Socio-economic Variables Associated with Motivational Barriers of Food Choice among Lactating Women from Central Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Understanding the drivers of food choice is essential to guide the nutrition interventions and tailor nutrition counseling messages. There is strong evidence from a published study, which demonstrate attention for the need to consider the wide range of drivers during food choice. Due to the large variety of food products on the market, consumers make a multitude of food choice daily. The study aimed to assess major motivational drivers of food choice among randomly selected lactating women aged 15–49 years (423) from Debrebirhan Town using face to face interview. Logistic regression analysis was used to find association b/socio-economic variables and motivational drivers of food choice using SPSS version 20. Candidate variables were selected and transferred using the P- a value of less than 0.25, and AOR was reported. Variables with a P-value less than 0.05 on multiple variable logistic regressions were taken as significant variables. Influences of religion, price, preparation convenience, health value and taste during food choice were responded by above half of women. From logistic regression, 15–25 years’ age and self-employed were linked to religious influence in food choice with AOR (95%CI) of 0.09(0.01–0.48) and 4.13(1.4–12.24). Age (15–25 and 26–35 years), education (no, primary and secondary) and being housewife were associated to choosing of foods for their health value with AOR (95%CI) of 0.26(0.12–0.6), 0.37(0.18–0.76), 0.14(0.04–0.42), 0.25(0.13–0.54), 0.33(0.17–0.66) and 2.5(1.23–5). Only family size (2–4 vs.>4 persons) was associated with price concern in food choice with AOR (95%CI) of 0.39(0.21–0.71). Being divorced, husband headed, 7–12 and13-18 month lactation period, 15–25 and 26–35 years’ age were related to preparation convenience of foods with AOR (95%CI) of 5.94(1.13–31.33), 0.42(0.18–0.96), 3.26(1.34–7.93), 4.4(1.81–10.72), 0.16(0.05–0.47) and 0.25(0.11–0.59). Self-management approaches by nutrition education and promotion to change eating behaviors of women, increasing supply and price regulation toward healthy foods are recommended.

KEYWORDS:

• Drivers
• motivational barriers
• food Choice
• lactating women

Acknowledgments

Authors want to express gratitude to North Shoa Zone Health Bureau and Debrebirhan Town Administrative Health Care Office, data collectors and study participants for their support in this study.

Availability of data and materials

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Authors’ contributions

GK developed the study, design, implementation, analysis, interpretation and writing. AM contributed to the design, implementation and writing of the finding. TB: design, implementation and co-writing. The final manuscript read and approved by all authors.

Competing interests

There is no competing interest between authors concerning the research, authorship and/or publication of the article.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

Authors would like to acknowledge the research and technology of Wollega University for its financial support.