FACTORS INFLUENCING RURAL WOMEN’S NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN DINAJPUR DISTRICT

Mst. Dilruba Sultana , Susmita Sarmin , Md. Faruq Hasan

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FACTORS INFLUENCING RURAL WOMEN’S NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN DINAJPUR DISTRICT

Mst. Dilruba Sultana , Susmita Sarmin , Md. Faruq Hasan

E-mail: susmitahstu@gmail.com

 

A R T I C L E  I N F O

Article Type: Research

Received: 13, Feb. 2023.

Accepted: 30, Mar. 2023.

Published: 30, Mar. 2023.

 

 

 A B S T R A C T

Exploring the rural women’s extent of nutritional knowledge and finding out the influences of their selected socio-economic characteristics on their nutritional knowledge, were the aim of this study. Data were collected using a pre-tested interview schedule from randomly selected 164 rural women of Birganj Upazila under Dinajpur district. Eighteen questions on different aspects of nutritional knowledge were incorporated following ‘Bloom’s Taxonomy’. Correct responses to various questions were scored according to their difficulty. Findings revealed that the highest proportion (51.22 percent) of rural women had moderate nutritional knowledge. Among nine selected characteristics, seven, namely, farm size, annual income, access to different facilities, extension media contact, and nutritional awareness had significant positive relationships, and two, namely, shocks faced and training need on nutritious food had significant negative relationships with nutritional knowledge according to correlation analysis. According to multiple regression analysis, 49.5 percent of the variance in nutritional knowledge could be explained by all the independent variables and training need on nutritious food, extension media contact, annual income, and nutritional awareness were the most significant factors. However, training need on nutritious food had the highest contribution (27.0 percent) in explaining the nutritional knowledge of rural women.
Keywords:

Nutritional knowledge, nutritional status, balanced diet, food quality, malnutrition.

