Hidden hunger: A global problem with local solutions

Micronutrient deficiencies, or hidden hunger, are widespread in low-income countries. Given the spatial heterogeneity of nutritional adequacy patterns observed within and across countries, they call for tailored strategies, which requires good knowledge of the nutritional impact of policies. We used recent household consumption data to analyze nutrient adequacy patterns as well as price and income nutrient elasticities in twelve African countries. To do so, we first map key nutrients at the subnational level in each country. Second, we apply the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) developed by Deaton and Muellbauer (1980) to derive expenditure and price elasticities. Results show that nutrient consumption patterns in Africa are highly spatially heterogeneous. Calcium intake remains well below recommended levels in Senegal, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, and Tanzania, where average adequacy is below 40% in many districts or departments. The results suggest that dry fish contribute significantly to calcium intake in these countries. Increased consumption of animal products would also help to increase vitamin B12 adequacy levels, which are low in many of the countries examined. Across countries, nutrients show positive expenditure elasticities ranging from 0.25 (vitamin A in rural Tanzania) to 1.56 (vitamin C and calcium in urban Mali and rural Benin, respectively). Nutrient consumption is generally inelastic with respect to food prices, with exceptions including vitamin B12, which is the most sensitive nutrient to prices of meat and fish. These results highlight the potential of income and food price policies to improve the quality of diets.