Dietary diversity is related to socioeconomic status among adult Saharawi refugees living in Algeria

Abstract

BackgroundThere is limited knowledge about dietary quality among the adult population in low- and middle income countries (LMICs). This study aims to describe dietary quality among the adult Saharawi refugee population and to investigate whether dietary quality is associated with socioeconomic status.MethodsIn 2014, a cross-sectional survey was carried out in the Saharawi refugee camps, Algeria. A three-staged cluster sampling was performed and 180 women and 175 men, aged 18–82 years, were randomly selected. The dietary intake was assessed by 24-h dietary recall and dietary diversity score (DDS) was calculated. Socioeconomic status was assessed using the WAMI index (sanitation, assets, education and income).ResultsThe mean DDS among the total sample was 3.8 ± 1.4 and 2/3 of participant were at risk of low dietary adequacy. The main food groups consumed were starchy staple foods, flesh foods, and dairy. Vitamin A-rich dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds and eggs were the food groups least consumed. The multiple regression model showed a positive association between DDS and the WAMI index (P < 0.001) and a negative association between DDS and age (p = 0.01).ConclusionsLow DDS was associated with low socioeconomic status. Programmes to improve the dietary quality among the Saharawi refugees should be implemented.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-017-4527-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Short-term nutrition and growth indicators in 6-month- to 6-year-old children are improved following implementation of a multidisciplinary community-based programme in a chronic conflict setting

“…Similarly, the increase in the proportion of the children who never slept hungry (as reported by the caregiver) could be considered another indicator of improved socio-economic status. Higher socio-economic status has been linked with higher dietary diversity and breast-feeding status in several lower-middle-income countries (39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44) .…”

Forced international migration for refugee food: a scoping review

“…This category covered 8 studies 17,[20][21][22][23]25,27,28 which presented aspects related to social, cultural, political and economic difficulties of access to food in refugee detention centers, refugee camps and in settlement destination countries.…”

“…Despite receiving food rations donated by humanitarian agencies, some refugees are able to practice farming and gardening to obtain fresh food as an alternative to prevent food shortages, even though limited by the climatic conditions as well as food resources and water availability. Humanitarian aid helps with primary needs but, as the study points out, food shortages and lack of purchasing power contribute to food insecurity 25,28 .…”

“…This category covered 8 studies 12,13,15,16,19,24,27,28 that presented scenarios of emerging diseases, such as food deficiencies and nutritional disorders in refugee populations.…”

“…Study A14 results in the investigation of food habits in refugees in Spain from Campo Tindouf (Algeria), the design of a nutrition education program for refugees still living in the countryside, by training refugee women who participate in community leaderships, with the aim of propagating knowledge about: food and its composition, energy and nutrient needs, healthy eating and feeding in special situations (gestation, children, elderly), food preparation and hygiene practices 24 . In A18, effectiveness of a food supplement to reduce anemia and dwarfism in refugee children in Africa, an attempt to circumvent present and contributing health problems to the delay in child development 28 .…”