Cross-sectional study demonstrates links between low dietary diversity, undernutrition, and anemia in tribal women, highlighting the need for targeted nutritional interventions.
Key Points
To assess dietary diversity and its sociodemographic determinants, and to evaluate its association with undernutrition and anemia among reproductive-age women in the Bonda particularly vulnerable tribal group.
Conducted a community-based cross-sectional study in Odisha, India, enrolling 180 women of reproductive age.
Collected sociodemographic details, anthropometric measurements, and blood hemoglobin levels using standardized protocols.
Evaluated dietary intake using the Food and Agriculture Organization's Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) score.
Overall, 57.2% of women exhibited low dietary diversity (mean score 4.58 ± 1.49), while 47.1% were undernourished and 61.6% were anemic.
Low dietary diversity was significantly associated with higher odds of undernutrition (aOR: 7.93, 95% CI: 3.90–16.15, p < 0.001) and anemia (aOR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.29–4.63, p = 0.006) after sociodemographic adjustment.
Lower educational status, low household income, and alcohol consumption were significantly associated with lower dietary diversity scores (p < 0.05).