Minimum Dietary Diversity and Its Determinants among Children Aged 6-60 Months in Rural Puducherry
Ilavarasu Rangassamy1, Karthika Ganesamoorthy2, Amarnath Santhaseelan3
1Department of Pediatrics, Sri Venkateshwara Medical College Hospital, Ariyur, Puducherry, 605107, India.
Insights
In rural Puducherry, 55.24% of children met minimum dietary diversity (MDD) standards. Younger children and those who are underweight were less likely to achieve adequate nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) is crucial for child development and health.
- Assessing MDD prevalence and determinants is vital for targeted interventions in vulnerable populations.
- Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices significantly impact nutritional outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) among children aged 6-60 months in rural Puducherry.
- To identify factors associated with MDD in this pediatric population.
- To inform public health strategies for improving child nutrition in the region.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 143 children (6-60 months) in rural Puducherry.
- Data collection via semi-structured questionnaires based on WHO IYCF guidelines.
- Statistical analysis using Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression to assess MDD determinants.
Main Results:
- 55.24% of children achieved Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD).
- Children aged 25-60 months and those with mothers over 30 years were more likely to meet MDD.
- Underweight and severely underweight children showed a lower likelihood of achieving MDD.
Conclusions:
- While MDD prevalence exceeded the national average, a significant portion of children in rural Puducherry do not meet dietary diversity recommendations.
- Younger children (under 24 months) and underweight children are particularly at risk.
- Interventions should focus on improving dietary diversity for these vulnerable groups to prevent malnutrition.
Objective:
To assess the prevalence of minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and explore its associated determinants among children aged 6-60 months in rural Puducherry.
Methods:
143 children aged 6-60 months were selected from rural areas of Puducherry using systematic random sampling in a cross-sectional study conducted between January and February 2024. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices. MDD was defined as the consumption of at least five of eight food groups for children aged 6-24 months and seven food groups for children aged 25-60 months. Sociodemographic factors, food group consumption, and anthropometric measurements were also recorded. Statistical analysis involved Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression to identify associations between MDD and various factors.
Results:
55.24% of the children achieved MDD. Children aged 25-60 months (P < 0.001) and those with mothers over 30 years old (P = 0.001) were significantly more likely to meet MDD. Underweight (P = 0.001) and severely underweight children (P = 0.001) had a lower likelihood of achieving MDD. Factors such as gender, birth order, and socioeconomic status were not significantly associated with MDD.
Conclusion:
Despite a higher MDD rate than the national average, a substantial proportion of children in rural Puducherry do not meet dietary diversity standards, particularly younger (< 24 months) and underweight children.
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