Towards improving nutrition in rural Indonesia : an econometric analysis of the influence of socio-economic factors

Abstract

Using food consumption data for 160 rural households obtained randomly from four villages, two villages in West Java and another two villages in South Sumatra, this study analyses the widespread problem of inadequate nutrition in rural Indonesia. The study also seeks to shed some light on the effectiveness of measures which might be used to alleviate the problem. The study illustrates applications of linear programrningtechniques and regression analysis to calculate least cost nutritious diets and to estimate the response of nutrition parameters to changes in socia-economic factors. Since this analysis is based on crosssectional sample data for 1973 in which consumption data are based on one day sample, the analysis is static with a considerable data limitation. Therefore, a great caution should be employed in applying the findings to the current nutrition problem. It was shown that the severity of the problem of inadequate nutrition in rural areas was not adequately reflected in the national aggregate data because the poor distribution of food supplies was not considered. Previous nutrition analysis has also failed to show that it is essential to provide at least seven basic nutrients (calories, protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin B and Vitamin C), rather than only calories and protein. Consequently, the analysis of rural households undertaken in this study derives markedly different conclusions from previous national nutrition studies . Results of this analysis suggest that the real magnitude of the problem of inadequate nutrition in rural Indonesia has been understated. Show more