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. 2022 Dec 7;14(24):5208.
doi: 10.3390/nu14245208.

Identifying Predictors for Minimum Dietary Diversity and Minimum Meal Frequency in Children Aged 6-23 Months in Uganda

Giulia Scarpa  1   2 , Lea Berrang-Ford  1 , Maria Galazoula  2   3 , Paul Kakwangire  4 , Didacus B Namanya  5 , Florence Tushemerirwe  6 , Laura Ahumuza  5 , Janet E Cade  2
Affiliations

Identifying Predictors for Minimum Dietary Diversity and Minimum Meal Frequency in Children Aged 6-23 Months in Uganda

Giulia Scarpa et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Adequate complementary foods contribute to good health and growth in young children. However, many countries are still off-track in achieving critical complementary feeding indicators, such as minimum meal frequency (MMF), minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and minimum acceptable diet (MAD). In this study, we used the 2016 Ugandan Demographic Health Survey (UDHS) data to assess child feeding practices in young children aged 6-23 months. We assess and describe complementary feeding indicators (MMF, MDD and MAD) for Uganda, considering geographic variation. We construct multivariable logistic regression models-stratified by age-to evaluate four theorized predictors of MMF and MDD: health status, vaccination status, household wealth and female empowerment. Our findings show an improvement of complementary feeding practice indicators in Uganda compared to the past, although the MAD threshold was reached by only 22% of children. Children who did not achieve 1 or more complementary feeding indicators are primarily based in the northern regions of Uganda. Cereals and roots were the foods most consumed daily by young children (80%), while eggs were rarely eaten. Consistent with our hypotheses, we found that health status, vaccination status and wealth were significantly positively associated with MDD and MMF, while female empowerment was not. Improving nutrition in infant and young children is a priority. Urgent nutritional policies and acceptable interventions are needed to guarantee nutritious and age-appropriate complementary foods to each Ugandan child in the first years of life.

Keywords: DHS; Uganda; complementary feeding; minimum dietary diversity; minimum meal frequency.

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Conflict of interest statement

The funders 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. J.E.C. is Director of Dietary assessment Ltd. No other conflicts of interests to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Complementary feeding practices indicators (2016) by child age groups.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Composite map describing the complementary feeding indicators (MMF, MDD & MAD) in Uganda. Group 1, in green, represents those falling into the top quartile of districts (higher%) for 3 or more indicators (relatively high achievers); group 2, in red, represents those falling into the bottom quartile of districts (lowest%) for 3 or more indicators (relatively low achievers); Group 3, in blue, represents all other districts (mixed achievement). (B) Geographical distribution of children meeting each complementary feeding indicator in Uganda indicated with different colours (yellow = 81–100%; light green = 61–80%; dark green = 41–60%; blue = 21–40%; purple = 0–20%). Maps created through the QGIS program.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Composite map describing the complementary feeding indicators (MMF, MDD & MAD) in Uganda. Group 1, in green, represents those falling into the top quartile of districts (higher%) for 3 or more indicators (relatively high achievers); group 2, in red, represents those falling into the bottom quartile of districts (lowest%) for 3 or more indicators (relatively low achievers); Group 3, in blue, represents all other districts (mixed achievement). (B) Geographical distribution of children meeting each complementary feeding indicator in Uganda indicated with different colours (yellow = 81–100%; light green = 61–80%; dark green = 41–60%; blue = 21–40%; purple = 0–20%). Maps created through the QGIS program.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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