Dietary diversity is an important concept in the fight against malnutrition, whether by excess or by default in all age groups, especially in developing countries. It is the secret of a healthy and balanced diet for women. Dietary diversity determines the number of different food groups consumed by an individual or household over a given period of time. At the international level, dietary guidelines recommend the consumption of a sufficient variety of foods, which is supposed to ensure adequate intakes of nutrients essential for good health [1] [2] . In the 1950s these recommendations were based on high protein diets, then high energy diets, and more recently, efforts have been made to eliminate micronutrient deficiencies through supplementation and fortification of foods [3] . Although agricultural production is sufficient for all of humanity, 840 million people do not have enough food in the world [4] . In developing countries, the precarious living conditions of households have a negative impact on the nutritional status of women and children. Experiments measuring dietary diversity in Africa are rare and are more common in young children [5] [6] .

Having noted the consequences of unbalanced diets in women and children, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has enacted the measure of dietary diversity score was considered a good tool to help measure the overall quality of diets, both in industrialized countries and developing countries [7] [8] [9] .

The nutritional status of women as they become pregnant and during pregnancy can have a significant influence on the health of the fetus, infant and mother [10] . Common maternal malnutrition results in insufficient fetal development and increased risk of pregnancy complications. Undernutrition in both mother and child is responsible for more than 10% of the global burden of disease [11] .

In 2012, Senegal experienced a food crisis characterized by a significant decline in agricultural production of all cultivated species. Between 2013 and 2014, the number of people affected by severe food insecurity increased from 675,000 to about 927,500, and the number of people living under stress from 1.9 million to 2.86 million [12] . The number of people requiring humanitarian assistance has increased from 9% to 31% between 2013 and 2015 [13] . This decline has created a difficult food situation in Kolda and Kedougou that has affected household eating habits and altered nutritional quality [14] .

In Senegal, according to the Demographic and Health Survey with Multiple Indicators (EDS MICS-2015), stunting in children was evaluated in 2015 at 20.5%. The proportion of children suffering from wasting was 7.8% and underweight was 15.5%. The proportion of overweight children was 0.3% [15] . The non-dietary diversification in pregnant women impacts the survival and health of the child, which becomes a breeding ground for the occurrence of chronic malnutrition and is characterized by stunting, morbidity, risk of death, disorders of cognitive and motor development, low physical and intellectual performance [10] .

The Rural Food Security and Nutrition Survey (ERASAN-2014) in Senegal showed that 43.2% of households had a low dietary diversity score and 46.4% an average score. In the southern departments of Senegal such as Saraya and Medina Yoro Foulah, more than 60% of households consume fewer than three food groups per week [14] .

With all these observations, it is opportune to understand dietary diversification through this study which has the general objective of studying the factors associated with dietary diversity among women of reproductive age in the Kolda and Kedougou regions of Senegal.

This study was conducted in southern Senegal in the Kolda and Kedougou regions (as shown in Figure 1). These two regions are among the most disadvantaged regions of Senegal. The Kolda region is made up of three departments: Kolda, Vélingara and Médina Yoro Foulah (MYF). The region of Kédougou is also composed of three departments: Kédougou, Saraya and Salémata. According to the results by region of EDS-MICS 2010-2011 indicators of maternal and child health are worrying and all the determinants of maternal mortality are more accentuated, mortality of children under 5 years (per thousand): Kolda (154), Kedougou (145) and Senegal (72); prevalence of chronic malnutrition: Kolda (24%), Kedougou (28.35%) and Senegal (16.5%). Difficult access to health and social services (only 36.6% of the population in Kolda and 30.1% in Kedougou) and the lack of resources available to support the most vulnerable groups, especially women, are factors that contribute to this situation and the deterioration of the living conditions of the poorest [16] .

This is a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study that was conducted in the last quarter of 2015.

The study concerned households in the six departments of southern Senegal where women of reproductive age (aged 15 to 45) freely agreed to participate in the study and were present on the day of collection.

The sample size was calculated from the Hsieh formula. It was appreciated with a risk of 5% and a power of 90%. The correlation coefficient (r) is estimated between the dietary diversity score and the household welfare index [17] [18] .

N = ( Z 1 − α / 2 − Z 1 − β ) 2 / C ( r ) 2 + 3

C ( r ) = 1 / 2 log ( ( 1 + r ) / ( 1 + r ) )

r = 0.25

Z_1−α/2= 1.96

Z_1−β = 1.29

Design effect = 2

The sample size calculated taking into account the plan effect is 1724 households. With a non-respondent rate estimated at 10%, the final size is 1900 households. In each household a woman of reproductive age will be selected.

A three-stage random survey was conducted. The first stage consisted of drawing the census districts (CDs) represented by the villages or neighborhoods, the second degree by the households, and the third degree by the drawing of the woman of reproductive age to be surveyed. In total, the study was conducted at 16 census districts by department. In each census district, 20 households were selected. At the DR level, the first grant was drawn, and the others are chosen consecutively. A systematic draw was made according to the number of households. In each household, a random draw of a woman was made on the census list of women of reproductive age in the household.

Data collection was based on electronic questionnaires (by CSpro Software). The investigators were responsible for collecting the data directly on the tablets. They were organized in 18 teams each of which was guided by a team leader. In each department, there was a supervisor. After four days of training, the investigators conducted a pilot survey to test the questionnaires before starting the data collection.

