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Effects of Income and Mothers' Literacy on Household Food Frequency in an Agriculturally Diversified Area in Bangladesh

SATTYAJIT KUMAR SAHA
Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

M. AKHTARUZZAMAN
Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

REZAUL KARIM
Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Ninety-two households in five unions of Gazipur Sadar upazila, belonging to an agriculturally diversified area in Bangladesh, were surveyed to examine the relationship of household income and mothers' literacy with the frequency of common food intake in the households. Judged by the educational status of the household head and mother, homestead size and household income, the households belonged to a higher socioeconomic category compared to the national average. Per capita income and mother's literacy had positive relationship with the frequency of food intake, but their effects on leafy vegetables was marginal. More literate mothers substituted low cost pulse for high cost meat and fish when income was a constraint but consumed more of them as income increased. It is observed that a nutrition education component added to agricultural diversification program would increase the nutritional benefits from the project.

Keywords: Income, Mothers' literacy, Household food frequency

Location: Gazipur sadar upazila

Start Date: 00-02-2002

End Date: 00-03-2002

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Education, Income generation

Objectives:

The major objective of this study is to find out the relationship of household income and mothers 'literacy with the frequency of common food intake in an agriculturally diversified area in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in 92 households in randomly selected nine villages in five unions in Gazipur sadar upazila located in 45 km north of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The area was within the agricultural diversification zone of the government where interventions on agricultural diversification are provided by the government agriculture department. Poultry farming, fish cultivation, dairy farming, home gardening and several mixed agricultural production systems are practiced in the area along with the cultivation of field crops. The sample size was limited by the availability of sampling units in the selected villages and time constraint of the study. The data were collected during February- March, 2002 by the researchers themselves interviewing the household heads and the housewives using a pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS PC. The data were checked in the field and repeated visits were made to the households to verify doubtful answers and collect any missing information.

Source of Information: Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 13(2): 197-202, 2004 (July)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It is observed that the frequencies of fish and meat intake among poorer and more literate mothers are lower than those of the poorer and less literate mothers, while the frequency of pulse intake is higher and the frequency of intake of other foods are not substantially different. Since fish and meat are more expensive than pulse, it appears that, in poorer households the more literate mothers substitute pulse for fish and meat that the less literate mothers do not do and it may be considered an education effect. However, as income increases the more literate mothers consume meat and fish more frequently than the less literate mothers that may be due to income effect.

Knowledge Management: Journal