Determinants of individual dietary diversity score of children less than five years old in the southern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Dietary diversity is a 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. Dietary diversity is useful because it is correlated with nutrient intake as well as various anthropometric measures in children. This study was carried out to assess the status of individual dietary diversity score (IDDS) of children under five years old (6-59 months) and its determinants in the Southern Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. A survey of 320 households having children 6-59 months old was conducted using a cross-sectional descriptive study with both qualitative and quantitative study designs following the FAO guidelines for the dietary diversity and a semi-structured questionnaire for demographic and socio-economic factors. Data for the individual dietary diversity (IDDS) indicator were collected by asking the respondent (mother or caregiver) to recall the foods provided during the previous 24 hour period. Data analysis was conducted by using STATA 12 software. The mean IDDS in the study areas was found to be below four, which is the acceptable minimum level. The traditional diet of children was cereal dominated and low in micronutrient rich food groups in all the assessed Kebeles1. Being a model2 farmer, household’s farmland endowment, female headship of the household, and experience in special meals preparation and participation in nutrition related training of household members were positively associated with dietary diversity of children in the study areas.In order to overcome the low IDDS of children in the areas and to improve their nutritional status through consumption of diverse foods, it is important to make agricultural production more nutrition sensitive especially on diversification of nutrient dense agricultural products.Key words: Agriculture-Nutrition linkage, dietary diversity, food group, micronutrients, 24-hour recal