Hasanah, A., Kharisma, B., Remi, S. S., et al. (2024) Food diversity: its relation to children’s health and consequent economic burden. BMC Public Health. doi:10.1186/s12889-024-18530-w (open access)
This study investigates the impact of low food diversity on the health status of children using the Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) and Dietary Serving Score (DSS) in a sub-district with the highest percentage of poor households in Indonesia. The economic burden of low food diversity was observed by analysing the cost of illness in the children with low food diversity. They conclude that the effect of inadequate dietary diversity on children’s health is potentially high and contributes to the economic burden on households and the government.
One of their recommendations is to utilize or enhance the agroecological practices referring to a study that shows that some practices such as crop diversification, agroforestry, mixed crop and livestock systems, and improving soil quality are estimated to have positive outcomes on dietary diversity. As agriculture is one of a key sectors in Indonesia, this approach can potentially benefit the agriculture sector and improve dietary diversity (quality and quantity) and health outcomes. Future studies can further explore this approach within the Indonesian context.
Transparency | Diversity | Dynamism | Evidence-based |