Education and Socioeconomic Level of Mothers Are Negatively Associated with the Diet Quality of Their Offspring– Evidence from the 2015 Colombian Nutrition Survey. (29th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mora-Garcia, Gustavo; Ruiz-Diaz, Maria; Mendes, Francisca de Castro; Villegas, Rodrigo; Garcia-Larsen, Vanessa
• Is Part Of: Current developments in nutrition. Volume 4(2020)Supplement 2
• Page Start: 1458
• Page End: 1458
• Publication Date: 2020-05-29
• Subjects: Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Nutrition; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 612.3
• DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa061_086
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2475-2991

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To analyze the association between maternal education level and socio-economic status (SES), and diet quality of Colombian children. Methods: The National Nutrition Survey (ENSIN) 2015 was a cross-sectional survey examining general health and dietary intake in a representative sample of Colombian children and adults. The Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), an indicator of adherence to diet quality, was calculated using a single 24 h recall questionnaire administered to 11, 641 children aged 6–17y (5470 females, 6171 males). Diet quality was considered low, intermediate or high if the median AHEI score ranged between 17.0–44.0; 44.5–54.0; or 54.5–74.0, respectively. Maternal education was categorized as having: incomplete elementary school or less, complete primary or incomplete high school, complete high school or incomplete university, or professional degree or higher. A validated wealth index (quintiles) was used to define SES. These two risk factors were fitted in an adjusted linear regression model to investigate their association with children's diet quality. Results: The median AHEI score was 43.7 (IQR: 35.7–51.5) A fifth of the mothers had the lowest educational level, whilst 5.7% reported having a professional degree or higher education. Increasing maternal education level was negatively associated with diet quality (p-trend < 0.001). Children of women with the highest educational level had, on average, 2.7 lower units of AHEI compared to those of mothers with the lowest education level ( P < 0.001). Similarly, SES was negatively associated with diet quality (p-trend < 0.001). Children in the highest SES quintile had a mean 4.7 lower units of AHEI compared those in the lowest SES ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: Higher maternal education and SES were associated with lower diet quality in Colombian children. The findings suggest that Colombia is experiencing a pattern 4 of the Nutrition Transition ('Western' style diet), which is a known risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Funding Sources: GMG was supported by the Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (COLCIENCIAS) (Fondo para Investigación en Salud-FIS-). MRD was funded by COLCIENCIAS (Convocatoria 647). FDCM was funded by the Fulbright Commission and the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/144, 563/2019).