Dietary Diversity and Associated Factors among High Schools Adolescent Girls in Kedida Gamela Woreda, Southern, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Introduction: Inadequate dietary diversity is one of public health problem among adolescent girls, especially school –going adolescent girls. There are few of studies on dietary diversity among adolescent girls' in Ethiopia, particular in Kedida Gamela woreda. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess dietary diversity and associated factors among adolescent girls in Kedida Gamela Woreda high schools. Objective: To assess the dietary diversity and associated factors among high schools adolescent girls in Kedida Gamela Woreda, Southern Ethiopia, 2022. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among 347 high schools adolescent girls in Kedida Gamela Woreda from May 27-June 24, 2022. Simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data was collected through face-to face interviews using a semi structured questionnaire. Epi-data version 4.6 was used to enter data, which was then exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. In simple binary logistic regression analysis variables with p<0.25 was considered as a candidate for multivariable logistic regression. Variables with a p-value of<0.05 in the final model were declared statistically significant with inadequate dietary diversity. Result: The proportion of inadequate dietary diversity was (61.4%) with [95% CI: 56.4-66.6]. Being late adolescent (AOR=1.8 95% CI: 1.07-3.08). Adolescents from mother with no formal education (AOR=2.9 95% CI: 1.36-6.46), living with more than five family members (AOR=2.0 95% CI: 1.16-3.65), having poor nutritional knowledge (AOR=2.3 95% CI: 1.39-3.79) were significantly associated with inadequate dietary diversity. Conclusion: The magnitude of inadequate dietary diversity among adolescent girls was high. Age of adolescent, educational status of mother, family size and nutritional knowledge were factors significantly associated with inadequate dietary diversity.