Investigating the factors associated with minimum dietary diversity in women of reproductive age in Uganda

Abstract

Uganda panel survey, which assessed 2,763 women in 2018/19 and 3,453 women in 2019/120, and then pooled the two waves to examine a total of 6,216 women aged 15 to 49. The study's findings showed that, on average, 14%, 11.1%, and 12.3% of women of reproductive age met the required dietary intake based on UNPS 2018/19, 2019/20, and pooled data . The study employed a two-stage multilevel mixed effects model using the likelihood ratio test to determine if the model was a better fit for analyzing panel data. The findings from the UNPS pooled data revealed that women from larger household sizes with (9 members and more) were 26% more likely to attain the MDD those from households with less than 6 members (OR=1.26363, 95% CI=1.03-1.56, p=0.027). Women having more than two meals a day were 23% more likely to meet the required MDD as compared than those eating less than two meals (OR=1.226863, 95% CI=1.03-1.46, p=0.019). Women who had never been in union were 45% less likely to meet the needed dietary intake than women who were currently in union. (OR=0.5455098, 95% CI=0.42-0.71, p=0.000). Women who completed secondary school and above were 40% more likely to meet the MDD than those with no formal education (OR=1.400736, 95% CI=1.08-1.82, p=0.011). The study indicated that household size, meal frequency, marital status, and education level were significantly associated with Minimum dietary diversity in women. The study recommends that the Government of Uganda and UN organizations such as FAO and WFP advocate for and provide nutrition education to women and adolescent girls on good eating habits through school programs, the use of social media such as TV and radio talk shows, dramas, and community dialogues. Additional research on dietary diversity, using data from surveys and information systems, should be done to help the government make evidence-based decisions, which is critical in programming and resource allocation.