References

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  2. Biswas, T., Garnett, S. P., Pervin, S., & Rawal, L. B. (2017). The prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in Bangladeshi adults: Data from a national survey. PLoS One, 12, e0177395.
  3. Bloom, B. S. (1956). Hand book I: Cognitive domain. In M. D. Engelhart, E. J. Furst, W. H. Hill, & D. R. Krathwohl (Eds.), Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification of educational goals. David McKay.
  4. Chong, S. P., Appannah, G., & Sulaiman, N. (2019). Predictors of diet quality as measured by Malaysian healthy eating index among aboriginal women (Mah Meri) in Malaysia. Nutrients, 11(135), 1-12.
  5. Chowhan, S. A. (2020). A review on Bangabandhu and agriculture: Future path for self-sufficiency in food production of Bangladesh. Archives of Agriculture & Environmental Science, 5, 200–209.
  6. Denno, M. (2022). Introduction to nutrition. Retrieved 08.24.2022 from https://healthinfo. healthengine.com.au/introduction-to-nutrition.
  7. Dupuis, S., Hennink, M., Wendt, A. S., Waid, J. L., Kalam, M. A., Gabrysch, S., Sinharoy, S. S. (2022) Women’s empowerment through homestead food production in rural Bangladesh. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 134. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-12524-2.
  8. Ghosh, S., Sen, L. C., Mali, S. K., Islam, M. M., & Bakchi, J. (2021). The role of rural women in Household Food Security and nutrition management in Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Women’s Studies, 27(3), 441–459. https://doi.org/10.1080/12259276.2021.1970351
  9. Gupta, M., Singhal, A., & Jain., S. (2011). Assessment of training needs of farm women in nutrition. Rajasthan Journal of Extension Education, 19, 222-225.
  10. Hasan, M. F., Hossain, M. F., Rahman, M. S., & Sarmin., S. (2019). Factors contributing to farmers’ attitude towards practicing aquaculture in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education, 31(1&2), 77-85.
  11. Hasan, M. F., Khatun, F., & Begum, H. (2018). Research methodology in social sciences. Borna Prokashoni, Dhaka.
  12. Johnson, J. K., Kavoi, M. M., & John, M. (2018). Determinants of trader’s nutrition knowledge and intake of traditional African vegetables in Tanzania. African Journal of Food Science, 12(10), 263-271.
  13. Katenga-Kaunda, L. Z., Kamudoni, P. R., Holmboe-Ottesen, G., Fjeld, H. E., Mdala, I., Shi, Z., & Iversen, P. O. (2021). Enhancing nutrition knowledge and dietary diversity among rural pregnant women in Malawi: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04117-5
  14. Kumari, K. S., & Puttaraj, S. (2004). The impact of development programs on the nutrition awareness of farm women. Journal of Human Ecology, 15(1), 5-7.
  15. Loretta M. K., Katrina, G., & Gavin, T. (2014). The contribution of three components of nutrition knowledge to socio-economic differences in food purchasing choices. Public Health & Nutrition, 17, 1814–1824.
  16. Morales, S., Egal, A., & Wilna, O. T. (2021). Do smallholder farmers Need Nutrition Education? A Case Study from KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Journal of International Agricultural & Extension Education, 28(3), 14-27.
  17. Nandi, R., & Gowdru, N. V. (2018). Agricultural Extension through nutrition sensitive lens: Potential of fruits and vegetables as a source of nutrition. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 9(5), 945-950.
  18. NIPORT & ICF. (2019). Bangladesh Demographic & Health Survey 2017–2018. Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  19. Pearson, K. (1895). Notes on regression and inheritance in the case of two parents. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, 58, 240-242.
  20. Pervez, A. K. M. K., Gao, Q., & Uddin, M. E. (2015). Rural women’s awareness on indigenous technical knowledge: Case of northern Bangladesh. The Anthropologist, 21(3), 415-426.
  21. Pervez, A. K. M. K., Islam, M. M., Uddin, M. E., & Gao, Q. (2018). Landless Rural Women’s Participation in Income Generating Activities (IGAs): The Case of Char Dwellers in Northern Bangladesh. Anthropologist, 33(1-3), 105-115.
  22. Rai, K. L., Verma, A. Bala., N. & Srivastava, B. (2017). Impact of training on nutritional knowledge and skill development among rural women on utilization of moringa leaves for value addition. International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences, 7(8), 126-130.
  23. Roy, D., Sarker, D., & Sheheli, S. (2019). Food security in Bangladesh: Insight from available literature. Journal of Nutrition and Food Security, 4(1), 66-75. https://doi.org/10.18502/jnfs.v4i1.401
  24. Sarmin, S., & Hasan, M. F. (2020). Constraints faced by the small-scale farmers in achieving household food security: A case from Dinajpur district, Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education, 32(1), 63-72.
  25. Sheema, K. M, Rahman, R. M., Yasmin, Z., Choudhary, R. S. M., Ali, Y. M., Rabbi, F. M., & Javed, A. (2016). Food habit and nutritional status of rural women in Bangladesh. American Journal of Rural Development, 4(5), 114-119.
  26. Shrivastava, S. R., Shrivastava, P. S., & Ramasamy, J. (2014). Assessment of nutritional status in the community and clinical settings. Journal of Medical Sciences, 34(5), 211-213.
  27. Singh, J., Bala, N., & Verma, A. (2015). Knowledge attitude and practices of rural women regarding underutilized green leafy vegetables in Allahabad district. International Journal of Applied & Pure Science and Agriculture, 1(9), 25-30.
  28. Suchitra, R., & Kumar, R. (2018). Knowledge of rural women regarding nutrition practices in Bikaner district of Rajasthan. International Journal of Current Microbiology & Applied Sciences, 7(2), 3174-3184.
  29. Sukandar, D., Khomsan, A., Anwar, F., Riyadi, H., & Mudjajanto, E. S. (2015). Nutrition knowledge, attitude, and practice of mothers and children nutritional status improved after five months nutrition education intervention. International Journal of Sciences: Basic & Applied Research, 23(2), 424–442.
  30. Sultana, A. (2017). Household level nutritional awareness of rural women in a selected area of Mymensingh district (Master’s dissertation). Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
  31. Surabhil, A., & Panda, C. K. (2020). Nutritional awareness and dietary practices by farm women: An empirical study. Economic Affairs, 65(4), 575-580.
  32. Van de Vijver, F. J. (2007). Cultural and gender differences in gender-role beliefs, sharing household task and child-care responsibilities, and well-being among immigrants and majority members in the Netherlands. Sex Roles, 57(11-12), 813–824.

 

 

 

 

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

 

