Impact of income growth on household protein and calorie intake in Addis Ababa.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate calorie-income elasticity and to determine calorie and protein intake levels of Addis Ababa population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical component. SETTING: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand three hundred and fifty seven households. RESULTS: The mean monthly income and expenditure on food per household were 467.14 and 253.33 birr respectively. The mean calorie intake per adult equivalent was found to be 1952.71 Kcal and mean protein intake per capita was 48.51 gm. The estimated income elasticity for food expenditure was 0.52, while income elasticity for calorie availability was 0.51. Income elasticity for calorie availability was much higher in the low-income group (0.57) than the well-off group (0.16). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that increase in income, seems to be a sufficient condition for nutritional improvement among the low-income group.