Dietary Diversity in urban geriatric subjects and it’s inter linkage with socio-demographic variables, nutritional status and household food insecurity

ABSTRACT

Background: Globally older population is at higher risk of nutritional problems. One of the significant reasons for this phenomenon is lack of Dietary Diversity which also leads to hidden hunger. With this background this study was conducted on geriatric subjects in urban Varanasi. Objectives: To assess Dietary Diversity in geriatric subjects and its interlinkage with sociodemographic variables, nutritional status and household food insecurity. Material and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 616 subjects (> 60 years) selected by multistage sampling procedure from urban Varanasi adopting inclusion and exclusion criteria. After obtaining ethical approval and prior consent of subjects each study subject was specifically interviewed about different food items consumed by them over given reference period with the help of predesigned and pretested proforma. Analysis of Data For analysis of data SPSS version 21 was used. For inferential purpose  test was used. Results: Consumption of different food items were categorized as very frequent (Daily/ three or more times a week), frequent (once or twice a week) and infrequent (once or twice a month/ occasional). Energy yielding food (wheat 2 and rice) were consumed very frequently by 100.0% and 50.5% subjects, respectively. In case of 50.6%, 27.6% and 9.4% subjects’ pulses, milk, egg were consumed very frequently whereas egg, meat and fish were never consumed by 61.9%, 65.3% and 74.0% subjects, respectively. Very frequent consumption of fruits prevailed in 22.2% subjects. Except rice similar consumption pattern was observed for pulses, milk and fruits in male and female subjects (p>0.05). Dietary Diversity of the urban geriatric subjects was far from being satisfactory and it is influenced by several factors and it is closely linked to nutritional status and food security.