IMPACTS OF EGYPTIAN SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ON DIETARY PATTERN AND ADEQUACY

Health and nutrition status including dietary adequacy are basic components of the human development and indicators for welfare in a certain community. The study focused upon how far a socio-economic environment would affect the dietary pattern and adequacy in Egypt. The current dietary pattern was compared with that before the economic reform adjustment, i.e. before 1986. Dietary adequacy of energy and protein was assessed to define the poverty line among urban and rural populations. The investigated changes in the socio-economic environment were income level, distribution, growth and price level by region; as well as demographic features of the household. Finally, the study discussed policy implications on both micro and macro level and provided recommendations to the decision-makers for how to secure adequate diet quantity-wise as well as quality-wise for poor categories and vulnerable groups among the Egyptian community.