Socioeconomic Determinants of Dietary Diversity among Rural Households in Jaunpur District of Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

--Inadequate nutritional consumption is one of the decisive factors for weak immunity, a higher probability of various diseases and infections, weak mental and physical growth, and less working capability. The present study was conducted to assess the dietary diversity pattern and its correlates in a rural setting of Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted during August-November 2017, among 316 households. Women from these households were interviewed to know the variety of foods consumed in the past 24 hours. Descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression analysis have been used to meet the objective of the study. Results portray that, about 14 percent of the households were in the category of low dietary diversity, and 58 percent were under medium dietary diversity. A higher proportion of SCs and poor households were more prone to have low dietary diversity. Landless households or less than one bigha of agricultural land and household without livestock or less number of livestock were more prone to low dietary diversity. Results of ordered logistic regression analysis confirm that caste, working status of heads, family type, socioeconomic status of the household, agricultural land, and livestock showed a significant association with the dietary diversity pattern of households. There is a necessity for the informed rural population on the importance of a diverse diet to improve nutrient consumption and to achieve food and nutrition security. National or regional level surveys will be helpful to understand the food related challenges in India. Keywords--Households, Dietary Diversity, Dietary Diversity Score and Food Security _________________________________________________________________________________________________