Assessment of the influence of food security, eating pattern and physical activity on nutritional status among lactating women in Bujumbura, Burundi
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Date
2026-01
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Publisher
UB, EANSI
Abstract
Lactating women have increased nutritional requirements to maintain maternal health and support optimal infant growth. This study assessed the influence of food security, eating patterns and dietary diversity, daily physical activity on nutritional status among lactating women in Bujumbura. A one-month cross-sectional study using consecutive sampling was used. Data were collected using structured questionnaires on socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics, dietary diversity assessed by the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W), food security classified according to WHO/FAO guidelines, physical activity measured in MET-minutes/week, and anthropometric measurements. Among 384 participants, 53.3% were aged 20-30 years, 92.7% were married, 64.8% were unemployed, and 72.7% had attained at least secondary education. Most women were 1-4 months postpartum (44.8%) and had fewer than three children (61.8%). Achieving minimum dietary diversity was protective against underweight (AOR = 0.274; 95% CI: 0.077-0.971; p = 0.045) and associated with overweight (AOR = 2.734; 95% CI: 1.053-7.097; p = 0.039). Low physical activity was associated with obesity (AOR = 19.774; 95% CI: 1.741-4.539; p = 0.016) and underweight (AOR = 7.8; 95% CI: 1.484-4.007; p = 0.015), while high physical activity was positively associated with dietary diversity (AOR = 8.918; 95% CI: 2.869-27.719; p = 0.001). Food security alone showed no significant association with nutritional status. Dietary diversity and physical activity were stronger determinants of nutritional outcomes than food security alone, highlighting the need for interventions promoting diverse diets and active lifestyles alongside food access programs.
Description
Thesis Presented with the aim of obtaining Masters of Science in Food Sciences and Nutrition Option: Food security and Climatic change