eng Science and Education Publishing World Journal of Nutrition and Health 2017-04-12 5 2 41 45 10.12691/jnh-5-2-3 JNH2017523 article Meron Worku 1 Gebremariam Hailemicael ghaile81@yahoo.com 2 Asegedech Wondmu 3 Department of human nutrition, collage of medicine and health sciences, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia Department of Health Policies and Management, collage of medicine and health sciences, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia Department of public health, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia Introduction: Dietary diversity and the amount of animal source foods that an individual consume are two commonly used measures for dietary quality. Healthy growth and development essentially need a balanced diet of nutrients which includes a variety of foods from different food groups such as vegetables, fruits, grains and animal source. Objective: To assess dietary diversity and associated factors among high school adolescent girls in Gurage zone, southwest Ethiopia. Methodology: School based quantitative cross sectional study was conducted. The study included 634 adolescent girls. The sample was recruited using multistage cluster sampling technique. A dietary diversity score (DDS) and anthropometric of girls were measured. Bi-variable analysis was done to identify candidate variables for multivariable logistic regression and those variables having a p <0.25 was entered in multivariable logistic regression model. The results were reported by using Odds Ratio and 95% CI. P-value less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: The mean dietary diversity score was 4.69±1.46. The prevalence of adolescents consuming less than or equal to three food groups was 20% and those consumed 3-4 food groups was 53.2% and those consumed greater than or equal to six food groups from nine food groups was 26.8%. Mother's education (AOR=3.44, 95% CI=1.04-7.29, P=0.24), monthly income of the household (AOR=1.56, 95% CI=1.28-1.9, P=0.001) and residence (AOR=0.8, 95% CI=0.1-0.9, P=0.21) were significantly associated with dietary diversity score. Conclusion: Dietary diversity score of high school adolescent girls was low in the study area. http://pubs.sciepub.com/jnh/5/2/3/jnh-5-2-3.pdf dietary diversity adolescents' girls high school