Dietary diversity and its associated factors among preschool children of the Hanji community, Dal lake, Srinagar

Background: Despite significant economic advancements, childhood malnutrition associated with poor diet remains a clear public health threat, especially among marginalised populations. Dietary Diversity (DD) is considered an indicator to assess the variety of diet a child consumes. However, little is known about the DD of preschool children of the Hanji community of Dal Lake, Srinagar.Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the Dietary Diversity and its associated factors among preschool children of the Hanji Community of Dal Lake, Srinagar.Materials and Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 preschool children. The dietary intake data were collected using a 24-hour recall, and the association was evaluated using chi-square analysis. Also, the overall intake of food groups was assessed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire.Results: The results showed persistently low-to-moderate DDS among preschool children. The findings of the study showed no statistically significant associations with any of the associated variables. A substantial proportion of children consumed foods from fewer than three food groups. The food frequency analysis showed a narrow cereal-heavy dietary pattern with insufficient inclusion of micronutrient-dense foods.Conclusion: The Findings showed that most preschool children did not get a minimum DDS. Rice was the predominant staple, consumed daily by nearly all children, showing a heavy reliance on staple foods with poor inclusion of micronutrient-rich sources, increasing the risk of malnutrition-related health issues. Organising the community-based behaviour change and encouraging the consumption of a variety of food groups will increase the DDS among preschool children.