Dietary Diversity and Vegetable and Fruit Consumption of Households in a Resource-Poor Peri-Urban South Africa Community Differ by Food Security Status

ABSTRACT

Sociodemographic, living standard measure, consumption of vegetables and fruit, and dietary diversity in relation to household food security were assessed. Using a hunger score, households were categorized as food secure (n = 125) or food insecure (n = 273). Food secure respondents had a higher mean dietary diversity score (3.98; 95%CI [3.79, 4.18] versus 3.65; 95% [CI 3.53, 3.77]), were more likely to eat vitamin A–rich foods (OR 1.15; 95% CI [1.05, 1.26]), a more varied diet (DDS ≥ 4, OR 1.90; 95% CI [1.19, 3.13]), and vegetables daily (OR 3.37; 95% CI [2.00, 5.76]). Cost limited daily vegetable/fruit consumption in food insecure households. Respondents with ≥ 8 years of schooling were more likely (OR 2.07; 95% CI [1.22, 3.53]) and households receiving social grants were less likely (OR 0.37; 95% CI [0.19, 0.72]) to be food secure. Results highlight the association between dietary diversity and household food security.

KEYWORDS:

• Dietary diversity
• food security
• South Africa
• vegetables and fruit

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the nutrition monitors, Bongi Duma, Nhlanhla Hlophe†, Derick Mkhize, Lindiwe Msiya, Angeline Ndlovu, and France Phungula, for recruiting the participants, completing the questionnaires, and coding the dietary data; the fieldworkers for completing the questionnaires; Michael Phungula for community liaison and negotiations with the schools; Lee-Ann Runcie for dietary coding and data capturing; and the four schools, the caregivers, and the learners who participated in the study.

Funding

Funding for this study was obtained from the South African Sugar Association (project 196) and Nutrition Third World.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was obtained from the South African Sugar Association (project 196) and Nutrition Third World.