Abstract
Introduction
Having appropriate childhood nutrition is crucial for growth and development. For this reason, animal source foods (ASFs) are vital foods for providing essential nutrients. However, populations, particularly children in low- and middle-income countries, consume small amounts of ASFs due to poverty, limited access, cultural beliefs, and dietary habits. Child malnutrition in Cambodia remains a problem because of factors that have been linked to diets, such as insufficient nutrient food intake, high consumption of rice-based foods, and feeding practices. This study aims to assess the consumption patterns of ASFs and their determinants among children aged 6–23 months in Cambodia.
Methods
We used the child dataset from the 2021-22 CDHS. The sample included 1,277 children aged 6–23 months. The 32 food items were asked for within 24 hours before the survey and then classified into 8 main food groups. The ASFs included dairy products, eggs, meat, organ meat, and fish. Stata 14 was used in data analysis with accounting for the sampling weights. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the main predictors of ASF consumption among children aged 6–3 months, and the results are presented as AORs and 95% CIs.
Results
Overall, 87.94% of the children consumed ASFs, with significant variations based on age, health status, parental occupation, women's minimum dietary diversity (MDD-W), and breastfeeding status. Children aged 12–17 months were 5.59 times more likely to consume ASFs than were those aged 6–8 months. Children without recent diarrhea were 2.18 times more likely to consume ASF. Compared with unemployed parents, children from parents who work in blue-collar jobs are 7.08 times more likely to consume ASF. Nonbreastfeeding mothers were 5.20 times more likely to have children consuming ASFs. Children whose mothers met the MDD-W criteria were 2.21 times more likely to consume ASFs.
Conclusion
The consumption of ASFs is high among children aged 6–23 months. Non-breastfed children may consume more ASFs, but this does not ensure a well-balanced diet. These findings underscore the critical importance of a diversified diet and highlight the significant influence of socioeconomic and parental factors on children's dietary habits. Further research should focus on adequate ASF consumption among children aged 6–23 months to better understand dietary patterns and preferences.