Improving dietary diversity of school adolescents through school based nutrition education and home gardening in Jimma Zone: Quasi-experimental design

Purpose: The purpose of this operational study was to assess the effectiveness school-based health and nutrition intervention supported with backyard gardening on the dietary diversity among school adolescents. Methods: A total of 1000 school adolescents from 10 to 19 years were selected randomly. The intervention involved peer-led behavior change communication and health promotion through school media and health clubs. Data were collected at baseline, midline and end-line using structured questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the independent effect of interventions. Results: There was a significant increment of proportion of school children consuming diversified diet among the intervention group from 34.8% at baseline through 65.6% at midline to 74.7% at the end-line (p < 0.001). Among control group, there was no change from midline (49.4%) to endline (48.8%), though there was a change from baseline (32.1%) tomidline (49.4%). A significant difference of dietary diversity intake was observed between intervention and control groups at midline (F = 5.64, p = 0.042) and endline (F = 5.85, p < 0.001) survey. Being in the intervention school (OR = 2.55 [1.55, 3.50]), being a boy (OR = 1.75 [1.91, 2.56]) and having farmer mothers (OR = 2.58 [1.01, 6.87]) were independent positive predictors of a diversified diet intake. However, having a mother who attended secondary schools were inversely associated (OR = 0.25 [0.06, 0.97]) with consuming a diversified diet. Conclusion: Findings of this study demonstrated that there was a significant improvement in dietary diversity of adolescents in intervention schools. The results imply that school based nutrition education should be a part of comprehensive school health programs to reach students and potentially their families. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.