Abstract

Good nutrition is a prerequisite for a healthy and active life, especially for an agriculture-dependent rural population. Inadequate food and nutrition affect human well-being, particularly for populations living in rural areas.However, diets in most rural households lack diversity because the intake of fruits, meat, poultry, fish, and green vegetables was low. This study estimates the factors influencing dietary diversity of the household and individual levels. The 248 sample households for surveys were determined by a stratified random sampling method. Household Dietary Diversity Score and individual dietary diversity score was assessed through the standard questionnaire developed by the food and agriculture organization of the United State, with 12 food groups and 9 food groups, respectivel pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the household diet diversity score or individual dietary diversity score with different studied variables. The findings show that the most consumed foods within the household are cereals, tubers, oils and fats, spices, and condiments. Females have low dietary diversity score compared to males in the households.The majority of the households and individuals had low diet diversity scores and foods from animal sources were rarely included as diets, particularly in households with low dietary diversity scores. The studies have shown a strong positive correlation between the level of education, the awareness status of homemakers and the attitude about food and nutrition. The nutritional knowledge, awareness, attitude, and educational status of the head of HH were also positively correlated with household dietary diversity score but the relationship was weak.

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