Evaluating Dietary Diversity Change After the Introduction of Household Gardens in the Informal Settlement of Claverito-Iquitos, Peru

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Informal settlement families are burdened with a multitude of barriers to achieve good health, including food scarcity and lack of dietary diversity. While much research has been conducted for food security in rural settings, much is still unknown for urban settlements. To explore these ideas, InterACTION Labs initiated a Household Gardens Project as part of a larger longitudinal study working with the informal community of Claverito in Iquitos Peru11. Through implementing household gardens in Claverito, we hope to demonstrate how urban agriculture can increase dietary diversity while simultaneously producing healthier diets. The analysis in this thesis was performed to determine if the household garden project changed dietary diversity in the community. Methods: This paper focuses on the Household Gardens Project intervention of building gardens at the homes in the community of Claverito. To assess dietary diversity and garden foods consumption, a 24-hour dietary recall survey was administered pre and post intervention in February and July of 2018. Participants were also administered a Household Gardens Diary to quantify plants grown as a result of the gardens project. Consumption was then tabulated and analyzed using Individual Dietary Diversity Scoring, and rates of consumption between groups with and without gardens were compared. Results: Dietary diversity decreased community wide, with exception to the participating group with gardens who did not significantly change. Overall consumption decreased though Household Gardens participants were found to have an increase in consumption of overall protein, and starches and a decrease in fruits, oils/fats, and sugar/sweets. Discussion: Overall, this project aimed to investigate whether the Households Gardens Project changed dietary diversity of participating households and the current study found there to be no change. Important pieces of data were gleaned from study on consumption, more so than dietary diversity. Suggestions for future studies include more robust surveys, consideration of plants grown, and collection time in order to accurately assess the individual dietary diversity along with following of garden food consumption.