The Factors Associated with Consumption Diversity of Toddlers Aged 24-59 Months

Abstract

Background: Childhood is a period that needs adequate nutrients to support the growth process and prevents malnutrition. Dietary diversity is a useful indicator of dietary quality and nutrient adequacy. Dietary quality can directly affect the nutritional status of children. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the dietary diversity and associated factors among children aged 24-59 months in Gunung Halu sub-district, West Bandung district. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 97 children age 24-59 months, from November until December 2019. The children were selected using a random sampling technique. Dietary diversity in the previous day of the survey was assessed using the FAO standard 9-food group score without minimum intake. Factors associated with dietary diversity were identified by modeling using logistic regression analysis. Accordingly, a child with a dietary diversity score ≤4 was classified as low dietary diversity and >4 was classified as adequate dietary diversity. Results: Approximately 76.3% of children of this study had a poorly diversified diet that includes most the foods with high energy content. There was no significant correlation between dietary diversity scores with the incidence of stunting. Mother’s working status (OR=4.63; 95%CI:1.1-18.9), child gender (OR=5.1;95%CI:1.7-15.7), and maternal nutritional knowledge (OR=3.4;95%CI:1.1-10.3) was significantly associated with a dietary diversity of children Conclusions: Working mothers, male children, and poor maternal nutritional knowledge can significantly decrease dietary diversity of children.