title: Child height gain is associated with consumption of animal-source foods in livestock-owning households in Western Kenya.
abstract: To clarify the pathways between household livestock and child growth by assessing the relationships between consumption of animal-source foods (ASF) and child growth and evaluating the household livestock correlates of child consumption of ASF.
  
  
  
  We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of anthropometry and 3 d feeding recalls among children <5 years old between June 2014 and May 2015. In addition, we collected data on wealth, livestock ownership and livestock diseases in the same households. We used linear and negative binomial mixed models to evaluate the relationships between household livestock characteristics, reported consumption of ASF and child growth.
  
  
  
  An 1800-household surveillance catchment area in Western Kenya within the structure of human and animal health surveillance systems.
  
  
  
  Children (n 874) <5 years old.
  
  
  
  Among children >6 months old, reported frequency of egg and milk consumption was associated with increased monthly height gain (for each additional report of consumption over 3 d: adjusted β (95 % CI)=0·010 (0·002, 0·019) cm/month and 0·008 (0·004, 0·013) cm/month, respectively). Poultry ownership was associated with higher reported frequency of egg, milk and chicken consumption (adjusted incidence rate ratio (95 % CI)=1·3 (1·2, 1·4), 1·4 (1·1, 1·6) and 1·3 (1·1, 1·4), respectively). Some livestock diseases were associated with lower reported frequency of ASF intake (livestock digestive diseases-adjusted incidence rate ratio (95 % CI)=0·89 (0·78, 1·00)).
  
  
  
  Child height gain was associated with milk and egg consumption in this cohort. ASF consumption was related to both household livestock ownership and animal health.
authors: 1Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health,Washington State University,PO Box 647090,Pullman,WA 99164-7090,USA.
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Mosites
authors: 3Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI),Kisian,Kenya.
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Aol
authors: 3Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI),Kisian,Kenya.
authors: Elkanah
authors: E
authors: Otiang
authors: 3Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI),Kisian,Kenya.
authors: Godfrey
authors: G
authors: Bigogo
authors: 4Division of Global Health Protection,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya,Nairobi,Kenya.
authors: Peninah
authors: P
authors: Munyua
authors: 4Division of Global Health Protection,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya,Nairobi,Kenya.
authors: Joel M
authors: JM
authors: Montgomery
authors: 2Department of Epidemiology,University of Washington,Seattle,WA,USA.
authors: Marian L
authors: ML
authors: Neuhouser
authors: 1Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health,Washington State University,PO Box 647090,Pullman,WA 99164-7090,USA.
authors: Guy H
authors: GH
authors: Palmer
authors: 1Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health,Washington State University,PO Box 647090,Pullman,WA 99164-7090,USA.
authors: Samuel M
authors: SM
authors: Thumbi
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000818:Animals; D001827:Body Height; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004435:Eating; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007630:Kenya; D016014:Linear Models; D058751:Livestock; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male
keywords: Animal-source foods; Child anthropometry; Child growth; Household livestock; Livestock disease