Food Security, Nutritional Supply, and Nutrient Sources in Rural Burkina Faso

Rural communities are more likely to encounter constraints in achieving food security and adequate nutritional supply. This study explores food security, nutritional supply, nutrient adequacy, macronutrient balance, recipes, and nutrient sources based on bi-monthly household surveys in rural villages in Northern and Southern Burkina Faso from 2019 to 2020. Food security across time and its quantity dimensions were measured using the food consumption score (FCS). Ordered logit regression showed that FCS was significantly influenced by season, region, and household characteristics such as the head's education and women's possession of personal plots. The regional differences were large: Households categorized as having poor diets were approximately 1% and 38% in the south and north, respectively. Nutrient adequacy was assessed by converting 24 h dietary recall into nutrient supply and comparing the results to the requirement. While macronutrient balance appeared adequate in the pooled sample, it became unacceptable when the two regions were considered separately. Most micronutrient supplies were insufficient. Cereals were the main nutrient sources, and leaves of crops and potash (additive containing potassium) were also non-negligible for micronutrient supplies. Overall, we found large regional differences in nutrition and food security, indicating that various local contexts must be considered for effective nutritional improvement.

Automated summary

This study examines the challenges rural communities face in achieving food security and adequate nutrition. It found that factors such as season, region, and household characteristics significantly influence food security. There are large regional differences in diet quality, with a higher percentage of households categorized as having poor diets in the north compared to the south. Most micronutrient supplies are insufficient, and cereals are the main source of nutrients.