WFC 1.12 Minimum dietary diversity score for women

Indicator Definition

Indicator Name WFC 1.12 Proportion of people who report a minimum dietary diversity score (≥5 food groups women 15-49 years last 24 hrs)
Indicator Definition

The Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) is a global recognised indicator that measures dietary diversity by assessing whether women aged 15-49 years have consumed at least five of ten defined food groups in the past 24 hours.  It is the international agreed proxy indicator to measure the micronutrient adequacy of diets, being one key dimension of total diet quality.  

Related to Old Performance Indicator

FAN 314

Indicator Level Outcome

Disaggregation

Disaggregation
  • Gender 

  • Age  

  • Left behind/vulnerable population group  

Measuring Unit

Households in the project area that have gained access to improved dietary diversity through project interventions. These can be primary or secondary/indirect stakeholders.

Kobo Questionnaires

The coulmn "is_diverse_diet" give you the rating for each questionned woman

Examples of Actvities

  • Nutrition Education Programs: Conducting sessions to educate communities on the importance of dietary diversity and balanced nutrition. 

  • Food Distribution Programs: Providing diverse food items to vulnerable populations to improve their dietary diversity. 

  • Agricultural Support: Promoting the cultivation of diverse crops that contribute to a balanced diet. 

  • School Feeding Programs: Ensuring school children receive meals that meet the minimum dietary diversity requirements. 

  • Health Campaigns: Raising awareness about the nutritional needs of women, children, and other vulnerable groups. 

Data Collection

Data Source and Means of Verification

Household surveys using the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W).  

The MDD-W survey consists of a set of questions that assess dietary diversity by capturing the number of different food groups consumed by women of reproductive age (15-49 years) over a 24-hour recall period. 

Measuring Frecuency

At least

  • Baseline

  • Endline

Data Collection Guidance

At minimum, the project should include the following: 
Baseline Survey: Conducted at the start of the project using the MDD-W to gather initial data. 
Endline Survey: Conducted after implementation but before the project concludes using the MDD-W to ensure consistent comparison with baseline data. 
 
Midline Surveys (if feasible): To strengthen monitoring and make informed adjustments during the project, consider conducting additional surveys (midline or annually). These additional data points allow for early identification of challenges and ensure timely corrective actions to keep the project on track. 
 
The survey should be conducted using face-to-face interviews or computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI) to ensure accuracy and comprehension of the MDD-W questions. For areas where in-person surveys are not feasible, mobile phone or online surveys can be used. 

It is crucial that before designing the questionnaire you check if a national food-based dietary guideline exists which explicitly states the food groups to choose from.  You also need to decide in advance if you (a) either offer a list of food items people could choose from or (B) if you can keep as an open question (what have you eaten in the last 24 hrs)? While the 1st option is easier to design there is a risk that they simply choose something in order to respond to the question but they have not actually eaten it (similar issue as with yes/no questions).  

How to report

Calculate the proportion of women aged 15-49 who report meeting the minimum dietary diversity score by dividing the number of women who meet the criteria by the total number of surveyed women. Report this figure alongside key disaggregated data. You can extrapolate this data since women serve as a proxy for the whole household (See FAO guidelines ..."as a proxy to describe micronutrient adequacy at the population level" (p.10).

Reporting is done in the years a follow-up survey has been conducted (endline, midline, or annual outcome monitoring).

Compare baseline and follow-up (mid-line or endline) results to assess the proportion of women aged 15-49 who meet the minimum dietary diversity score (consuming at least 5 food groups in the last 24 hours). Evaluate whether project interventions are improving dietary diversity among these groups.  

If the follow-up survey is conducted before the project ends and the proportion of women not meeting the dietary diversity score remains low, adapt project strategies to better address the underlying causes of poor dietary diversity, such as access to diverse foods or knowledge of nutrition. 

The results should always be analyzed holistically, considering the overall dietary diversity score rather than individual food groups. Results can also be analyzed at the programme level to identify which interventions are most effective, allowing for adjustments in ongoing projects to improve dietary diversity outcomes. Additionally, data can be used to target the most vulnerable subgroups within left behind populations for further nutritional support. 

Related Indicators

Related Donor Indicators

SDC: (different rating system)

AFS_TRI_9 Percentage of target population whose diet is healthy - measured by persons achieving all 7 criteria of the healthy diet checklist

IFAD

2.2.15: Percentage of women reporting minimum dietary diversity

EU: 

Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) – Proportion of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who have consumed at least five out of ten defined food groups the previous day or night 

Related HELVETAS Indicators

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