Dietary diversity and associated factors among preschool children in selected kindergarten school of Horo Guduru Wollega Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Preschool children are the most vulnerable group because of their high nutritional needs for growth and development. The study assessed dietary diversity scores and associated factors among preschool children in selected kindergarten schools of Horo Guduru Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia. Methods The institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted on a total 440 of preschool children. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on the dietary diversity score of preschool children using a 24 h dietary recall method. Binary logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with dietary diversity scores of preschool children. Results The result showed that the majority (87.3%) of preschool children in the selected kindergarten school practiced a low dietary diversity score (less than four food groups). The result obtained from multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the age of preschool children [AOR 9.58(2.26–40.60)], sex of child [AOR 3.21(1.71–5.99)], and work of mother [AOR 7.49(2.33–24.07)] were significantly (p < 0.05 associated) with dietary diversity of children. Conclusions The findings indicated that many preschool children in the study area did not get a minimum dietary diversity score. Therefore, health extension workers must organize community-based behavior change nutritional education for mothers or caregivers to create awareness of preschool child dietary diversity practices.

Maternal and household factors affecting the dietary diversity of preschool children in eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

“…In the current study, 44.25% of preschool children consumed vitamin A-rich fruits in the past 24 hours. This percentage was better than the 25.9% found in the Horo Guduru Wolega zone 32. Nevertheless, to maximise preschoolers’ general health and well-being, efforts should be focused on encouraging consumption of fruit that is high in vitamin A.…”

“…However, egg consumption among preschool children in Haramaya is meagre even when compared with Horo Guduru Wolega, Ethiopia (25.9%),32 and samples from Romania (46.5%)52 and Thailand (20%) 43. Children’s egg consumption also notably varies across the world and the prevalence of egg consumption among African children is reported to be less than half that of most other regions, and it is a third of that in Latin America and the Caribbean 50.…”

“…The MDD of preschool children was determined by maternal reports, calculating the previous 24 hours food consumption to categorise the children’s dietary diversity as ADD (four or more) or LDD (less than four) from seven food groups 32 33. The score increased by one point if the child consumed an item at least once from a unique food group within 24 hours according to their dietary record 34.…”

“…The MDD of preschool children was determined by maternal reports, calculating the previous 24 hours food consumption to categorise the children’s dietary diversity as ADD (four or more) or LDD (less than four) from seven food groups. 32 33 The score increased by one point if the child consumed an item at least once from a unique food group within 24 hours according to their dietary record. 34 These seven food groups included: (1) Grains, roots and tubers; (2) Legumes and nuts; (3) Dairy products (eg, milk, yoghurt and cheese); (4) Flesh foods (eg, meat, fish, poultry and liver/organ meats); (5) Eggs; (6) Vitamin-A rich fruits and vegetables; and (7) Other fruits and vegetables.…”

Dietary diversity and associated factors among school-aged children and adolescents in Lokossa district of southern Benin: a cross-sectional study

“…Dietary diversity has been defined as the number of different food groups consumed over a given period 1. It reflects the idea that diversifying one’s diet by including different food groups (vegetables, fruits, grains and animal source foods) is necessary for achieving nutrient adequacy and optimal growth, physical and mental development 2. Inadequately diversified diet is the main nutritional problem among schoolchildren and adolescents in developing countries, especially in Africa 3 4.…”