Assessment of fish consumption in the Red Sea State, Sudan

Abstract

This study aimed to assess fish consumption and fish products preference in the dietary pattern at household level in the Red Sea State, Sudan. The study adopted the analytical descriptive approach to verify and specify the research issues quantitatively and qualitatively. It depended on questionnaire and personal communications as primary sources for data collection; literature from previous studies and records were used as secondary sources of data. Results obtained indicated that about 93.8% of the population under the study was used to have fish in their diets. Significant correlation was found between children malnutrition and fish consumption in the population under the study (p≤0.017).In the study area the average fish consumption per capita reached 9.6 kg per annum. Highly significant correlation was found between the average monthly income of the family and the rate of the fish consumption (p≤0.00). The study indicated that about 62.1% of the population under the study used to eat traditional processed fish food (Fasiekh, Maloha) and about 61.5% used to have canned fish products.