Animal-source foods are rich in iron, a mineral which girls and pregnant women particularly need. Some estimates suggest that nearly 40% of women and children suffer from anaemia, mostly as a result of dietary iron deficiency. This disease can cause disability.

The study examined households for the causes of anaemia, sources of dietary iron, and the impact of agricultural assets like livestock.

The data used were from the national level Afghanistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. Hemoglobin tests were given to women from half of the surveyed households. The survey also collected a range of socioeconomic and health information.

Data regarding diets and household consumption of mutton were from the National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment.

The study found that sheep ownership was closely associated with reduced anaemia among women, independently of wealth and other covariates.

Sheep ownership increased the likelihood of a household eating mutton, along with the quantity and frequency it was eaten.

Of the households that ate mutton, those who sourced it mostly from their own production consumed 100 grams per person more per week.

Full citation

Flores-Martinez. A. et al. 2016. Reducing anaemia prevalence in Afghanistan: Socioeconomic correlates and the particular role of agricultural assets. PLoS ONE 11(6): e0156878.