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

Abstract 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...

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Main Authors: Marta Mascareñas‐García, Estefania Custodio, Mahamat Garba Issa, M. Bechir, Francois Kayitakire
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Maternal and Child Nutrition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13697
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author Marta Mascareñas‐García
Estefania Custodio
Mahamat Garba Issa
M. Bechir
Francois Kayitakire
author_facet Marta Mascareñas‐García
Estefania Custodio
Mahamat Garba Issa
M. Bechir
Francois Kayitakire
author_sort Marta Mascareñas‐García
collection DOAJ
description Abstract 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.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-d0a7524b8a4d4e79a056f786321ada6c2024-12-17T09:57:23ZengWileyMaternal and Child Nutrition1740-86951740-87092025-01-01211n/an/a10.1111/mcn.13697Increased food crop diversification and gathering of wild plants associated with women's dietary diversity in ChadMarta Mascareñas‐García0Estefania Custodio1Mahamat Garba Issa2M. Bechir3Francois Kayitakire4Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Universidade de Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela SpainCentro Nacional de Medicina Tropical Instituto de Salud Carlos III Madrid SpainDirection de la Nutrition et de la Technologie Alimentaire Ministère de la Santé Publique N'Djamena ChadDirection de la Nutrition et de la Technologie Alimentaire Ministère de la Santé Publique N'Djamena ChadEuropean Commission Joint Research Centre Ispra ItalyAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13697Chaddietary diversityfood productionmicronutrientwomen of reproductive age
spellingShingle Marta Mascareñas‐García
Estefania Custodio
Mahamat Garba Issa
M. Bechir
Francois Kayitakire
Increased food crop diversification and gathering of wild plants associated with women's dietary diversity in Chad
Maternal and Child Nutrition
Chad
dietary diversity
food production
micronutrient
women of reproductive age
title Increased food crop diversification and gathering of wild plants associated with women's dietary diversity in Chad
title_full Increased food crop diversification and gathering of wild plants associated with women's dietary diversity in Chad
title_fullStr Increased food crop diversification and gathering of wild plants associated with women's dietary diversity in Chad
title_full_unstemmed Increased food crop diversification and gathering of wild plants associated with women's dietary diversity in Chad
title_short Increased food crop diversification and gathering of wild plants associated with women's dietary diversity in Chad
title_sort increased food crop diversification and gathering of wild plants associated with women s dietary diversity in chad
topic Chad
dietary diversity
food production
micronutrient
women of reproductive age
url https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13697
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