Assessment of Women’s Dietary Diversity in Southern Senegal

Abstract

Introduction: Lack of dietary diversity is a nutritional problem among poor people in developing countries whose daily diet is usually based on a starch source with one or two additional components. Senegal has food insecure regions such as Kolda and Kedougou despite improved agricultural production. This study aims to investigate the determinants of dietary diversity in the Kolda and Kedougou regions. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytic household-level study in two southern regions of Senegal (Kolda and Kedougou) between October and December 2015. This was a three-stage random sample survey. Dietary diversity in women of reproductive age was measured using the Women’s Dietary Diversity Score (WDDS) recommended by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The WDDS is a global qualitative indicator of nutrition, which counts the number of food groups consumed by a person in the 24 hours preceding the survey. The data was collected during an individual interview. Linear regression was used to identify the associated factors of dietary diversity. The free and informed consent of the individuals surveyed and the protection of anonymity were respected. Results: A total of 1926 women were surveyed. The mean of WDDS was 2.9 with a standard deviation of 1.4. The Kedougou department has a better WDDS with 3.3 (±1.2) followed by the Kolda department with a score of 3.2 (±1.3). The higher the household’s welfare score, the better the WDDS with a ß coefficient of 0.11 [0.09 - 0.13]. Households that are in urban areas have a better score than households in rural areas (0.27 [0.13 - 0.41]). The improvement of knowledge in food diversification, in good culinary practice improves the dietary diversity score in women. Conclusion: The WDDS is low in the southern regions of Senegal. To improve dietary diversification in this area, the practice of good cooking practices, the accessibility of micronutrient-rich foods, and the decision-making power of women in the household should be promoted.