scholarly journals Dietary diversity in eight Latin American countries: Results from ELANS Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Gomez ◽  
Regina Mara Fisberg ◽  
Agatha Nogueria Previdelli ◽  
Irina Kovalskys ◽  
Mauro Fisberg ◽  
...  

AbstractDietary diversity, define as the number of food items or food groups consumed over a given period of time measured at the household or individual level, is widely recognized as a key dimension of diet quality. This analysis investigated dietary diversity in eight Latin-American countries and its associations with sociodemographic and anthropometric parameters.Data from the ELANS study conducted in eight Latin-American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) were analyzed. The ELANS study interviewed 9,218 subjects living in the main cities in each country. Food intake were collected using two 24-hour dietary recalls, following the Multiple Pass Method. For calculation of diet diversity score, only the first 24-hour recall was analyzed. Dietary diversity was assessed at individual level. All food items reported to be consumed during the first 24-hour recall were classified into nine food groups: 1. Cereals, 2. White roots and tubers, 3. Vegetables, 4. Fruits, 5. Meat, poultry and offal, 6. Fish and seafood, 7. Eggs, 8. Pulses, legumes and nuts and 9. Milk and milk products. The selection of these groups was based on the Women's Dietary Diversity Score Projectfood groups classification. Consumption of at least 15 g of each food group was assigned 1 point or 0 points if consumption was less than 15 g. Thus, the score ranged from a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 9 points. Higher scores indicated higher diversity as more food groups were eaten. Analysis was performed by age group, gender, and socioeconomic level (SES) as well as anthropometric measurements.Mean diet diversity score (DDS) for the whole sample was 4.48 ± 1.16, ranging from 0 to 9 points. Men showed significant higher DDS. No difference was observed among age groups. Among countries, Ecuador and Peru showed the highest DDS, 4.88 ± 1.22 and 4.82 ± 1.12 points, respectively; while Argentina (4.20 ± 1.13) and Venezuela (4.27 ± 1.04) reported the lowest. We found a statistically significant trend (p < 0.001) to a higher DDS among those subjects in the high socio-economic level. Regarding anthropometric measurements, no differences were found in DDS among different nutritional status or based on waist and neck circumference measures.This study revealed that dietary diversity is limited among Latin American countries regardless of sex, age, socioeconomic level, and nutritional status. Nutritional interventions emphasizing the importance of maximizing dietary diversity should be encouraged to ensure optimum nutritional adequacy within the region

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-55
Author(s):  
Arindah Nur Sartika ◽  
Tri Marta Fadhilah

Pre-conception women have important role to determine children nutritional status. Children with good nutritional status are born from mothers who have good diet. Diversified diet also can prevent woman to suffer from chronic energy malnutrition and anemia during pregnancy. This study aims to assess diet quality of pre-conception women in Kota Bekasi, West Java. The study conducted as observational study design, specifically using cross sectional approach. About 105 “bride to be” from 8 Religious Affairs Office in Kota Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia was joined the study. Respondents were interviewed with structured questionnaire consist of social economic characteristics and dietary intake. Dietary assessment was done using 24-h food recall to fill Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women of reproductive Age (MDD-W) questionnaire. The result showed out of 10 food groups, median consumption of food groups consumed by respondents was 4 food groups, also as the highest proportion of total food group (36.19%), followed by 5 food groups (25.71%), and 3 food groups (21.90%). Maximum score of dietary diversity is 8 (0.95%), and minimun score is 2 (3.81%). Meanwhile, most consumed food group was staple foods (99.05%). Nuts and seeds were the least proportion of food group (3.81%) consumed by respondents. There was around one-third (38.10%) of the respondents consumed total food group below recommended score (<5). Diet diversity of pre-conception women should be improved. To prevent from malnutrition, pre-conception women are suggested to vary their diet. Nutrition education during premarital class/ consultation is recommended.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Erin E Esaryk ◽  
Sarah Anne Reynolds ◽  
Lia CH Fernald ◽  
Andrew D Jones

Abstract Objectives: To examine associations of household crop diversity with school-aged child dietary diversity in Vietnam and Ethiopia and mechanisms underlying these associations. Design: We created a child diet diversity score (DDS) using data on seven food groups consumed in the last 24 h. Generalised estimating equations were used to model associations of household-level crop diversity, measured as a count of crop species richness (CSR) and of plant crop nutritional functional richness (CNFR), with DDS. We examined effect modification by household wealth and subsistence orientation, and mediation by the farm’s market orientation. Setting: Two survey years of longitudinal data from the Young Lives cohort. Participants: Children (aged 5 years in 2006 and 8 years in 2009) from rural farming households in Ethiopia (n 1012) and Vietnam (n 1083). Results: There was a small, positive association between household CNFR and DDS in Ethiopia (CNFR–DDS, β = 0·13; (95 % CI 0·07, 0·19)), but not in Vietnam. Associations of crop diversity and child diet diversity were strongest among poor households in Ethiopia and among subsistence-oriented households in Vietnam. Agricultural earnings positively mediated the crop diversity–diet diversity association in Ethiopia. Discussion: Children from households that are poorer and those that rely more on their own agricultural production for food may benefit most from increased crop diversity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Nithya ◽  
R. V. Bhavani

