Factors associated with food consumption and dietary diversity among infants aged 6-18 months in Ashanti Region, Ghana.

Abstract

BackgroundStudies have reported a poor diet quality among children in Ghana and other developing countries. Inadequate dietary diversity among children may lead to deficiencies in micronutrient intake necessary for growth and other cognitive functions. Understanding factors associated with infants' diverse diets is a key step to promoting adequate infant and young child nutrition. This study sought to determine the factors associated with food consumption and dietary diversity (DD) among infants.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study among 1503 mothers-infant (aged 6-18 months) pairs from rural, urban, and peri-urban districts of Ashanti Region, factors associated with food consumption and DD were evaluated. The FAO 18-food group DD questionnaire was used to determine previous food group intake, while a structured questionnaire was used to capture data on the mother's socio-demographic parameters and child morbidity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, and binary logistic regression to compare mothers and infants who had adequate and inadequate DDS of 9 out of 18 food groups and the predictors of dietary diversity.ResultsAbout 64.7% of the infants did not meet the minimum dietary diversity. Over two-third (77.4%) of the children consumed maize porridge the previous day. Foods which were less consumed included vegetables (35%), animal milk (38.9%), and meat (organ 14%, any meat 26%). The mean food group intake from 18 food groups was 7.0, and the majority (64.7%) did not meet the recommended 9 food group intake. Significantly more younger children (6-11 months) (74%, pConclusionsLow DD was common among infants and associated with infants age, caregivers' areas of residence, employment status, and level of nutrition education. Children who did not meet the minimum dietary diversity were not fed particular foods such as vegetables, animal milk, and organ meat. Proper maternal nutrition education and feeding practices targeting age-specific needs and community livelihood support systems are necessary to improve dietary diversity of infants.