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Possession of livestock (mirk anirnars), household gardening, and
poultry raising could affect food consumption. Milk and eggs being rich
sources of protein, their availability and increased consumption by
children could enhance physical growth of children as food intake influences
nutritional status. Increase in production of milk and eggs could
lead to an increase in their consumption, as reported by De Walt (1983)
quoted earlier.
12
Household gardens provide fruits and vegetables which add variety, as
weLl as vitamins and minerals to the staple foods regularly consumed.
The sale of fruits and vegetables could al.so provide a source of income
(smitn, 1986). The production and consumption of fruits and vegetables
by children coupled with increased income could improve nutritional
status of children.
2.2,3 Relatignshþ of infant and child feedinq practices and
nutritional status
Breast feeding is considered the best way to feed infants since it
provides the infant with all the necessary nutrients in the right
amounts for the first 4-6 months of life.
Breast milk has antiinfective
properties and it is free of contamínation (vahlquist, 1991).
Breast-feeding is a
cornmon way of feeding infants in Ethiopia, espe-
ciaIly in rural areas. The same is true for other Third World Countries,
such as Nigeria, Zaire and india (wuO Colaborative Study on
Breast-feeding, 1 981 )
According to the WHO Colaborative Study on
Breast-feeding (1981 ), 97 percent of moLhers in one of Lhe rural areas
mainlained breast-f eeding
up to lhe age of 18 months. poor nutritionl