Dusingizimana Theogene, Nduwayezu Gilbert, Kjelqvist Tomas
School of Natural Sciences, Technology and Environmental Studies, Södertörn University, Alfred Nobel Allé 7 Flemingsberg, Huddinge, Sweden.
Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, Musanze, Rwanda.
Matern Child Nutr. 2025 Jan;21(1):e13755. doi: 10.1111/mcn.13755. Epub 2024 Nov 3.
Dietary diversity has been widely used as a proxy indicator for micronutrient adequacy. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Rwanda, women are at high risk of inadequate micronutrient intake resulting from poorly diversified diets. This study was conducted to examine the factors associated with women's dietary diversity, with emphasis on homestead production diversity and market access in the Northern Province of Rwanda. A cross-sectional design was used, involving 606 women aged 18-49 years. Linear regression analyses were performed to examine the association between various factors and women's dietary diversity. Results show that 84% of the sample households raised at least one livestock species. Seventy-one percent of the households had no agricultural land. Eighty percent of those without land had a homestead garden on which they grew food crops, mainly vegetables and fruit trees. The average crop species was 2.3. On average, women consumed 3 out of 9 food groups. The homestead production diversity score was positively associated with women's dietary diversity score (β = 0.16, p < 0.001). Women's dietary diversity score was negatively associated with distance from the household to the nearest market (β = -0.08, p = 0.027) and household food insecurity (β = -0.06, p < 0.001). Maternal education (p < 0.001), household wealth index (p < 0.05), and ownership of more than 2.5 acres compared to being without land (p < 0.05) were associated with women's dietary diversity score. The dietary diversity of women could be enhanced through interventions that promote the diversity of livestock and crop species produced through homestead production. Potential interventions to explore may include integrated farming systems that combine small livestock and crop production utilising improved livestock breeds and high-quality seeds and planting materials of high-yielding varieties of fruits and vegetables, along with rainwater harvesting to facilitate small-scale irrigation. The impact of such interventions on women's dietary diversity can be further reinforced by parallel programmes aimed at improving women's education and the socioeconomic status of households.
饮食多样性已被广泛用作衡量微量营养素充足程度的替代指标。在包括卢旺达在内的低收入和中等收入国家（LMICs），由于饮食多样化程度低，妇女微量营养素摄入不足的风险很高。本研究旨在调查与妇女饮食多样性相关的因素，重点关注卢旺达北部省份的家庭生产多样性和市场准入情况。采用横断面设计，涉及606名年龄在18至49岁之间的妇女。进行线性回归分析以检验各种因素与妇女饮食多样性之间的关联。结果显示，84%的样本家庭饲养了至少一种家畜。71%的家庭没有农业用地。在没有土地的家庭中，80%有家庭菜园，他们在菜园里种植粮食作物，主要是蔬菜和果树。平均作物种类为2.3种。平均而言，妇女食用了9种食物类别中的3种。家庭生产多样性得分与妇女饮食多样性得分呈正相关（β = 0.16，p < 0.001）。妇女饮食多样性得分与家庭到最近市场的距离呈负相关（β = -0.08，p = 0.027）以及家庭粮食不安全状况呈负相关（β = -0.06，p < 0.001）。母亲的教育程度（p < 0.001）、家庭财富指数（p < 0.05）以及与无土地家庭相比拥有超过2.5英亩土地（p < 0.05）与妇女饮食多样性得分相关。通过促进家庭生产中家畜和作物种类多样性的干预措施，可以提高妇女的饮食多样性。可能探索的潜在干预措施包括综合农业系统，该系统结合小型家畜和作物生产，利用改良的家畜品种以及高产水果和蔬菜品种的优质种子和种植材料，同时进行雨水收集以促进小规模灌溉。旨在提高妇女教育水平和家庭社会经济地位的并行计划可以进一步加强此类干预措施对妇女饮食多样性的影响。
