Dietary diversity among women in the reproductive age group in a rural field practice area of a medical college in Mandya district, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Dietary diversity among women in the reproductive age group in a rural field practice area of a medical college in Mandya district, Karnataka, India Shashikantha SK, Sheethal MP*, Vishma BK INTRODUCTIONNutrition is a main component of health and development. 1 All people need a variety of foods to meet requirements for essential nutrients, and the value of a diverse diet has long been recognized. Dietary diversity is a qualitative measure of food consumption that reflects household access to a variety of foods, and is also a proxy for nutrient adequacy of the diet of individuals. Lack of diversity is a severe problem among poor populations in the developing world, where diets are based predominantly on starchy staples which lack essential micronutrients and contribute to the burden of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. 2,3More specifically women in the reproductive age group and children are most vulnerable to malnutrition due to low dietary intakes, inequitable distribution of food within the household, improper food storage and preparation, dietary taboos, infectious diseases, and care. 4 Poor health has repercussions not only for women but also their families. Women in poor health are more likely ABSTRACT Background: Micronutrient malnutrition remains one of the largest nutritional problems worldwide. Monotonous diets based on starchy staples lack essential micronutrients and contribute to the burden of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Intake of diverse diet is a cost-effective strategy to overcome this problem. The objective of the study was to assess the dietary diversity among women in reproductive age group in a rural field practice area and to determine the nutritional status of the women in the reproductive age group. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of 3months in the rural area. Women in reproductive age group were included in the present study. A pretested questionnaire was used to obtain the information regarding their socio-demographic profile and food consumed. Dietary diversity score was measured using the food and agricultural organization (FAO) guidelines. Weight, height and waist circumference of the participants were measured to determine their nutritional status. Results: The mean age of the study subjects was 33.68±9.27 years. Majority of them had dietary diversity score (DDS) and food variety score (FVS) score above 5 and 4 respectively. Mean BMI was 23.26±4.31 kg/mt 2 .Fifty percent of them had a Normal BMI range. One third (28.6% ±6.5%) of them were malnourished. The mean waist circumference was 79.31±10.58cms. On application of logistic regression, those aged between 15-30 years had better odds of having DDS of 5 and above (aOR 2.348 CI 0.743-7.424). Subjects with normal BMI range also had better odds of having DDS of 5 and above . Conclusions:The study found most of the women in the reproductive age group were consuming a diverse diet and those subjects with better dietary diversity score had their body mass index in the normal range.

Are Women in Rural India Really Consuming a Less Diverse Diet?

“…Additionally, we find that women's diets are particularly lacking in nonstaple food groups like Vitamin A rich fruits and vegetables, dairy, eggs, and GLV. Shashikantha et al 23 too find that while all women consumed starchy staples, 85% consumed pulses and less than 5% consumed egg and meat products in their sample from Karnataka, India.…”

“…Kavitha et al 22 use data on 3 districts in Telangana and Maharashtra, from the Village Dynamics in South Asia program, and find that the average HDDS ranges between 7 and 9 food groups, out of a total of 12 food groups. Using a different primary data source, Shashikantha et al 23 also find that most women in their sample in Karnataka consumed 5 of 9 food groups, with about 30% of them consuming fewer food groups. In other parts of South Asia DDSs have been as high as 12 out of 13 food groups for households in Nepal 24 (Pellegrini and Tasciotti) and as low as 4 out of 9 food groups for women in Bangladesh.…”

The impacts of okra consumption on the nutritional status of pregnant women, west Ethiopia

“…Thus, the intake of a diverse diet is a cost-effective strategy to overcome this problem (Bhandari et al, 2016). Globally, women in rural areas who consumed a diversified diet had better dietary diversity scores (Shashikantha et al, 2016).Malnutrition poses a variety of threats to pregnant women and efforts to promote the consumption of local nutrient-rich foods are needed (Elder & Ransom, 2003). Moreover, Sub-Saharan Africa is…”

Gender Gap in Food Security and Nutrition: Special Case of India in the G20

“…One study of 3600 rural households across three Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha found that ‘on an average, a woman consumes 0.1 to 0.5 fewer food groups as compared to household members (male)’ (Gupta et al, 2020, p. 323) The food women generally skip are the micronutrient rich food groups like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, Vitamin A rich fruits, vegetables and also pulses. All women consumed more starchy staples (Shashikantha et al, 2016). Thus, women were allocated cheap, easily available and nutrient-poor food groups rather than costly and healthy options that were reserved for men in the household.…”