References

  1. Ahmed, F., Prendiville, N., & Narayan, A. (2016). Micronutrient deficiencies among children and women in Bangladesh: progress and challenges. Journal of Nutrition & Science, 5, 78-87.
  2. Biswas, T., Garnett, S. P., Pervin, S., & Rawal, L. B. (2017). The prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in Bangladeshi adults: Data from a national survey. PLoS One, 12, e0177395.
  3. Bloom, B. S. (1956). Hand book I: Cognitive domain. In M. D. Engelhart, E. J. Furst, W. H. Hill, & D. R. Krathwohl (Eds.), Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification of educational goals. David McKay.
  4. Chong, S. P., Appannah, G., & Sulaiman, N. (2019). Predictors of diet quality as measured by Malaysian healthy eating index among aboriginal women (Mah Meri) in Malaysia. Nutrients, 11(135), 1-12.
  5. Chowhan, S. A. (2020). A review on Bangabandhu and agriculture: Future path for self-sufficiency in food production of Bangladesh. Archives of Agriculture & Environmental Science, 5, 200–209.
  6. Denno, M. (2022). Introduction to nutrition. Retrieved 08.24.2022 from https://healthinfo. healthengine.com.au/introduction-to-nutrition.
  7. Dupuis, S., Hennink, M., Wendt, A. S., Waid, J. L., Kalam, M. A., Gabrysch, S., Sinharoy, S. S. (2022) Women’s empowerment through homestead food production in rural Bangladesh. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 134. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-12524-2.
  8. Ghosh, S., Sen, L. C., Mali, S. K., Islam, M. M., & Bakchi, J. (2021). The role of rural women in Household Food Security and nutrition management in Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Women’s Studies, 27(3), 441–459. https://doi.org/10.1080/12259276.2021.1970351
  9. Gupta, M., Singhal, A., & Jain., S. (2011). Assessment of training needs of farm women in nutrition. Rajasthan Journal of Extension Education, 19, 222-225.
  10. Hasan, M. F., Hossain, M. F., Rahman, M. S., & Sarmin., S. (2019). Factors contributing to farmers’ attitude towards practicing aquaculture in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education, 31(1&2), 77-85.
  11. Hasan, M. F., Khatun, F., & Begum, H. (2018). Research methodology in social sciences. Borna Prokashoni, Dhaka.
  12. Johnson, J. K., Kavoi, M. M., & John, M. (2018). Determinants of trader’s nutrition knowledge and intake of traditional African vegetables in Tanzania. African Journal of Food Science, 12(10), 263-271.
  13. Katenga-Kaunda, L. Z., Kamudoni, P. R., Holmboe-Ottesen, G., Fjeld, H. E., Mdala, I., Shi, Z., & Iversen, P. O. (2021). Enhancing nutrition knowledge and dietary diversity among rural pregnant women in Malawi: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04117-5
  14. Kumari, K. S., & Puttaraj, S. (2004). The impact of development programs on the nutrition awareness of farm women. Journal of Human Ecology, 15(1), 5-7.
  15. Loretta M. K., Katrina, G., & Gavin, T. (2014). The contribution of three components of nutrition knowledge to socio-economic differences in food purchasing choices. Public Health & Nutrition, 17, 1814–1824.
  16. Morales, S., Egal, A., & Wilna, O. T. (2021). Do smallholder farmers Need Nutrition Education? A Case Study from KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Journal of International Agricultural & Extension Education, 28(3), 14-27.
  17. Nandi, R., & Gowdru, N. V. (2018). Agricultural Extension through nutrition sensitive lens: Potential of fruits and vegetables as a source of nutrition. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 9(5), 945-950.
  18. NIPORT & ICF. (2019). Bangladesh Demographic & Health Survey 2017–2018. Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  19. Pearson, K. (1895). Notes on regression and inheritance in the case of two parents. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, 58, 240-242.
  20. Pervez, A. K. M. K., Gao, Q., & Uddin, M. E. (2015). Rural women’s awareness on indigenous technical knowledge: Case of northern Bangladesh. The Anthropologist, 21(3), 415-426.
  21. Pervez, A. K. M. K., Islam, M. M., Uddin, M. E., & Gao, Q. (2018). Landless Rural Women’s Participation in Income Generating Activities (IGAs): The Case of Char Dwellers in Northern Bangladesh. Anthropologist, 33(1-3), 105-115.
  22. Rai, K. L., Verma, A. Bala., N. & Srivastava, B. (2017). Impact of training on nutritional knowledge and skill development among rural women on utilization of moringa leaves for value addition. International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences, 7(8), 126-130.
  23. Roy, D., Sarker, D., & Sheheli, S. (2019). Food security in Bangladesh: Insight from available literature. Journal of Nutrition and Food Security, 4(1), 66-75. https://doi.org/10.18502/jnfs.v4i1.401
  24. Sarmin, S., & Hasan, M. F. (2020). Constraints faced by the small-scale farmers in achieving household food security: A case from Dinajpur district, Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education, 32(1), 63-72.
  25. Sheema, K. M, Rahman, R. M., Yasmin, Z., Choudhary, R. S. M., Ali, Y. M., Rabbi, F. M., & Javed, A. (2016). Food habit and nutritional status of rural women in Bangladesh. American Journal of Rural Development, 4(5), 114-119.
  26. Shrivastava, S. R., Shrivastava, P. S., & Ramasamy, J. (2014). Assessment of nutritional status in the community and clinical settings. Journal of Medical Sciences, 34(5), 211-213.
  27. Singh, J., Bala, N., & Verma, A. (2015). Knowledge attitude and practices of rural women regarding underutilized green leafy vegetables in Allahabad district. International Journal of Applied & Pure Science and Agriculture, 1(9), 25-30.
  28. Suchitra, R., & Kumar, R. (2018). Knowledge of rural women regarding nutrition practices in Bikaner district of Rajasthan. International Journal of Current Microbiology & Applied Sciences, 7(2), 3174-3184.
  29. Sukandar, D., Khomsan, A., Anwar, F., Riyadi, H., & Mudjajanto, E. S. (2015). Nutrition knowledge, attitude, and practice of mothers and children nutritional status improved after five months nutrition education intervention. International Journal of Sciences: Basic & Applied Research, 23(2), 424–442.
  30. Sultana, A. (2017). Household level nutritional awareness of rural women in a selected area of Mymensingh district (Master’s dissertation). Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
  31. Surabhil, A., & Panda, C. K. (2020). Nutritional awareness and dietary practices by farm women: An empirical study. Economic Affairs, 65(4), 575-580.
  32. Van de Vijver, F. J. (2007). Cultural and gender differences in gender-role beliefs, sharing household task and child-care responsibilities, and well-being among immigrants and majority members in the Netherlands. Sex Roles, 57(11-12), 813–824.

 

 

 

 

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.