DIETARY DIVERSITY IN REPRODUCTIVE AGED WOMEN BY SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN COMBINED MILITARY HOSPITAL, PAKISTAN.

BACKGROUND: Minimum dietary diversity (MDD-W) is a key indicator of dietary adequacy for 11 micronutrients in women of reproduc ve age (WRA, aged 15-49). In Pakistan, factors like educa on, employment, and urbaniza on can influence dietary pa erns and nutri onal status. Understanding these rela onships is crucial for developing targeted interven ons to improve diets and health among WRA. OBJECTIVE: To assess dietary diversity levels among women of reproduc ve age and analyze the associa on between sociodemographic characteris cs and dietary diversity. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sec onal study was conducted from May to August 2023 among non-pregnant, non-lacta ng, ever-married women aged 15-49 years visi ng the Outpa ent Department of Combined Military Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan (n=810). The Diet Quality Ques onnaire was used to calculate MDD-W and Food Group Diversity Score (FGDS). The prevalence of food group consump on, MDD-W (defined as consump on of 5 or more of 10 food groups), and mean FGDS were calculated. Chi-square tests and independent samples t-tests were used to analyze associa ons and differences in dietary diversity. RESULTS: T66.3% of WRA achieved MDD-W. The most consumed food groups were starchy staples (99.3%), dairy foods (94.8%), and other vegetables (74.9%). Least consumed were nuts and seeds (12.3%), dark green leafy vegetables (14.4%), and eggs (26.4%). Significant associa ons were found between MDD-W and locality, educa on, or husband's salary (p< 0.05). MDD-W was not significantly associated with age, marital status, or employment (p> 0.05). The mean FGDS ± SD was 5.22 ± 1.65, with significant differences between urban and rural locali es (p< 0.05), but not between employed and unemployed women (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: Two-thirds of WRA achieved minimum dietary diversity, sugges ng be er micronutrient intake. Urban and formally uneducated women had more diverse diets, while employment had no significant effect. Targeted interven ons are needed to improve diets among WRA. KEYWORDS: Sociodemographic Characteris cs, Diet Quality Ques onnaire, Food Group Diversity Score, Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women, Women of Reproduc ve Age