Dietary intake pattern of lactating mother and under five children in selected districts of southern Bangladesh

Food diversity is an important aspect of a healthy diet that reflects the various sources of nutrients that are consumed. Consumption of various food groups is used as a proxy indicator to assess the overall dietary intake and micro nutrient adequacy of studied population. The present study was undertaken to assess the dietary intake pattern of under-five children and lactating women from five upazilas of Satkhira, Khulna and Barisal districts, the most impoverished regions of southern Bangladesh. The study was cross-sectional in design where lactating (129) and under-five children (162) were selected as the target population. A two stage cluster sampling was used and information on food consumption was collected using a 24-hour dietary recall. The lion portion of lactating…