Increased food crop diversification and gathering of wild plants associated with women's dietary diversity in Chad

Women of reproductive age are particularly vulnerable to low-quality diets due to their higher micronutrients needs. The minimum dietary diversity for women (MDDW) is a proxy for micronutrient adequacy in this group of women. Its relationship with other aspects that lead to malnutrition is not fully elucidated and depends on the context. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of MDDW among women of a rural area in Chad and its association with socioeconomical, agricultural, dietary and food security data. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Following a multistage cluster sampling, 984 women of reproductive age were randomly selected and interviewed in March 2019. We obtained food consumption data through unquantified 24 h recalls and computed MDDW as consuming at least five out of 10 predefined food groups. We constructed a Food Production Diversity Score (FPDS) with crop and livestock information. We obtained multivariable logistic regression models including different covariates. MDDW was achieved by only 33% of women in the sample. In our final model, we identified a significant association of MDDW with the FPDS and gathering of wild plants. Women in households with the highest FPDS had 70% more chances of achieving MDDW than those with the lowest FPDS. Gathering wild plants doubled these chances. Areas of cultivated land, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene resources, and a high level of food security, measured with the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, were also significantly related to the achievement of MDDW. This illustrates the importance of nutrition-sensitive policies, also considering biodiversity and food production diversification

Agricultural biodiversity · Agricultural diversification · Agriculture · Business · Context (archaeology · Diversification (marketing strategy · Environmental health · Food group · Food security · Geography · Malnutrition · Micronutrient · Proxy (statistics · Sanitation · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Nutritional Studies and Diet

• Minimum dietary diversity among women of reproductive age in urban Burkina Faso

  Open Access•Estefanía Custodio, Francois Kayikatire et al.•Maternal and Child Nutrition•2019

  Add to list

• Improving diets with wild and cultivated biodiversity from across the landscape

  Open Access•Bronwen Powell, Shakuntala H Thilsted et al.•Food Security•2015

  Add to list