Home Food Availability, Food Insecurity and Nutrition Knowledge Are Key Factors Influencing Dietary Diversity Among Adolescent Girls in Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Objectives: In Ethiopia, where 40% of the population is under 15 years, evidence on adolescent nutrition is limited. We examined the dietary diversity and its determinants among in-school adolescent girls in 2 regions in southern Ethiopia. Methods: We used household survey data from 162 in-school adolescent girls aged 10-14 y across 54 primary schools in one agrarian region (SNNP) and one pastoralist region (Somali), collected in October-November 2019. Multiple regression models were used to examine factors such as nutrition knowledge, food availability and food insecurity associated with the dietary diversity score, adjusted for age and geographic clustering. Results: All of the adolescent girls were currently enrolled in school (grades 4-8), and most resided with their mothers (96.9%) and fathers (80.2%). Prevalence of thinness was 11.7% (body mass index (BMI)-forage Z-score < −2SD), and 35.2% were mildly thin (BMI-forage Z-score