Dietary diversity among households living in Kilombero district, in Morogoro region, South-Eastern Tanzania
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Date
2021-06-11
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Abstract
Background: Adequate nutrition is essential for good health and active life. However, diets in most low and
middle-income households lack diversity, especially in settings where people eat predominantly starchy foods. In
this study, we assessed the associations between socio-economic status and household dietary diversity in
families living in South-eastern Tanzania.
Method: A cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to 925 parents of school children in four wards in
South-eastern Tanzania, as part of a trial; assessing the effects of physical activity and micronutrient supplementation on overall growth, health and well-being of school children. The dietary intake was assessed by 24-h
dietary recall and dietary diversity score (DDS) was calculated. Socio-economic status was derived from a
weighted score using principal component analysis (PCA). Multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate
the association between dietary diversity and socio-economic status. This baseline data assessment was
completed in July and August 2019. Results: Cereals, oils and fats were the most consumed food groups, legumes were the most common source of
protein and fish was the most common animal protein. More than three quarters of the households had medium
dietary diversity (MDD). Higher household education and large farm size were the only factors significantly
associated with having high dietary diversity.
Conclusion: A majority of the households in South-eastern Tanzania have medium dietary diversity, comprised of
cereal, fats and oils and proteins. Having high dietary diversity was associated with higher education and large
farm sizes. Improving community members’ knowledge and awareness of nutritional benefits could improve the
dietary diversity at household level.
Sustainable Development Goals
SGD-2: Zero Hunger
Keywords
Dietary diversity, Households, Principal component analysis, Social economic status, Undernutrition