Assessing Dietary Diversity, and Nutritional Status among Rwandan Women engaged in agriculture.

Background: Dietary diversity is crucial for nutritional adequacy, particularly among women of reproductive age who experience increased nutritional needs due to menstruation, pregnancy, and lactation. The significance of dietary diversity becomes particularly pronounced in addressing the prevalent issue of anemia in Rwanda. This anemia may pose significant health risks for both mothers and children and by promoting a diverse and balanced diet, we can take a crucial step in mitigating the adverse effects associated with this condition. Objective: This study aims to assess Dietary Diversity, Nutritional Status, and related Factors Affecting Rwandan Women engaged in Agriculture. Methods: A cross-sectional study in western Rwanda’s high malnutrition districts, Nyamagabe, Karongi, and Nyabihu, used a multi-stage sampling method. Three farming-based clusters emerged: tea, subsistence, and Irish potatoes. Households with children under five were systematically sampled, with sample size calculated using Taro Yamane’s formula, and data was analyzed in SPSS v25. Results: The study included 439 respondents, with an average age of 33.05 years. 359(81.8%) participants had low dietary diversity whereas Nyamagabe had the highest proportion with 39%. 22.1% of participants had mild or moderate anemia with the cutoff below 11.9 g/dl where Karongi had the high proportion with 10.7%, Anemia prevalence was 22.1%, with Karongi having the highest at 10.7%. Head of household Education (AOR=6.4,95%, CI:1.05-39.7), Age of women (AOR=3.03,95%, CI:1.1-7.8), and wealth status (AOR=1.66,95%, CI:0.51-5.4) were associated with higher odds of High dietary diversity. The occupation of women (AOR=0.13,95%, CI:0.001-0.19), reading skills (AOR=0.27,95%, CI:0.1-0.72). and family size (AOR=0.63,95%, CI:0.35-1.1) were, however, associated with lower odds of lower dietary diversity. Conclusion: This study of 439 participants revealed significant findings regarding dietary diversity, anemia prevalence, and socio-demographic factors, emphasizing their crucial role in understanding and addressing nutritional status among women in Rwanda.