Dietary diversity was appreciated through the number of food groups that women consumed in the 24 hours prior to the survey. In line with the recommendations of the World Food Program (WFP) for measuring the WDDS, nine food groups were searched. The nine food groups are: 1) Cereals, roots and tubers 2) Legumes 3) Nuts and seeds 4) Dairy products 5) Meat products 6) Giblets 7) Eggs 8) Dark green leafy vegetables 9) Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A.

The woman said she ate and drank at breakfast, at lunch, at dinner including snacks inside or outside the household the night before the survey. The dietary diversity score was used to classify women according to the diet [19] .

The household well-being index (WBI) was measured by the Unified Questionnaire Indicators of Well-being Base (QUIBB) Version 2011 [20] .

Data were analyzed with the R-Studio 3.4.4 software. The description of the variables is made with absolute and relative frequencies and the quantitative variables by the mean and standard deviation. Multivariate analysis was performed with a multiple linear regression for determining the factors related to food diversity, with adjustment independent variables ensuring the applicability conditions with a significance level set at 5%. The variables with p was less than 0.25 in bivariate analysis were selected for modeling. ANOVA and AIC allowed the choice of the last with the method of stepping down [21] . Finally, the R squared (coefficient of determination) was used to test the quality of the final linear regression model. The associations were measured by regression coefficients β with their confidence intervals [22] [23] .

The approval of the National Ethics Committee for Health Research (CNERS) of Senegal has been obtained before the start of field activities. Participation in the study was free. A free and informed consent was obtained from women. A fact sheet was administered to each individual before signing the consent form. This study did not provide any remuneration or compensation for those surveyed. The data collected remained confidential. The identity of the individuals who agreed to participate was not mentioned on collection tools. In all uses of the results, anonymity was respected.

This study made it possible to understand the factors associated with dietary diversification among women in Senegal in predominantly rural areas where food

insecurity is important. The limit of this research is the lack of quantification of consumption. The seven-day diversification assessment was not used because of the memory bias.

The dietary diversity score (DDS) is the main measure of dietary diversity, it can be measured at the household and individual level mainly in pregnant and lactating women or in children. DDS is a determinant of nutrient consumption. The number of food groups consumed has an impact on nutrient adequacy [24] [25] . WDDS is used as a proxy measure of the nutritional quality of the diet in women of childbearing, pregnant and lactating age. The dietary diversity score at the individual level is an approximate measure of diet adequacy in macronutrients and/or micronutrients in women [19] [26] . This study found an average WDDS of 2.9 (±1.4) in the Kolda and Kédougou regions. The study was done before harvesting winter crops. The Saraya Department has a lower food diversity score (2.4 ± 1.3) despite the existence of gold mining plants in the area. The main economic activity of Saraya is gold panning at the expense of agriculture, fishing and livestock. This behavioral change had an impact on the food security and nutrition of Saraya populations. In Burkina, Savy found a WDDS of 5.1 ± 2.0 among women mothers of children [27] .

The study showed that the practice of processing local food products, the practice of fishing, the development of parcels under irrigation by households for agriculture were in favor of a better dietary diversification of women. The development of agriculture in rural areas is an important determinant of household food security [28] .

Women’s dietary diversification is related to the level of women’s involvement in household expenditures. Women who controlled more than 50% of household expenditures had better dietary diversification (0.25 [0.09-0.40]). The more the woman has better decision-making power in household expenditures, the better the food diversification [27] [28] .

The departments of Kédougou and Kolda are the most urbanized in the area and recorded better dietary diversity scores. The analysis showed that the more households living in an urbanized area have a better WDDS than those living in rural areas (0.27 [0.13-0.41]). Women living in urban areas have better access to information and health services than women in the villages. The good knowledge of dietary diversification by women is a factor that improves the score of dietary diversification (0.22 [0.07-0.37]). Women who are familiar with foods rich in micronutrients marketed in the zone’s markets have a better dietary diversity (0.35 [0.22-0.47]) [29] .

Dietary diversification in pregnant women is of paramount importance, it is essential because it is in different foods that it draws the necessary nutrients for a good development of the child, its survival and its good health [30] [31] .

The WDDS reports on the probability of micronutrient adequacy of women’s diets. According to the World Food Program, women who consume less than 4 food groups have a weakly diversified diet, those with 4 to 5 food groups have a moderately diversified diet, and those with more than 5 food groups have a very diverse diet. Our study showed that, on average, women in the Kolda and Kedougou regions have a weakly diversified diet. To combat this low level of dietary diversity, the practice of producing micronutrient-rich animal and plant foods should be promoted, women’s knowledge of good nutritional and culinary practices increased, and the decision-making power of women in the household improved. The poorer the household, the lower the WDDS.

Centre d’Excellence Africain pour la Santé de la mère et de l’enfant (CEASAMEF/UCAD).

The Micronutrient Initiative.

All women who agreed to participate in this survey.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Tine, J.A.D., Niang, K., Faye, A. and Dia, A.T. (2018) Assessment of Women’s Dietary Diversity in Southern Senegal. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 9, 1192-1205. https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2018.910086