Abstract
BackgroundDietary diversity (DD) is useful indicator of dietary quality and nutrient adequacy. In developing countries limited evidence is available regarding predictors of DD during the critical complementary feeding period. The purpose of the study is to assess DD and predictors among children 6–23 months of age in rural Gorche district, Southern Ethiopia.MethodA community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 417 children aged 6–23 months in Gorche district. The children were selected using a stratified two-stage cluster sampling technique. DD in the preceding day of the survey was assessed using the standard 7-food group score without imposing a minimum intake restriction. Factors associated with DD were identified by modeling dietary diversity score (DDS) using linear regression analysis.ResultsOnly 10.6% (95% CI: 7.6–13.6) of the children had the minimum recommended DD (≥4 food groups). In children born to literate fathers, the DD was increased by 0.26 as compared to their counterparts (p = 0.026). Children from households that grow vegetables and own livestock, the DDS was significantly increased by 0.32 (p = 0.032) and 0.51 (p = 0.001). As the age of the child increases by a month, the DD also increased by 0.04 (p = 0.001). Mothers that received Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) education during their post-natal care, the DDS was increased by 0.21 (p = 0.037). Unit increase in maternal knowledge on IYCF was associated with 0.41 rise in DDS (p = 0.001). Other factors that showed positive association were: mother’s participation in cooking demonstration, exposure to IYCF information on the mass media and husband involvement in IYCF.ConclusionNutrition education, promotion of husbands’ involvement in IYCF and implementation of nutrition sensitive agriculture can significantly enhance DD of children.
Highlights
Dietary diversity (DD) is useful indicator of dietary quality and nutrient adequacy
As the age of the child increases by a month, the DD increased by 0.04 (p = 0.001)
Unit increase in maternal knowledge on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) was associated with 0.41 rise in dietary diversity score (DDS) (p = 0.001)
Summary
Dietary diversity (DD) is useful indicator of dietary quality and nutrient adequacy. In developing countries limited evidence is available regarding predictors of DD during the critical complementary feeding period. The purpose of the study is to assess DD and predictors among children 6–23 months of age in rural Gorche district, Southern Ethiopia. In 2013, globally an estimated 6.3 million children under the age of 5 years died, 2.9 million of them in the SubSaharan Africa (SSA) region. In 2030 about 60% of all child deaths will be expected to occur in the region [1]. Nearly half (45%) of all child deaths are linked to malnutrition and the figure might even be higher in Africa [2]. In Ethiopia, over the past 15 years notable decline in child under-nutrition had been witnessed. As of 2014, 9, 25 and 40% of children under the age of 5 years were wasted, underweight and stunted, respectively [4].
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