Dietary diversity, eating habits, dietary patterns, food choice, and associated factors among adolescent girls: a convergent parallel mixed-method study in the Mion District of Ghana.

ABSTRACT: Understanding adolescents' diet and eating behaviours is crucial for informing public health strategies and policies, allowing interventions to be tailored effectively to enhance dietary patterns and improve overall health and quality of life. This study examined dietary patterns, dietary diversity, eating habits, food choice and the factors influencing these among adolescent girls in the Mion District, Ghana. A convergent parallel mixed-method design employing in-depth interviews (n = 30), two focus group discussions (n = 10) and survey data from 882 mother-daughter pairs was used. Key findings indicate that approximately 90% of girls achieved the minimum dietary diversity for women of reproductive age (MDD-W), with most consuming three meals daily. Staples were eaten daily,

SUBMITTER: Al-Hassan R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11955308 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature