Do Gender Role Attitudes Associate with Children’s Dietary Diversity? Evidence From Rural Women in Iganga and Bugiri Districts in Eastern Uganda

Abstract

Globally, social barriers are recognized as significant contributors to nutrition-related challenges in Developing Countries. This highlights the necessity of a shift from traditional to egalitarian gender role attitudes (GRAs) that limit nutrition and dietary choices. The study aimed to determine women’s GRA and how these attitudes are associated with children’s dietary diversity (DDS). This cross-sectional survey examined the GRA of 445 rural women in Iganga and Bugiri districts in eastern Uganda. Stata Version 15 was employed to conduct a regression analysis. The GRAs scale included items measuring women’s perspectives on socially expected roles, employment, and caregiving responsibilities. Scores on the GRA scale were generated for each respondent and subsequently categorized into two groups: egalitarian (0–30) and traditional (31–60). Mean children’s DDS was 3.99, and 68.3% of children had DDS <5, meaning that the majority did not attain the minimum dietary diversity. About 57% of the women were egalitarian, representing more than half of the respondents. Furthermore, egalitarian women supported working outside the home, which provided their children with better diets compared to those in traditional households. Similarly, women who opposed raising their daughters to become housewives and their sons as breadwinners provided their children with better diets. There is a need to promote a shift in attitudes towards women's work in public spaces to improve the diets of young children.