Determinants of fruit consumption in adult women in Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Fruit consumption in Indonesia is low, while diet related diseases are climbing, including among adult women where obesity prevalence is the highest. This study aimed to analyze determinants of fruit consumption among adult women aged 19–49 years in the country. Methods: Analysis was done to secondary data on food consumption obtained from a cross sectional survey of the national Basic Health Research 2010. The potential determinants analyzed were nutritional status (body mass index, BMI), age, formal education, marital status, economic status (quintile), and region. The logistic regression model was applied. Results: The results showed that adult women in Indonesia had higher odds of consuming more fruits if they were with higher BMI (OR BMI > 25=1.093, CI:1.026–1.165), in the older age group (OR middle-aged adult=1.079, CI:1.013–1.150), had higher educational status (OR completed elementary School or higher=2.070, CI:1.909–2.244), from higher economic status (OR high=2.258, CI:2.112–2.413), and resided in urban regions (OR urban area=1.305, CI:1.230–1.385). Meanwhile, being married appeared to hinder fruit consumption (OR=0.915, CI:0.849–0.986). Conclusions: Fruit consumption among adult women in Indonesia showed disparities between socioeconomic and sociodemographic characteristics. Thus intervention to improve fruit consumption should involve improving nutritional knowledge, especially among those with lower level of consumption (e.g married women), as well as improving access and availability of fruit for women from lower socioeconomic status and rural areas. This could include the use of locally available fruits that is less expensive and more accessible.