Women’s participation in household decision-making and higher dietary diversity: findings from nationally representative data from Ghana

Dickson A Amugsi,Blessing U Mberu,Elizabeth Kimani-Murage,Anna Lartey

doi:10.1186/s41043-016-0053-1

Abstract

BackgroundLow-quality monotonous diet is a major problem confronting resource-constrained settings across the world. Starchy staple foods dominate the diets in these settings. This places the population, especially women of reproductive age, at a risk of micronutrients deficiencies. This study seeks to examine the association between women’s decision-making autonomy and women’s achievement of higher dietary diversity (DD) and determine the socio-demographic factors that can independently predict women’s attainment of higher DD.MethodsThe study used data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. The participants comprised of 2262 women aged 15–49 years and who have complete dietary data. The DD score was derived from a 24-h recall of intake of foods from nine groups. The score was dichotomized into lower DD (DD ≤4) and higher (DD ≥5). Logistic regression was used to assess the association between women decision-making autonomy (final say on how to spend money, making household purchases, own health care, opinions on wife-beating, and sexual intercourse with husband) and the achievement of higher DD. The logistic regression models were adjusted for covariates at the individual and household levels.ResultsThe analysis showed that women participation in decision-making regarding household purchases was significantly associated with higher DD, after adjusting for individual and household level covariates. The odds of achieving higher DD were higher among women who had a say in deciding household purchases, compared to women who did not have a say (OR = 1.74, 95 % CI = 1.24, 2.42). Women who had more than primary education were 1.6 times more likely to achieve higher DD, compared to those with no education (95 % CI = 1.12, 2.20). Compared to women who lived in polygamous households, those who lived in monogamous households had higher odds of achieving higher DD (OR = 1.42, 95 % CI = 1.04, 1.93).ConclusionsNet other covariates, women who have a say in making household purchases are more likely to achieve higher DD compare to those who do not have a say. This may indicate autonomy to buy nutritious foods, suggesting that improving women decision-making autonomy could have a positive impact on women dietary intake.

Highlights

Low-quality monotonous diet is a major problem confronting resource-constrained settings across the world
Food groups used in creating women dietary diversity (DD)
Women who participate in final decision-making are almost two times more likely to achieve higher DD compared to those who do not participate in household decision-making

Summary

Introduction

Low-quality monotonous diet is a major problem confronting resource-constrained settings across the world. Starchy staple foods dominate the diets in these settings This places the population, especially women of reproductive age, at a risk of micronutrients deficiencies. Starchy staple foods dominate the diets in these settings, with fruits, vegetables, and animal source foods scarcely consumed This places the population at high risk of micronutrient deficiencies, and women of reproductive age are vulnerable [1,2,3,4]. This is the case because of increased nutrient needs for women during pregnancy and lactation, and when these needs are not met, mothers may experience wasting and fatigue that may limit their ability to fully satisfy infant needs [3]. The proponents of this indicator posit that women consuming foods from five or more food groups out of ten have a greater likelihood of meeting their micronutrient needs than women consuming foods from fewer food groups [8]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion