Impact of Socioeconomic and Environmental Factors on Adolescent Dietary Diversity in Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

The study assesses the impact of socioeconomic and environmental factors on the dietary diversity of adolescents in Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The findings reveal significant disparities between rural and urban adolescents, with socioeconomic status, parental education, and environmental factors influencing dietary patterns. Rural adolescents, particularly those from households earning less than 20,000 PKR per month, had significantly lower dietary diversity scores (DDS), averaging 3.5, compared to 4.2 in urban areas. Adolescents from households with monthly incomes over 40,000 PKR had the highest DDS (6.2 in urban areas, 4.5 in rural areas). Parental education was also a key determinant, with adolescents of parents with secondary or higher education showing better dietary diversity (rural: 4.5, urban: 6.2) compared to those with uneducated parents (rural: 3.0, urban: 4.0). Environmental barriers, such as market accessibility, were more pronounced in rural areas; rural adolescents living more than 5 kilometers from a market had the lowest DDS (3.2), compared to 5.1 for those within 1 kilometer. In contrast, urban adolescents, though benefiting from better market access, exhibited higher consumption of processed foods, with 45.0% consuming sugary snacks daily. Gender-based disparities were also noted, with male adolescents having higher DDS than females, especially in rural areas (male: 4.0, female: 2.8). These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to improve food access, parental education, and dietary habits in both rural and urban settings to promote healthier nutrition among adolescents.