Exploring the association between women's Minimum dietary diversity and household food security in urban and rural Burkina Faso: Insights from the 2021 Demographic and Health Survey

Burkina Faso faces one of the world's most severe food and nutrition crises, driven by armed conflict, political instability, environmental degradation, and entrenched poverty. Violence and displacement have restricted access to food, healthcare, and markets, leaving millions at risk of acute hunger. This study examines the association between household food security and Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) in Burkina Faso, using nationally representative data from both rural and urban settings. Cross-sectional data were drawn from the 2021 Burkina Faso Demographic and Health Survey, including 17,659 women aged 15-49 (rural: 11,927; urban: 5732). Women's dietary intake over the previous 24 h was assessed across ten food groups, with MDD-W dichotomized as adequate when five or more groups were consumed. Household food insecurity was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Experience Scale, which classifies households from food secure to severely food insecure. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression models were applied using SPSS Complex Samples to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for socio-demographic variables. Adequate minimum dietary diversity was observed in 31% of urban women compared with 22% of rural women. Similarly, food security was reported by 45% of urban women, whereas only 28% of rural women were classified as food secure. In adjusted models, women in food-secure households had higher odds of achieving adequate MDD-W compared with those in severely food insecure families (rural OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.13-1.66; urban OR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.16-1.82). Educational attainment consistently associated with the adequate MDD-W across settings, with higher education showing the strongest correlation (rural OR = 5.39; 95% CI: 2.26-12.86; urban OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.27-2.29). Household food insecurity was found to be significantly associated with women's dietary diversity in Burkina Faso. Socio-economic factors, including education, employment, and wealth, further shape dietary outcomes, highlighting the heightened vulnerability of rural women.