Roba AA, Başdaş Ö, Brewis A, Roba KT. Maternal and household factors affecting the dietary diversity of preschool children in eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.
BMJ Open 2024;
14:e080616. [PMID:
38514138 PMCID:
PMC10961529 DOI:
10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080616]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Investigate the association between the dietary diversity of preschool children and proximate factors including household food insecurity, maternal food choice, preferences, khat use, and levels of depressive symptoms.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional survey of randomly selected households.
SETTING
Haramaya Health and Demographic Surveillance site in Eastern Ethiopia, predominantly smallholder farming households.
PARTICIPANTS
678 preschool children (24-59 months) and their mothers.
METHODS
The key outcome, the adequacy of dietary diversity of preschool children, was calculated using a 24-hour parental dietary recall. Binary logistic regression was then used to identify maternal and household factors associated with dietary adequacy versus inadequacy.
RESULTS
The majority (80.53%) of surveyed children had low dietary diversity (mean Dietary Diversity (MDD)) score of 3.06±1.70 on a 7-point scale). Approximately 80% of households exhibited food insecurity. Households with greater food security (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.96, 95% CI 1.19 to 3.23), healthier maternal food choice (AOR=2.19, 95% CI 1.12 to 4.31) and broader maternal food preferences (AOR=4.95, 95% CI 1.11 to 21.95) were all associated with higher dietary diversity of their preschool children (p≤0.05). Other covariates associated with adequate child dietary diversity included improved household drinking water sources (AOR=1.84, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.92) and family planning use (AOR=1.69, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.86). Despite predictions, however, maternal depression and khat consumption were not identified as factors.
CONCLUSIONS
The dietary diversity of preschool children is extremely low-a pattern observed in both food-secure and food-insecure households. Key factors include maternal selection of food for convenience and ease, preferences that do not include animal protein or healthier food choices, and lack of access to improved drinking water sources. Interventions around maternal food choice and preferences could improve preschool children's nutritional health.
Collapse