Differential Determinants of Dairy,Egg,and Meat Consumption Among Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in Harar City,Eastern Ethiopia: A Secondary Data Analysis

Abstract

Background

Animal-source foods (ASFs) are critical for addressing child undernutrition, yet consumption remains low in Ethiopia. Prevailing evidence often aggregates ASFs, potentially obscuring the unique socioeconomic and demographic determinants of specific, nutrient-rich foods like dairy, eggs, and meat.

Objective

This secondary analysis aimed to compare the determinants of dairy, egg, and meat/poultry consumption among children aged 6 to 23 months in Harar City, Eastern Ethiopia, using existing cross-sectional data.

Methods

This secondary analysis utilized data from an institution-based cross-sectional study conducted among 542 mother–child pairs from July to August 2024. The original data were collected electronically via structured questionnaires. For this analysis, consumption of each ASF (dairy, eggs, meat/poultry) in the preceding 24 h was the primary outcome. Separate multivariable logistic regression models identified adjusted factors associated with each food type. The very low prevalence of meat/poultry consumption (4.5%) limits statistical power for detecting associations.

Results

Consumption prevalence was 28.6% for dairy, 15.0% for eggs, and 4.5% for meat/poultry. Household wealth exhibited a strong, positive gradient for all ASFs, most pronounced for eggs (richest vs poorest: Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 3.50; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.33, 9.24). Maternal primary education was significantly associated with higher odds of dairy (AOR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.17, 3.19) and egg consumption (AOR = 2.52; 95% CI: 1.26, 5.05) but not meat. Large family size (≥7 members) was a major constraint, reducing the odds of egg consumption by 70% (AOR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.74).

Conclusions

The socioeconomic and demographic determinants of ASF consumption are not uniform but are distinctly patterned by food type. Nutrition-sensitive interventions must therefore be equally specific, combining economic strategies to improve affordability with targeted education—particularly for dairy and eggs—while addressing intrahousehold food allocation in larger families.

Plain Language Title

Not All Animal Foods Are Equal: Why Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in Ethiopia Eat Dairy, Eggs, or Meat—and Why It Matters

Plain Language Summary

What determines whether a child aged 6 to 23 months in Ethiopia eats milk, eggs, or meat? Our study in Harar City shows that the answer depends on the food. While all are vital for growth, each faces different barriers.

What we found

Milk is more common when mothers have some education and households have more resources.

Eggs are also tied to wealth and maternal schooling, but are especially scarce in large families, where resources are stretched thin.

Meat is rarely given to young children (less than 5%), and its availability does not simply depend on income or knowledge—hinting at deeper cultural or economic constraints.

Why this matters

Nutrition programs often encourage “animal-source foods” as a single category. Our research shows this approach is too broad. To improve diets effectively, policies must be food-specific: supporting poultry and dairy access for eggs and milk, and addressing why meat remains out of reach—especially in larger households where children's needs can be overlooked.

In short

One-size-fits-all nutrition advice won’t work. Knowing which barriers affect which foods can help design smarter, fairer ways to nourish young children.