Factors influencing the introduction of fish into the diet of children aged 6-23 months in urban areas of Burkina Faso

Abstract

The accumulation of human capital begins in childhood through adequate nutrition. For developing countries, generally characterized by childhood malnutrition, fish consumption presents an opportunity to improve the nutritional status of children aged 6–23 months. This article aims to identify the determinants of the introduction of fish into the diet of young children. To achieve this, data were collected from 360 households in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso through a cross-sectional survey. The data were primarily analyzed using a simple logit model. According to the results, 76.9% of the mothers interviewed had already introduced fish into their child's diet, while 43.1% had given fish in the 24 hours preceding the survey. Factors such as daily household expenditure on fish, the mother's age, and other determinants were identified as having a significant impact on dietary practices. The results obtained support the need to intensify fisheries policies by promoting this sub-sector through actions to strengthen the technical, operational, and institutional capacities of fisheries stakeholders in order to increase the national fish supply. In conclusion, the study suggests that public development interventions aimed at improving the incomes of poor populations present opportunities to increase fish consumption among young children.