Meron Worku¹, Gebremariam Hailemicael^2,, Asegedech Wondmu³

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.

dietary diversity, adolescents' girls, high school