Dietary Diversity, with foods from all food groups is necessary to meet the requirements for essential nutrients which lead to good health. This study examines whether different dietary diversity indices have relationship with the nutritional status of school children aged 6 to 12 years, in two different regions of India: Wardha district, Maharashtra and Koraput district, Odisha. Dietary diversity was calculated using three methods: Individual food scores calculated using 24 hour diet recall (FS<sub>24hr</sub>) data; household dietary diversity using Berry's index (DDI) and food scores calculated using food frequency data (FS<sub>FFQ</sub>). Anthropometric indices were used to assess the nutritional status of school aged children. The Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) and the Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) were calculated as indicators of nutrient adequacy. The relationship between NAR, MAR and three different diversity indices, dietary diversity and anthropometric indices were analyzed. Overall, 38% of 6 to 12 year school aged children were found to be undernourished. The NAR was &lt;70% for all nutrients except protein, energy, thiamine and niacin and MAR was found to be &lt;70% of requirement with mean of 60.5% in both locations. The dietary diversity was found to be relatively better in Wardha when compared with Koraput. The mean diversity indices in both the locations were FS<sub>24hr</sub> 7.56, DDI 89 and FS<sub>FFQ</sub> 62.9. Overall most of the nutrient adequacy and mean adequacy were correlated with all three dietary diversity indices when both locations were studied together. However all three dietary diversity indices failed to show any relationship with nutritional status of school children aged 6-12 years from both locations taken together.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumya Gupta ◽  
Naveen Sunder ◽  
Prabhu L. Pingali

Background: Recent literature, largely from Africa, shows mixed effects of own-production on diet diversity. However, the role of own-production, relative to markets, in influencing food consumption becomes more pronounced as market integration increases. Objective: This paper investigates the relative importance of two factors - production diversity and household market integration - for the intake of a nutritious diet by women and households in rural India. Methods: Data analysis is based on primary data from an extensive agriculture-nutrition survey of 3600 Indian households that was collected in 2017. Dietary diversity scores are constructed for women and households is based on 24-hour and 7-day recall periods. Household market integration is measured as monthly household expenditure on key non-staple food groups. We measure production diversity in two ways - field-level and on-farm production diversity - in order to account for the cereal centric rice-wheat cropping system found in our study locations. The analysis is based on Ordinary Least Squares regressions where we control for a variety of village, household, and individual level covariates that affect food consumption, and village fixed effects. Robustness checks are done by way of using a Poisson regression specifications and 7-day recall period. Results: Conventional measures of field-level production diversity, like the number of crops or food groups grown, have no significant association with diet diversity. In contrast, it is on-farm production diversity (the field-level cultivation of pulses and on-farm livestock management, and kitchen gardens in the longer run) that is significantly associated with improved dietary diversity scores, thus suggesting the importance of non-staples in improving both individual and household dietary diversity. Furthermore, market purchases of non-staples like pulses and dairy products are associated with a significantly higher dietary diversity. Other significant determinants of dietary diversity include women’s literacy and awareness of nutrition. These results mostly remain robust to changes in the recall period of the diet diversity measure and the nature of the empirical specification. Conclusions: This study contributes to the scarce empirical evidence related to diets in India. Additionally, our results indicate some key intervention areas - promoting livestock rearing, strengthening households’ market integration (for purchase of non-staples) and increasing women’s awareness about nutrition. These are more impactful than raising production diversity.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e023126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ridvan Tupai-Firestone ◽  
Soo Cheng ◽  
Joseph Kaholokula ◽  
Barry Borman ◽  
Lis Ellison-Loschmann

