Objectives
Many reseraches have tried to explore the relationship between home gardening and child health in diffrent ways worldwide. However, in Ethiopia, this relationship is still unexplored. Therefore, this study will have an important implication for projects who promote home gardening and it will also help as a baseline data for further research.Specific ObjectiveTo compare dietary diversity of children aged 6-23 months between gardening and non-gardening households.To compare vitamin-A intake of children aged 6-23 months between gardening and non-gardening householdTo compare nutritional status of children aged 6-23 months between gardening and non-gardening householdsüü
Methods
A comparative, community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2014 with a purposive sample of 95 households with gardens and a random sample of 95 households without gardens selected from the district. Data collection involved a structured questionnaire including 24 hour recall for dietary diversity assessment and a seven-day Helen Keller international food frequency method to assess vitamin A intake. Data were analyzed using independent sample tâtest and linear regression.
Results
The sample groups were comparable in pertinent variables including parentsâ educational status, husbandsâ occupation, average family size, sex and age of the child. Children from households with gardens had a significantly higher dietary diversity score 3.25 and vitamin A intake 2.91 than children from households without gardens (p<0.001). Counterpart scores were respectively 2.45 and 2.09. However, there was no statistical nutritional status difference between the children in the two sample groups.
Conclusions
Home gardening enhances dietary diversity and vitamin A intake of childre.
