Dietary Diversity and Associated Factors among Upper Primary Schoolchildren in Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract

Dietary diversity is an important indicator of diet quality and nutritional adequacy in children; however, evidence among school-aged children in Zambia remains limited. This cross-sectional study assessed dietary diversity and associated factors among 638 upper primary schoolchildren aged 9–18 years from 12 schools in Lusaka District, Zambia, between August and October 2022. Data were collected using a 24-hour dietary recall, the Food Choice Questionnaire, and anthropometric measurements, and were analyzed in Stata version 14 using descriptive statistics and chi square tests at a 95% confidence level. Overall, 384 participants (60.2%) had high dietary diversity, and 254 (39.8%) had low dietary diversity. All participants consumed staple foods, but the intake of other important food groups was lower, including vegetables (57.5%), legumes (51.3%), fruits (50.2%), and animal products (49.7%). Higher dietary diversity was significantly associated with male sex (p = 0.009) and private school attendance (p = 0.004). No significant associations were found between dietary diversity and the perceived importance of vitamins and minerals, maintaining health, being nutritious, protein, good for skin and teeth, or fiber. The majority of upper primary schoolchildren in Lusaka had high dietary diversity; however, a substantial proportion still had low dietary diversity, highlighting the need for targeted school- and community-based nutrition interventions.