Dietary Diversity and Nutritional Status of Children Aged 6 to 24 Months in Rural Sidama, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To describe dietary diversity score (DDS) of young children and to assess the association of DDS with stunting and anaemia (defined as haemoglobin level <11 mg/dl) in rural Southern Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional household study was done in rural Dale Woreda, Southern Ethiopia from August to October 2018 among 804 caregiver-child (aged 6–24 months) pairs. Dietary history, anthropometric measurements and haemoglobin levels using HemoCue HB 301 portable machines were captured. Child DDS was assessed in a structured 24-hour recall on specific common food items with relevance for the standard 7-food groups DDS (WHO). Stunting was defined as length-for-age Z-score less than 2 SD from the population mean according to the WHO Child Growth Standards. Results from adjusted logistic regression models are presented for stunting and anaemia as the dependent variables (using SPSS software). Results Children received only foods from 1 and 2 food groups were 5.0% (40/804) and 14.9% (120/804), respectively. There was 43.9% (353/804) of children who had low DDS (received foods from less than four out of seven food groups) during 24 hours prior to the interviews. The prevalence of stunting was 47.8% (384/804) and 45.6% (367/804) for anaemia. The odds ratio for stunting was 2 and 3 times higher among children who did not receive legumes and flesh foods compared to those who received it: aOR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.2; 3.3 and 2.9, 95% CI 1.6; 5.5, respectively. Children who did not receive cereals and legumes had similarly increased risk of having haemoglobin level below 11 mg/dl compared to those who received it: aOR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.0; 6.8 and 2.8, 95% CI 1.7; 4.7, respectively. Conclusions In Dale Woreda, Southern Ethiopia, the prevalences of stunting and anaemia were high and children had low dietary diversity. Dietary diversity among young children must be considered in Ethiopian strategies promoting the health of children. Funding Sources NORAD (Norwegian Agency for development co-operation), through the NORHED (Norwegian program for capacity development in higher education and research for development) program.