Assessment of Dietary Diversity and Food Insecurity in Rural Households of Tehsil Kallar Syedan Rawalpindi: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity and poor dietary diversity are major concerns associated with malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. Pakistan has faced numerous challenges, including COVID-19, floods, and inflation, which have significantly impacted the food security and dietary diversity of its population. Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the dietary diversity and food insecurity status in rural households of the sub-district of Rawalpindi and examine the socio-demographic factors associated with these outcomes. Methodology: A validated sample of 259 households was selected using a systematic sampling method. The Household Dietary Diversity (HDDS) and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) were used to collect data on dietary diversity and food insecurity. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The study found no significant association between household dietary diversity and food insecurity (p=0.848). Most households had high dietary diversity (72.2%), and significantly associated with marital status (p value=0.025), employment status (p value=0.01) and body mass index (p value=0.049). Regarding food security, 94.6% of households were food secure, while 5.4% were food insecure. Employment status (p=0.001) and education level (p=0.009) were significantly associated with food insecurity. Conclusion: The study found no significant association between dietary diversity and food insecurity, but employment status and education level were significantly associated iv with food insecurity. Most households had high dietary diversity and were food secure. These results highlight the need for targeted interventions and policymaker action to address food insecurity and promote dietary diversity in vulnerable populations. Keywords: Cross-sectional survey, Dietary diversity, Food insecurity, Household, Rawalpindi, Rural