Socio-Economic and Demographic Determinants of Dietary Diversity in Chamwino District, Tanzania

Abstract

Researchers have determined the impact of socio-economic and demographic factors on dietary diversity using a simpler approach of twelve food groups. However, determining the influence of these factors based on an advanced procedure of weighted sum dietary diversity has not been done. The study on which this paper is based sought to analyse socio-economic and demographic determinants of dietary diversity in Chamwino District, Tanzania, with the specific objectives to a) determine dietary diversity and b)
analyse the influence of socio-economic and demographic factors on dietary diversity in Chamwino District. Random sampling was used to select 400 households. The research was a cross-sectional one and was conducted using a questionnaire, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Using weighted sum dietary diversity scores, it was found that 69.2% of the 400 sampled households had low dietary diversity. Household size, annual income per adult equivalent, education of household head, income-generating activities and land cultivated significantly influenced (p < 0.05) surveyed households’ dietary diversity. It is concluded that most households in the study area consume low dietary diversity and that household size, annual income per adult equivalent, income-generating activities, education of household head, and land size cultivated are the major determinants of dietary diversity in the district. It is recommended that any intervention targeting improving nutrition in Chamwino District should focus on promoting the consumption of a wide variety of food items in the household. Also, in order to improve dietary diversity in the district, family planning, income, income-generating activities, education of the household head, and land size cultivated should be given high importance by the government and other organisations dealing with food security.