ObjectivesObesity among Pasifika people living in New Zealand is a serious health problem with prevalence rates more than twice those of the general population (67% vs 33%, respectively). Due to the high risk of developing obesity for this population, we investigated diet quality of Pacific youth and their parents and grandparents. Therefore, we examined the dietary diversity of 30 youth and their parents and grandparents (n=34) to identify whether there are generational differences in dietary patterns and investigate the relationship between acculturation and dietary patterns.MethodsThe study design of the overarching study was cross-sectional. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with Pasifika youth, parents and grandparents to investigate dietary diversity, that included both nutritious and discretionary food items and food groups over a 7 day period. Study setting was located in 2 large urban cities, New Zealand. Exploratory factor analyses were used to calculate food scores (means) from individual food items based on proportions consumed over the week, and weights were applied to calculate a standardised food score. The relationship between the level of acculturation and deprivation with dietary patterns was also assessed.ResultsThree distinctive dietary patterns across all participants were identified from our analyses. Healthy diet, processed diet and mixed diet. Mean food scores indicated statistically significant differences between the dietary patterns for older and younger generations. Older generations showed greater diversity in food items consumed, as well as eating primarily a ‘healthy diet’. The younger generation was more likely to consume a ‘processed diet’. There was significant association between acculturation and deprivation with the distinctive dietary patterns.ConclusionOur investigation highlighted generational differences in consuming a limited range of food items. Identified dietary components may, in part, be explained by specific acculturation modes (assimilation and marginalised) and high socioeconomic deprivation among this particular study population.


2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 340-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabiana Machado ◽  
Carlos Scartascini ◽  
Mariano Tommasi

In this article, the authors argue that where institutions are strong, actors are more likely to participate in the political process through institutionalized arenas, while where they are weak, protests and other unconventional means of participation become more appealing. The authors explore this relationship empirically by combining country-level measures of institutional strength with individual-level information on protest participation in seventeen Latin American countries. The authors find evidence that weaker political institutions are associated with a higher propensity to use alternative means for expressing preferences, that is, to protest.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 389-389
Author(s):  
Nadia Akseer ◽  
Rebecca A Heidkamp ◽  
Andrew Thorne-Lyman

Abstract Objectives Improving child diet diversity is a policy priority in many settings. Multiple factors influence complementary feeding practices in low-income countries including household food access, caregiver-level factors and cultural practices. Child's dietary data is often available in national surveys (i.e., Demographic and Health Surveys, DHS), but they typically lack diet data from adults. The 2018 Nigeria DHS was among the first to measure food group intake in both young children and women. We describe the relationship between child and maternal diet diversity in Nigeria and highlight implications for design of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) programs. Methods Using the Nigeria DHS 2018 dataset, we estimated consumption of individual food groups in the previous 24 hours as well as minimum dietary diversity for children 6–23 months (MDD-C) and their mothers, women 15–49 years (MDD-W) using WHO-UNICEF definitions. We compare rates of concordance and discordance between n = 8975 mother-child pairs for individual food groups and MDD using McNemar's tests. Probit regression was used to identify drivers of MDD-C. Results Nationally, 22% of children achieve MDD-C; 51% of mothers achieve MDD-W. For both populations, the most commonly consumed group is grains, roots and tubers (&gt;80%) Dairy and eggs are the least consumed. Maternal-child (age 12–23 months) discordance is highest for consumption of legumes and nuts (36%), vitamin A rich fruits and vegetables (39%) and other fruits and vegetables (57%); mothers consume these more frequently. Children are more likely than mothers to consume dairy (19% vs 8%) and eggs (8% vs 4%). Maternal-child food group discordance is consistently higher for children 6–11months than children 12–23 months. Results vary at state level and by maternal age group. Children's MDD probability is increased by MDD-W (27%, P &lt; 0.001), higher maternal education (8%, P &lt; 0.01) and household wealth (7%, P &lt; 0.01). Conclusions Maternal and child diet diversity is suboptimal in Nigeria. Maternal diet is a primary driver of child diet in Nigeria. Legumes and nuts and fruits and vegetables are available but not consistently fed to children; an important finding for IYCF program design. The forthcoming DHS-8 core questionnaire will provide child and maternal diet data for more than 90 countries. Funding Sources Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.


2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (50) ◽  
pp. 5895-5914
Author(s):  
AD Disha ◽  
◽  
R Rawat ◽  
A Subandoro ◽  
P Menon

