Keywords
Child nutritional outcomes
Rural households
Urban households
Household welfare
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Abstract
Improving child nutrition remains one of the most pressing development challenges confronting many low- and middle-income countries despite sustained efforts to enhance agricultural production and food security. In Cameroon, where agriculture is a major source of livelihood, particularly in rural communities, concerns persist about the extent to which improvements in agricultural productivity translate into better nutritional outcomes for children. This study examines the effect of agricultural productivity on child nutritional outcomes in Cameroon while comparing the magnitude of the relationship between rural and urban households. Using secondary data from the Fifth Cameroon Household Survey (ECAM 5), the study employs a quantitative research design and estimates logistic regression models to analyse the relationship between agricultural productivity and child nutritional outcomes after controlling for relevant socioeconomic and demographic factors. The findings indicate that higher agricultural productivity significantly improves child nutritional outcomes through increased household food availability, dietary diversity, and income generation. The results further reveal that the positive effects of agricultural productivity are stronger among rural households than urban households, reflecting the greater dependence of rural livelihoods on agricultural activities. Maternal education, household welfare, access to improved sanitation, and dietary diversity are also found to exert significant positive influences on child nutrition. The study recommends the implementation of integrated rural development programmes that simultaneously promote agricultural productivity, nutrition education, and access to basic social services in order to accelerate improvements in child nutritional outcomes. Such interventions are essential for achieving sustainable reductions in malnutrition and poverty while supporting inclusive economic development in Cameroon.
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