Minimum dietary diversity and associated factors among lactating mothers in Haryana, India: a community based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction Food adequacy and dietary quality in the lactation period are fundamental for maternal and child health. Lactating mothers are vulnerable to malnutrition because of increased physiological demand, monotonous diet, lactogenesis process, and increased nutrient requirements. The micronutrient adequacy especially among women is not ensured in Indian diet. The dual course of gender bias and poverty, along with lack of knowledge about diet quality are significant impediments in maintaining minimum dietary diversity among Indian women. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of minimum dietary diversity and associated factors among lactating women. Methodology A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1236 lactating women through a multistage sampling procedure in Haryana state, India. Data were collected in Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) using a pretested structured interview schedule. Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was used to calculate the minimum dietary diversity. Results The mean dietary diversity score among lactating women from the ten food groups was 6.35 ± 2.57 and the prevalence of minimum dietary diversity was 77.1%. The complete model revealed that both individual and household factors can explain the variation in dietary diversity intake. Furthermore, the result of model 2 explained that women aged 31 to 35 years (AOR 5.92,95% (1.87–18.77), graduation and above qualified women (AOR 1.98, 95% (0.96–4.09) and lactating women with high knowledge on nutrition (AOR 2.00, 95% (1.34–4.57) were the significant factors promoting minimum dietary diversity. Conclusion Three-fourths of the lactating women reached adequate minimum dietary diversity. Younger age, low educational level, and poor nutritional knowledge were significant constraints to achieving minimum dietary diversity. Further improvement in the minimum dietary diversity among lactating women is very much required. It is also advised that exiting platforms dispersing awareness on nutrition should be supported and strengthened.

Dietary intake of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids among pregnant and breastfeeding women in Morogoro, Tanzania

“…Low micronutrient intake, accompanied by poor consumption of essential fatty acids such as omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids, may lead to an increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight, stillbirth, and stunting, among others. The findings from the study conducted by Shumayla et al (2022) were in contrast to the findings from this study, where high nutritional knowledge was a factor that influenced the high consumption of diverse groups of foods. Another study suggested that seasonality may be a factor that influences the consumption of different groups (Custodio et al, 2016).…”

Effect of Social and Behavioral Change interventions on improving minimum dietary diversity among pregnant women and associated socio-economic inequality to improve nutrition outcomes in Rajasthan, India.

“…To our knowledge, this is the rst study in the select study sites. A study conducted in Haryana by (21) reported more than three-fourth of the lactating mothers consuming a minimum diversi ed diet. Compared to this study, the high prevalence of dietary diversity can be attributed to the fact that the state of Haryana is predominantly an agricultural state, resulting in relatively better dietary diversity (22).…”

Nutrition-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Anemia Status of Lactating Mothers in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo—A Cross-Sectional Analysis

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