Data from the 2005 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) and the 2007 Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) were analyzed to examine the association between World Health Organization (WHO) recommended IYCF indicators and nutritional status among children 0- 23 months of age in Ethiopia and Zambia. A total of 1810 and 2512 children within this age group from Ethiopia and Zambia , respectively , were included in the analysis. Exclusive breast -feeding among children 0- 5.9 months of age is low in both Ethiopia (43 % ) and Zambia (51 % ). Timely introduction of complementary food is lower in Ethiopia (61 %) compared to Zambia (90 %). Only 7 percent of children between 6- 23 months of age consumed diets that met the minimum dietary diversity requirement of four or more food groups consumed per day compared to 37 % in Zambia. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses using appropriate measures to account for the complex survey design were applied to examine the associations between IYCF practices and child anthropometry. Linear regression results show that exclusive breast -feeding (EBF) is positively associated with weight -for -height z -score (WHZ) (effect size (ES) 0.65; p<0.001) and weight -for- age z -score (W AZ) (ES 0.28; p<0.01) in Zambia. In Ethiopia, EBF under 6 months of age is negatively associated with height -for- age z - score (HAZ) (ES 0.81; p<0.01). Timely introduction of complementary food between 6- 8 months of age was positively associated with HAZ (ES 1.19; p<0.01) in Zambia. Higher dietary diversity score was associated with higher HAZ (ES 0.23, p<0.001 in Ethiopia; ES 0.12, p<0.01 in Zambia) and WAZ (ES 0.17, p<0.001 in Ethiopia; ES 0.04, p<0.10 in Zambia) in both countries. The findings demonstrate the need to reinforce age - appropriate IYCF practices to address child undernutrition. Special attention is needed to improve the complementary feeding practices, particularly diet diversity for children 6 -23 months of age , while sustaining a focus on EBF among children under 6 months of age, in order to improve overall nutrition al status of young children in Ethiopia and Zambia.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261700
Author(s):  
Sunil Rajpal ◽  
Abhishek Kumar ◽  
Ruby Alambusha ◽  
Smriti Sharma ◽  
William Joe

Dietary adequacy and diversity during the lactation period are necessary to ensure good health and nutrition among women and children. Behavioral interventions pertaining to health and nutrition counselling during pregnancy and lactation are critical for awareness about dietary diversity. The issue assumes salience for marginalized communities because of the Covid-19 pandemic and associated economic and societal disruptions. This paper assesses the dietary patterns among 400 lactating mothers in the tribal-dominated district of Palghar in Maharashtra, India in 2020. The study is based on primary data regarding consumption of 10 food groups among women across 10 food groups based on 24-hour recall period. The primary outcome variable was binary information regarding Minimum Dietary Diversity defined as consumption from at least 5 food groups. Econometric analysis based on multilevel models and item-response theory is applied to identify food groups that were most difficult to be received by mothers during the early and late lactation period. We find that the daily diet of lactating mothers in Palghar primarily consists of grains, white roots, tubers, and pulses. In contrast, the intake of dairy, eggs, and non-vegetarian food items is much lower. Only Half of the lactating women (56.5 percent; 95% CI: 37.4; 73.8) have a minimum diversified diet (MDD). The prevalence of lactating women with MDD was higher among households with higher income (73.1 percent; 95% CI: 45.2; 89.9) than those in lower income group (50.7 percent; 95% CI: 42.3; 58.9). Lactating Women (in early phase) who received health and nutrition counseling services are more likely (OR: 2.37; 95% CI: 0.90; 6.26) to consume a diversified diet. Food groups such as fruits, meat, poultry, fish, nuts, and seeds were among the rare food items in daily diet. The dietary pattern lacking in fruits, nuts, and heme (iron) sources indicates more significant risks of micronutrient deficiencies. The findings call for improving dietary diversity among lactating mothers, particularly from the marginalized communities, and are driven by low consumption of dairy products or various fruits and vegetables. Among the different food items, the consumption of micronutrient-rich seeds and nuts is most difficult to be accessed by lactating mothers. Also, diet-centric counseling and informing lactating mothers of its benefits are necessary to increase dietary diversity for improving maternal and child nutrition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Torres-Vallejos ◽  
Joel Juarros-Basterretxea ◽  
Juan Carlos Oyanedel ◽  
Masatoshi Sato

Improving citizens' subjective well-being (SWB) has become an increasingly visible policy goal across industrialized countries. Although an increasing number of studies have investigated SWB at the individual level, little is known about subjective evaluation at social levels, such as the community and national levels. While the relationships between these levels have been analyzed in previous research, these assessments, which are part of the same unique construct of SWB, are under-investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the dimensionality and reliability of a single measure of SWB, which contained individual, community, and national levels across three Latin-American countries (Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela), using a bifactor model analysis. Findings showed that the bifactor model exhibited a good fit to the data for the three countries. However, invariance testing between countries was not fully supported because of each item's specific contribution to both specific and general constructs. The analyses of each country showed that the SWB construct was in a gray area between unidimensionality and multidimensionality; some factors contributed more to the general factor and others to the specific level, depending on the country. These findings call for integrating more distant levels (community and country levels) into the understanding of SWB at the individual level, as they contribute not only to an overall construct, but they make unique contributions to SWB, which must be considered in public policy making.


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