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This research investigates how various sociodemographic factors relate to the diet quality of schoolchildren in rural Cambodia.

March 2, 2026

Sociodemographic Factors Associated With the Diet Quality of Schoolchildren in Rural Cambodia

Key Points

This research investigates how various sociodemographic factors relate to the diet quality of schoolchildren in rural Cambodia.
Cross-sectional design with 691 Cambodian schoolchildren aged 6 to 11 years.
Assessment of diet quality using Global Dietary Recommendation (GDR) scores.
Comparison of dietary habits across different age groups and caregiver education levels.
Adjustment for confounding factors in statistical analysis.
Average GDR score was 9.47, with 49% achieving a GDR-healthy diet.
Only 15.63% consumed all five recommended food groups.
63.53% met the minimum dietary diversity (MDD).
Children aged 9 to 11 were 1.55 times more likely to consume all food groups.
Caregivers with only primary education significantly reduced the likelihood of meeting MDD.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined sociodemographic factors influencing diet quality among 691 Cambodian schoolchildren aged 6 to 11 years. The average Global Dietary Recommendation (GDR) score was 9.47, with 49% achieving a GDR-healthy diet. Only 15.63% consumed All-5 recommended food groups, whereas 63.53% met the minimum dietary diversity (MDD). After adjusting for confounding factors, children aged 9 to 11 years were significantly more likely to consume all five food groups than those aged 6 to 8 years (adjusted odds ratio AOR = 1.55, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.02, 2.37, P = .04). Schoolchildren with caregivers having only primary education were significantly less likely to meet the MDD (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.27, 0.90, P = .02). Interventions should prioritize improving diet quality among school-aged children by fostering multisectoral collaboration to create healthier school food environments and ensure access to diverse, nutritious foods.

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