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. 2020 Mar 7;12(3):712.
doi: 10.3390/nu12030712.

Social Stratification, Diet Diversity and Malnutrition among Preschoolers: A Survey of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Hanna Y Berhane  1   2 , Magnus Jirström  3 , Semira Abdelmenan  1   2 , Yemane Berhane  1   2 , Beatrix Alsanius  4 , Jill Trenholm  1 , Eva-Charlotte Ekström  1
Affiliations

Social Stratification, Diet Diversity and Malnutrition among Preschoolers: A Survey of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Hanna Y Berhane et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

In Sub-Saharan Africa, being overweight in childhood is rapidly rising while stunting is still remaining at unacceptable levels. A key contributor to this double burden of malnutrition is dietary changes associated with nutrition transition. Although the importance of socio-economic drivers is known, there is limited knowledge about their stratification and relative importance to diet and to different forms of malnutrition. The aim of this study was to assess diet diversity and malnutrition in preschoolers and evaluate the relative importance of socioeconomic resources. Households with children under five (5467) were enrolled using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Standardized tools and procedures were used to collect data on diet, anthropometry and socio-economic factors. Multivariable analysis with cluster adjustment was performed. The prevalence of stunting was 19.6% (18.5-20.6), wasting 3.2% (2.8-3.7), and overweight/obesity 11.4% (10.6-12.2). Stunting, overweight, wasting and limited diet diversity was present in all social strata. Low maternal education was associated with an increased risk of stunting (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.8; 1.4-2.2), limited diet diversity (AOR: 0.33; 0.26-0.42) and reduced odds of being overweight (AOR: 0.61; 0.44-0.84). Preschoolers in Addis Ababa have limited quality diets and suffer from both under- and over-nutrition. Maternal education was an important explanatory factor for stunting and being overweight. Interventions that promote diet quality for the undernourished whilst also addressing the burgeoning problem of being overweight are needed.

Keywords: Ethiopia; diet diversity; malnutrition; pre-school children; social stratification; urban.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funder had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of households and children included in the diet and child nutrition study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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