@Article{crph6038,
AUTHOR = {Hossain, Abeer Mohammad and Iftekhar, Zubaida and Das, Rajib and Banik, Sujit Kumar and Huda, Mohammad Shamsul and Rizwan, Abu Ansar Md},
TITLE = {Impact of Food Security on Dietary Diversity and Nutritional Intake Among Pregnant Women in Low-Resource Settings},
JOURNAL = {Current Research in Public Health},
VOLUME = {2},
YEAR = {2025},
NUMBER = {1},
PAGES = {1-12},
URL = {https://www.scipublications.com/journal/index.php/UJFS/article/view/6038},
ISSN = {2831-5162},
DOI = {10.31586/ujfs.2025.6038},
ABSTRACT = {Background: Food security and dietary diversity are essential determinants of maternal health, particularly among pregnant women in refugee populations who face heightened vulnerabilities due to displacement and inadequate living conditions. This study examines the impact of food security on dietary diversity and nutritional intake among pregnant Rohingya women residing in the makeshift camps of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 96 pregnant Rohingya women from June to September 2022. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing socio-demographic characteristics, food security, and dietary diversity. Food security was evaluated using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), while dietary diversity was assessed through a 24-hour dietary recall and a 7-day food frequency questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 26) and Stata (Version 13), employing descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to examine associations. Results: Most participants (57.3%) were food secure, and 85.4% demonstrated high dietary diversity, consuming seven or more food groups. However, 21.9% of households experienced severe food insecurity, highlighting ongoing challenges in food access. The highest consumption was observed for starch, flesh foods, dark green leafy vegetables, and vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables (99.0%), while dairy products (69.8%) and organ meat (34.4%) were consumed less frequently. Despite high dietary diversity, severe food insecurity persists, indicating gaps in food assistance programs. Conclusions: While food support programs appear to contribute to high dietary diversity among pregnant Rohingya women, severe food insecurity remains a significant concern. Strengthening food security interventions, improving access to diverse nutrient-rich foods, and integrating sustainable food assistance models are essential to addressing these challenges. Future research should explore long-term strategies to enhance food security and assess the impact of targeted nutritional interventions on maternal health outcomes in refugee settings.},
}

%0 Journal Article
%A Hossain, Abeer Mohammad
%A Iftekhar, Zubaida
%A Das, Rajib
%A Banik, Sujit Kumar
%A Huda, Mohammad Shamsul
%A Rizwan, Abu Ansar Md
%D 2025
%J Current Research in Public Health

%@ 2831-5162
%V 2
%N 1
%P 1-12

%T Impact of Food Security on Dietary Diversity and Nutritional Intake Among Pregnant Women in Low-Resource Settings
%M doi:10.31586/ujfs.2025.6038
%U https://www.scipublications.com/journal/index.php/UJFS/article/view/6038

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Hossain, Abeer Mohammad
AU  - Iftekhar, Zubaida
AU  - Das, Rajib
AU  - Banik, Sujit Kumar
AU  - Huda, Mohammad Shamsul
AU  - Rizwan, Abu Ansar Md
TI  - Impact of Food Security on Dietary Diversity and Nutritional Intake Among Pregnant Women in Low-Resource Settings
T2  - Current Research in Public Health
PY  - 2025
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
SN  - 2831-5162
SP  - 1
EP  - 12
UR  - https://www.scipublications.com/journal/index.php/UJFS/article/view/6038
AB  - Background: Food security and dietary diversity are essential determinants of maternal health, particularly among pregnant women in refugee populations who face heightened vulnerabilities due to displacement and inadequate living conditions. This study examines the impact of food security on dietary diversity and nutritional intake among pregnant Rohingya women residing in the makeshift camps of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 96 pregnant Rohingya women from June to September 2022. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing socio-demographic characteristics, food security, and dietary diversity. Food security was evaluated using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), while dietary diversity was assessed through a 24-hour dietary recall and a 7-day food frequency questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 26) and Stata (Version 13), employing descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to examine associations. Results: Most participants (57.3%) were food secure, and 85.4% demonstrated high dietary diversity, consuming seven or more food groups. However, 21.9% of households experienced severe food insecurity, highlighting ongoing challenges in food access. The highest consumption was observed for starch, flesh foods, dark green leafy vegetables, and vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables (99.0%), while dairy products (69.8%) and organ meat (34.4%) were consumed less frequently. Despite high dietary diversity, severe food insecurity persists, indicating gaps in food assistance programs. Conclusions: While food support programs appear to contribute to high dietary diversity among pregnant Rohingya women, severe food insecurity remains a significant concern. Strengthening food security interventions, improving access to diverse nutrient-rich foods, and integrating sustainable food assistance models are essential to addressing these challenges. Future research should explore long-term strategies to enhance food security and assess the impact of targeted nutritional interventions on maternal health outcomes in refugee settings.
DO  - Impact of Food Security on Dietary Diversity and Nutritional Intake Among Pregnant Women in Low-Resource Settings
TI  - 10.31586/ujfs.2025.6038
ER  -