ES Journal of Nutritional Health

Abstract

Background: Adequate and health diet during women reproductive age is essential for the health of both mother and new born. Dietary diversity is a proxy indicator of women reproductive age nutrient adequacy.

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the dietary diversity practice and associated factors among women reproductive age at Aysaita districts, Afar region, Ethiopia.

Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected 422 women under reproductive age at Aysaita districts from February to March, 2020. Data was collected by using interviewer and 24 hours dietary recall methods. Data entered and analyzed using SPSS version-25. Ordinary logistic regression model was employed to assess factors associated with dietary diversity and potential factors were screened at P⟨0.05.

Results: The mean dietary diversity score was 4.17±1.112SD. About 13.0%, 78.5% and 8.5% of women reproductive age had low, medium and high dietary diversity practice respectively. Family size of male, family size of female, marital status, education level, house with window, having cell phone, bank, refrigerator, television and cart were significant factors associated with women dietary diversity practice at 5% level of significance. The odds of being “low dietary” instead of “high dietary” multiplies by OR=0.665 for each 1-unit increase in family size of female household. Odds of house with window is in low dietary rather than high dietary scores are OR=2.793 times estimated odds for house with no window’s.

Concussions: Marital status, house with window, having cell phone, owner of bank account and refrigerator had a positive association with dietary diversity whereas family size, education level, having television and cart had a negative relation with women under reproductive age of dietary diversity.