Household food consumption and nutritional adequacy in Wadi Zones of Chad, Central Africa

A cross‐sectional survey of food consumption and nutritional status was conducted in 225 rural households involved in wadi agriculture in three adjacent zones of Kanem, in the Sahelian area of Chad. Mao and Moussoro zones were studied during the dry season and Nokou, the third zone, during the rainy (lean) season. Average household intakes of energy, protein and iron appeared adequate except in Nokou, where 41% of the households did not cover 60% of their energy requirements. Vitamin A intakes were extremely low in all three zones. Cereals provided around 72% of total food energy irrespective of total energy intake. Cereal needs for household energy sufficiency were estimated at 210 kg per capita per year. Adult body mass index tended to better reflect household dietary adequacy than child weight and height indices. It is suggested that household food and nutritional surveillance include the amounts of cereals consumed, frequency of intake of vitamind A‐containing foods and anthropometry of both adults and preschoolers.

Key words:

• household food consumption
• food security
• nutritional status
• nutritional surveillance
• Sahel