Assessment of dietary diversity score, nutritional status and socio-demographic characteristics of under-5 children in some rural areas of Imo State, Nigeria

The study assessed dietary diversity score (DDS) of rural under-five children and the relationship with their nutritional status and socio-demographic characteristics of their mothers/caregivers. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey involving 226 mothers and their under-five children selected at random from rural communities in Imo state, Nigeria. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographics. Qualitative recall of the child’s food consumption during the previous 24-h was used to calculate individual dietary diversity score (DDS= representing the number of food groups, based on a scale of 12 groups) and the scores were divided into terciles low= ≤4, medium=5 - 8, and high= 9 - 12). Weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ) and weight-for-height (WHZ) Z-scores were used to determine nutritional status of the children. Descriptive statistics, Chi square and linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Average age of the children was 4.2±0.7years, with 51.8% being males, and 48.2% females. Stunting, wasting and underweight were 11.5%, 5.4% and 2.7%, respectively. Mean DDS for all food groups was 6.04±4.18. Cereals and vegetables had higher mean values (0.78±0.29 and 0.78±0.30, respectively), while eggs had the least value (0.15±0.25). The prevalence of low, medium and high DDS (in terciles) was 73.5%, 25.2% and 1.3%, respectively. DDS was significantly associated with HAZ (χ2 =10.63;p=0.03), while total family income remained significantly and positively associated with dietary diversity score (p<0.05) in the linear regression model. Conclusion: Children with low DDSwere more likely to be stunted. Therefore, efforts aimed at increasing diversity in meals,both at home and in schools, are likely to benefit children at nutritional risk.