Beschreibung:
BackgroundDietary diversity is recommended to obtain good nutritional status and health. However, the association between the diversity score and nutritional status of women is unknown in Benin.ObjectivesThis study's purpose was to assess dietary diversity and its relationship to the nutritional status of women of childbearing age.MethodsIn 2014, a total of 680 mothers with children below the age of 5 y were recruited from 16 villages in Kalalé district of Northern Benin. Dietary diversity scores (DDS) were assessed based on frequency of consumption of individual food items categorized into 12 individual food groups. These scores were then divided into tertile. Body mass index (BMI) was used to determine the women's nutritional status.ResultsThe overall dietary quality was poor: mean DDS=5.6 (SD 1.4) food groups. Approximately 24% consumed 7 or more food groups and 9.3% consumed less than 4 food groups. Considering the diet within each category of the diversity score, women with low scores had a very basic diet and consumed only three food groups (cereals, condiments and oils/fats) at most. Women with medium scores often consumed vegetables, roots and tubers in addition to these groups, and also a little more meat, fish, legumes, nuts or seeds, and sugar. Women who had higher dietary diversity scores also ate more meat, fish, legumes, nuts or seeds, sugar as well as some fruits. Women with a DDS in the lowest tertile had a mean BMI of 20.9, while those in the highest tertile had a BMI of 22.4 (P=0.042). Those in the lowest tertile of DDS had a 15.8% prevalence of underweight vs 6.3% in the highest tertile (P=0.02). The latter relationship remained significant even when the subjects’ sociodemographic and economic characteristics were controlled (P=0.04).ConclusionDietary scores measured at the individual level were a good proxy for overall dietary quality of women living in northern Benin. These scores were also shown to be linked with the nutritional status of women indicating that dietary diversity of women can also be measured to obtain information on their nutritional status.