Maternal Education and Its Association with Dietary Diversity and Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Practices in Rural Madagascar

This study aimed to assess maternal health profiles related to diet, pregnancy, and breastfeeding practices among 437 mothers with children under 24 months in a rural village in Madagascar, and to examine their association with maternal educational attainment using interviews and anthropometric data. Bivariate statistical analyses were performed to explore associations between maternal education level and all studied variables. Multivariate analyses were also conducted but did not yield reliable results and are therefore not presented. The findings showed that higher maternal education was strongly associated with better socioeconomic conditions; improved access to essential resources like food, clean water, and healthcare facilities; and greater dietary diversity. More educated women reported consuming a wider range of foods, reflecting better nutritional quality and potential benefits for maternal health. In contrast, education level did not significantly affect pregnancy-related care or breastfeeding practices as recommended by the WHO. This suggests that while education enhances women’s ability to access and choose nutritious diets, broader cultural or systemic factors may shape maternal care behaviors. Women with higher educational attainment had greater access to diverse and sufficient diets, which may contribute to improved maternal nutritional status. Sustainable interventions aimed at improving women’s education and nutritional literacy are needed to support informed dietary choices and improve maternal and child health outcomes.