Dietary diversity score and its association with anemia status among selected nonpregnant women in Pasay City, Philippines

Abstract

Background and Objective: Iron deficiency anemia, the most common type of anemia, is a disease of public health significance that leads to negative economic and health implications. Dietary diversity is one of the recommended strategies in combating micronutrient deficiency such as anemia and may be measured through Dietary Diversity Score (DDS). The study aimed to determine whether DDS is associated with anemia status among nonpregnant women of reproductive age (WRA) in Pasay City, Philippines. Specifically, the study aimed to determine the: (1) prevalence of anemia, (2) mean DDS, and (3) association between DDS and anemia status among the study population.

Methodology: The study was analytic and cross-sectional that included 121 nonpregnant WRA who were selected using stratified random sampling with proportional allocation. Data collection methods included anthropometric assessment, hemoglobin determination, and 24-hour food recall as basis for calculating the dietary diversity score.

Results and Conclusion: Results of the study found that the prevalence of anemia was 21.49% and mean DDS was 4.46 (between low and moderate DDS). A statistical association was found between DDS and anemia status (p<0.001) such that the odds of having anemia was 25.47 times higher among women with low DDS compared to women with moderate/high DDS. Therefore, nutrition education and promotion awareness is needed on dietary diversity to prevent anemia among women of reproductive age.