating mothers about which foods contain vitamin A and why they’re important—this has strong evidence of helping (confidence: moderate to high); (2) Using TV, radio, and community messaging to spread nutrition information—this showed strong results (confidence: moderate to high); (3) Working on food security so families can afford nutrient-rich foods—this was clearly connected to better intake (confidence: moderate); (4) Making sure feeding recommendations match children’s ages, since older babies ate more of these foods (confidence: moderate). These recommendations should be adapted to fit local cultures, religions, and available foods.

This research is most relevant for health workers, nutrition programs, and government officials in Ethiopia and similar regions of East Africa. Mothers and caregivers in these communities should care because it highlights the importance of vitamin A for their children’s health. Parents in other countries might find the general lessons helpful (education and media matter for nutrition), but specific recommendations should be adapted to local foods and cultures. This is less directly relevant for well-resourced countries where vitamin A deficiency is rare.

If communities implement these changes, improvements in children’s vitamin A intake could be seen within a few months as mothers learn about foods and media campaigns reach families. However, seeing improvements in children’s actual health (like better eye health) might take 6-12 months or longer. Long-term benefits would continue as children grow and develop.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily vitamin A-rich food intake for children by logging servings of foods like liver, eggs, orange vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes), leafy greens, and fortified foods. Set a goal of at least one vitamin A-rich food per day and track the number of days per week this goal is met.
  • Use the app to set reminders to include one vitamin A-rich food at each meal. Create a simple shopping list of affordable local vitamin A sources. Share nutrition tips from the app with family members to build household awareness. Track which family members are most engaged with nutrition education to identify champions who can influence others.
  • Weekly review of vitamin A food intake patterns to identify which foods are easiest for your family to include regularly. Monthly check-ins to see if media exposure (following nutrition accounts, watching health videos) correlates with better intake. Track seasonal availability of vitamin A-rich foods and adjust recommendations accordingly. Monitor whether increased maternal knowledge (through app learning) leads to sustained behavior change over 3-6 months.

This research describes patterns in one specific community in Ethiopia and should not be considered medical advice. Vitamin A needs vary by individual child, and any concerns about a child’s nutrition or eye health should be discussed with a healthcare provider. This study shows associations between factors and vitamin A intake but cannot prove cause-and-effect relationships. Parents should consult with local health workers about appropriate foods for their child’s age and any signs of vitamin A deficiency. If a child shows signs of eye problems, night blindness, or other health concerns, seek medical evaluation immediately.