Food System Factors Associated With Diet Quality in Nigerian Women of Reproductive Age

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior 2023-07, Vol.55 (7), p.21-21
• Main Authors: Akeredolu, Ifeoma, Adesiyun, Yeside, Adeyemi, Olutayo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2023.05.048

Improved diets are an important outcome of food systems transformation. Poor diet quality is a major cause of malnutrition and disease globally and in Nigeria. However, few empirical studies of factors associated with diet quality in Nigeria exist, especially for adults, and using representative data. This study assessed diet quality among Nigerian women of reproductive age (15–49 years old) and identified factors associated with diet quality. The study was cross-sectional, used the most recent (2018) Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, and included 41,140 women. Data was representative of the six geopolitical zones and 36 states of Nigeria. The sample was selected using a two-stage cluster randomized design. Logistic regression with complex survey design in Stata 15.1 was used. The global diet quality project indicator, which measures whether a woman eats food from each of the five food groups specified by national dietary standards around the world, was used to define the outcome (ALL-5). These food groups are starchy staples; vegetables; fruits; animal-source foods; pulses, nuts, and seeds. Individual factors (wealth index, education, employment, exposure to media index) and consumer behaviour factors (clean fuel access, refrigerator ownership, and distance to water source) of the food systems framework were primary exposures. Covariates included woman's age and cohort, religion, rural residence, and geopolitical zone. ALL-5 was achieved by 24% of women; 40% of women ate ≤3 food groups. There was no association between wealth index or consumer behaviour factors and achieving ALL-5. Odds of achieving ALL-5 increased (p