Factors influencing children’s dietary variety in Eastern Indonesia: A comprehensive national analysis

Background: Limited dietary diversity among children is a critical public
health concern across Indonesia, with Eastern Indonesia facing the most
severe nutritional challenges among children.
Purpose: This study aims to identify factors influencing children’s dietary
diversity in Eastern Indonesia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed, utilizing data from
the 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey (n = 1,476). Dietary
diversity was assessed using the dietary diversity score (DDS), categorized
into adequate and inadequate levels.
Results: Key sociodemographic factors associated with DDS included the
number of children in the household, place of residence, economic status,
breastfeeding practices, and vitamin A supplementation, with p-values of
0.007, <0.001, 0.001, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively. Children who were
not breastfed were 0.5 times more likely to have inadequate DDS compared
to those who were breastfed (95% CI: 0.36–0.67). Urban-dwelling families
had a 0.7 times lower risk of inadequate DDS than rural counterparts (p =
0.026; 95% CI: 0.47–0.95). Additionally, children from low-income families
were twice as likely to experience inadequate DDS compared to those from
higher-income families (p = 0.012; 95% CI: 1.14–2.99).
Conclusion: Rural residency, low income, lack of breastfeeding, and
inadequate vitamin A supplementation significantly contribute to poor dietary
diversity among children in Eastern Indonesia. These findings highlight
the need for targeted government interventions to bridge gaps in maternal
education, enhance healthcare access, and improve families’ socioeconomic
conditions, ultimately advancing child nutrition and health in the region.