Associated factors of dietary diversity among schoolchildren in Plateau Central region of Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional study.

Context: School-age is a dynamic period of growth and development, leading to good health and a productive adult life. Adequate dietary intake provides essential nutrients for growth, health and cognition. However, the practices of adequate nutrition is still not a matter of course for schoolchildren in many countries. The aim of this study was to identify associated factors of dietary diversity among students in public primary school in the Central Plateau Region.

Method: Multi-stage sampling was used to select schoolchildren. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information's of food consumption at home and at school using a 24-h dietary recall method. Binary logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with students' dietary diversity scores (DDS) with statistical significance at p < 0.05, after performing Chi-square test of independence to identify candidates variables at p < 0.25.

Results: The study involved 560 pupils aged 6 to 14 older, including 52.9% girls and 47.9% boys. Dietary diversity was divided into three classes: low (DDS ≤ 4), medium (DDS = 5) and high (DDS ≥ 6). Thus, 13.4% of students have a low DDS and average in 48.9%, versus 37.7% high. Students in Ganzourgou were twice as likely to have a low DDS (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI:1.00-4.04) compared to those in Oubritenga. Household drinking water source, pupil status and father's occupation were significantly associated with pupils' dietary intake.

Conclusion: Primary schoolchildren don't have good dietary practices in the Plateau Central Region. Promoting dietary diversification in households and balanced meals in school canteens would be necessary to improve the DDS of schoolchildren.

Trial registration: Clinical Trial Number: 2022_33_/MS/MESRSI/CERS of 02/14/2022.