Effects of an egg production intervention with social behavioral change communication and subsidy on child dietary diversity in Ethiopia

Undernutrition remains a major cause of child morbidity and mortality globally, with poor dietary diversity-particularly the limited intake of animal-source foods-being a key factor. In Ethiopia, egg consumption is low, with only 13 eggs per person annually. This study assessed the impact of the Market-based Innovation for Nutrition in Ethiopia (MINE) project, which implemented the Egg Hub model to enhance egg production and marketing, and introduced a social behavior change communication (SBCC) and egg subsidy scheme to increase the demand for eggs among children aged 6-23 months. A four-round repeated cross-sectional survey was conducted in Bishoftu and East Shoa Zone targeting children aged 6-23 months. Children's dietary diversity was assessed using the minimum dietary diversity (MDD) indicator via 24-h recall, while maternal knowledge and attitudes toward child feeding were assessed using a seven-item questionnaire. The primary outcome-change in MDD-was analyzed using multiple logistic regression, with qualitative interviews conducted to supplement quantitative findings. Results showed that the proportion of children achieving MDD increased from 29.7% in the first survey to 76.2% in the fourth. Egg consumption rose from 23.6% to 74.5% across the same period. Maternal knowledge on child feeding improved from 52.7% to 78.2%, and positive attitudes toward recommended feeding practices rose from 76.3% to 87.2%. The Egg Hub model, combined with the comprehensive SBCC and egg subsidy scheme implemented in the MINE project, significantly improved MDD. Scaling up this intervention is recommended to enhance child nutrition at a broader level.