Compare Nutritionally Related Health Outcomes Between Least Developed Countries Receiving Minimal Versus Substantial Food Aid from the United States

Abstract

This study examines how food aid from the United States affects the nutritional health of the populations in least developed countries (LDCs). The average prevalences of nutritionally related health parameters in children under five living in LDCs receiving high amounts of food aid per capita from the U.S. were compared to the same prevalences in LDCs receiving low amounts of food aid per capita. Compared to low food aid per capita LDCs, both under five mortality rate (p=0.001) and prevalence of children under five who are overweight (p=0.001) were significantly higher in high food aid per capita LDCs. Low food aid per capita LDCs had a significantly higher prevalence of stunting in children (p=0.007). There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence of low birth weight infants between the two groups (p=0.352). Additional analysis revealed significant differences between low food aid countries and the U.S. and between high food aid LDCs and the U.S. for all health parameters (p<0.01). Further studies are needed to determine the mechanism by which food aid from the United States affects nutritional status indices of the receiving populations.