Factors influencing household dietary diversity: a case of Kampala City, Uganda
Abstract
The purpose of this research study was to examine the factors influencing the household dietary diversity (HDD) in Kampala City, Uganda. A sample of 120 respondents were identified using a cross-sectional survey with the aid of open structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were generated to characterize households and household dietary diversity in Kampala district and the multinomial logistic regression model was run to examine the factors influencing the household dietary diversity. Results showed that majority (74.58%) household heads were males, 90.68% were married, 83.05% were employed with the biggest number employed as elementary laborers, and the household heads had a mean age of 40 years and a maximum of 65 years, and a mean of 11 years of completed education and a maximum of 18 years. The distance moved to the nearest food market was 1.25km and the mean value of assets owned was UGX 2,343,770 and a maximum value of UGX 41,000,000 and total monthly food expenditure had a mean of and a maximum of UGX 86,371.79 and UGX 530,000 respectively. To run the multinomial logistic regression model, household dietary diversity was classified into low, medium and high where low (0-3) had 2.54%, medium (4-6) had 41.53% and high (7-12) had 55.93% following the World Health Organization HDDS classification. Factors such as age, employment status, number of years of completed education and distance to the nearest market were significant at a level of 1%,10% and 5%, respectively. The study recommended the formation of effective and organized central and food markets by the central government within Kampala to reduce on the distance moved and make the available food items affordable would increase household dietary diversity. The study recommended the introduction of study programs to the masses about the importance of feeding on balanced diet. The study further recommended the provision of special food items to the certain category of people such as infants and the elderly .The also study recommended the creation of employment opportunities to the urban households to earn sustainable income to afford their daily food items in the right quantity and quality.