Determination and Characterization of Women, Infants, and Young Children's Dietary Diversity in Agricultural Mitigation Period of Burkina Faso

Abstract

Backgroun: The increasing variety of foods and food groups in the diet helps to ensure adequate intake of essential nutrients and promotes good health. The main objective was to determine the diet quality of women, infants, and young children in agricultural mitigation period of Burkina Faso. Methods: A 24-h dietary open recall was used to collect all foods taken by women, infants, and young children in Centre-West region of Burkina Faso. The dietary diversity (DD) score was equal to the number of consumed food groups for infants (6-23 months) according to WHO recommendations and for women and young children (24-59 months) according to food and agriculture organization (FAO). Three DD classes were determined for the individual average DD. For each DD class, food consumption profile was determined by food items or groups consumed by at least 50 percent of women, infants, and young children according to FAO guide. Results: The study was conducted among 971 women, 419 infants, and 189 young children. Regarding the dietary diversity score (DDS), 16.3, 39.2, and 44.5 percent of women and 12.7, 49.7, and 37.6 percent of young children had low (< 5), average (= 5), and high (> 5) rates, respectively. Furthermore, DDS was low (< 4), average (= 4) and high (> 4) in 22.9, 12.6, and 64.4 of infants, respectively. The consumption rates of roots/tubers, dairy products, eggs, and fruits were very low regardless of the women, infants, and young children DDS in times of agricultural mitigation. Conclusion: The diet of women and young children was a little more diversified compared to infants.