Dietary diversity: The case study of Arba Minch Zuriya district, Gamo zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Sára Šebrlová

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

In this study, the diversity of diet, one of the important elements of high-quality diets, was investigated using the Women’s Dietary Diversity Score (WDDS). The principle of this measuring tool was the counting of 9 different food groups consumed during the 24 hour recall period. The responses were obtained from 202 women in the Arba Minch Zuriya district, Gamo zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia. In addition to the dietary diversity score, sociodemographic characteristics such as household size, age, religion, and education level were also analyzed. In developing countries, food diversification is low and diets are often based on only a few food groups. This causes a lack of important nutrients that are essential for human health and the human body. In this survey, the average number of food groups consumed was 3.08, which was considered low, according to the recommended minimum of food group consumption. The diet was based mainly on the consumption of starchy staple foods (100 % of respondents), dark green leafy vegetables (98.5 % of respondents), and other fruits and vegetables (87.1 % of respondents). The most commonly consumed food item was bread, corn bread, and corn kollo. Less than half of the respondents were between 26-30 years of age. The mean level of education was 4.36 years of schooling and the average household size was 5.69 members per household. 62 % of the respondents were Protestants, and the rest of the women (37 %) were Orthodox. A statistically significant effect on WDDS was observed between education level and number of food groups consumed.

Keywords

Dietary diversity, Ethiopia, Food

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 15. 4. 2022

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Iva Kučerová, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme:
International Cooperation in Agricultural and Rural Development