Association between dietary diversity, health and nutritional status of older persons in rural Zambia

Figures & data

Table 1: Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the participants

Characteristics	Values
Mean age	62.4 ± 9.8 years
Gender, % (n):
Men	49.6% (67)
Women	50.4% (68)
Marital status, % (n):
Married	48.0% (58)
Widowed	45.2% (61)
Separated	7.4% (10)
Cohabiting	0.7% (1)
Divorced	3.7% (5)
Education level, % (n):
No formal education	39.3% (54)
Primary	53.3% (71)
Secondary	7.4% (10)
Employment status, % (n):
Employed	10.0% (14)
No formal employment	90.0% (121)
Main source of food, % (n):
Purchase	1.5% (2)
Subsistence own farm produce	72.6% (98)
Donations	7.4% (10)
Relief food	1.5% (2)
Provided by children	17.0% (23)

Figure 1: Percentage of participants who consumed in the food groups seven days prior to interview.

Table 2: BMI categories and waist circumference of the participants

BMI categories	n = 135
Underweight	30.4% (41)
Severe underweight	6.0% (8)
Moderate underweight	6.0% (7)
Mild underweight	17.8% (24)
Normal	61.5% (83)
Overweight/Obese	8.1% (9)
	Sex of the respondent
	Male n = 67	Female n = 68
Underweight	29.9% (20)	30.8% (21)
Severe underweight	11.7% (8)	7.4% (5)
Moderate underweight	17.9% (12)	25.5% (16)
Normal	62.7% (42)	60.3% (41)
Overweight	7.5% (5)	59% (4)
Obese	0	2.9% (2)
Waist circumference

Table 3: Self-reported health conditions

Type of conditions	Total % (n)	Conditions by gender
		Male, % (n)	Female, % (n)
Nutrition related:
High blood pressure	42.6% (58)	26.0% (38.8)	47.1% (32)
Coronary heart disease	8.9% (12)	7.5% (5)	10.3% (7)
Stroke	1.5% (2)	2.0% (3)	0 (0)
Diabetes	1.5% (2)	0.0% (0)	1.5% (2)
Obesity	1.5% (2)	0.0 (0)	1.5% (2)
Infectious conditions:
Malaria	24.4% (33)	23.9% (16)	25.0% (17)
’Flu	49.6% (67)	44.8% (30)	54.4% (37)
Tuberculosis	35.6% (48)	29.9% (20)	41.2% (28)
Pneumonia	24.4% (33)	25.4% (17)	25.3% (16)
Other diseases:
Eyesight problems	5.9% (8)	4.5% (3)	7.4% (5)
Swollen legs	3.7% (5)	3.0% (2)	4.4% (3)
Chest pain	3.0% (2)	1.5% (1)	1.5% (1)
Backache	5.1% (7)	9.0% (6)	1.5% (1)
Lifestyle habits:
Attended clinic	22.2% (30)	17.9% (12)	26.5% (18)
Smoking	21.5% (29)	34.3% (33)	8.8% (6)
Drinking alcohol	21.5% (29)	31.3% (21)	11.8%(8)

Table 4: Comparison of health conditions and nutritional status

Health condition	Underweight	Normal	Overweight/Obesity
Non-communicable:
High blood pressure	24.1%	63.8%	12%
Heart disease	16.7%	83.3%	0.0%
Infectious conditions:
Malaria	48.5%	42.4%	9.1%
’Flu	34.3%	62.7%	3.0%
Tuberculosis	33.3%	64.6%	2.1%
Pneumonia	24.2%	72.7%	3.0%