Sociodemographic Factors Associated With the Diet Quality of Schoolchildren in Rural Cambodia

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined sociodemographic factors influencing diet quality among 691 Cambodian schoolchildren aged 6 to 11 years. The average Global Dietary Recommendation (GDR) score was 9.47, with 49% achieving a GDR-healthy diet. Only 15.63% consumed All-5 recommended food groups, whereas 63.53% met the minimum dietary diversity (MDD). After adjusting for confounding factors, children aged 9 to 11 years were significantly more likely to consume all five food groups than those aged 6 to 8 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.55, 95% confidence interval, CI [1.02, 2.37], P = .04). Schoolchildren with caregivers having only primary education were significantly less likely to meet the MDD (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.27, 0.90], P = .02). Interventions should prioritize improving diet quality among school-aged children by fostering multisectoral collaboration to create healthier school food environments and ensure access to diverse, nutritious foods.