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Food Security and Child Nutrition in Uganda

Karlsson, Omar LU (2013) EKHR51 20131
Department of Economic History
Abstract
Uganda depends on agriculture to feed its growing population. Deviations and shocks to food supply and production can have severe consequences on the nutritional status of children. In this paper it will be analyzed if the effects of those deviations are observable in the nutritional indicators of birth weight and height-for-age in Uganda. An association was found with height-for-age in children but different indicators seem to affect households differently depending on socio-economic status. The richer and more connected to the market economy show a greater response to GDP while those poorer do not seem affected by it but show a stronger response to food supply. The magnitude of the effect depends greatly on food supply in previous years... (More)
Uganda depends on agriculture to feed its growing population. Deviations and shocks to food supply and production can have severe consequences on the nutritional status of children. In this paper it will be analyzed if the effects of those deviations are observable in the nutritional indicators of birth weight and height-for-age in Uganda. An association was found with height-for-age in children but different indicators seem to affect households differently depending on socio-economic status. The richer and more connected to the market economy show a greater response to GDP while those poorer do not seem affected by it but show a stronger response to food supply. The magnitude of the effect depends greatly on food supply in previous years and repeated years of good condition are important. Disparities between genders do not give any indication of discrimination but females seem much more sensitive to food supply when in utero. Birth weight showed an inconsistent effect which could be due to inaccuracy of the recorded birth weights. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Karlsson, Omar LU
supervisor
organization
course
EKHR51 20131
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Food security, nutrition, Uganda, height-for-age, birth weight
language
English
id
3878754
date added to LUP
2013-08-23 14:28:40
date last changed
2013-08-23 14:28:40
@misc{3878754,
  abstract     = {{Uganda depends on agriculture to feed its growing population. Deviations and shocks to food supply and production can have severe consequences on the nutritional status of children. In this paper it will be analyzed if the effects of those deviations are observable in the nutritional indicators of birth weight and height-for-age in Uganda. An association was found with height-for-age in children but different indicators seem to affect households differently depending on socio-economic status. The richer and more connected to the market economy show a greater response to GDP while those poorer do not seem affected by it but show a stronger response to food supply. The magnitude of the effect depends greatly on food supply in previous years and repeated years of good condition are important. Disparities between genders do not give any indication of discrimination but females seem much more sensitive to food supply when in utero. Birth weight showed an inconsistent effect which could be due to inaccuracy of the recorded birth weights.}},
  author       = {{Karlsson, Omar}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Food Security and Child Nutrition in Uganda}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}