Dietary Patterns and Nutritional Status of Urban School-Children and Adult Females of Reproductive Age in Côte d'Ivoire.

BACKGROUND: Diet strongly influences nutritional status, contributing to the coexistence of undernutrition and excess weight in many low- and middle-income countries. In Côte d'Ivoire, however, dietary patterns and their relationship to nutritional status are not well characterized, limiting evidence-based interventions addressing the dual burden of malnutrition. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to 1) identify dietary patterns among urban Ivorian schoolchildren and adult females of reproductive age, 2) assess diet quality by pattern, and 3) characterize the sociodemographic factors and nutritional status of individuals within each pattern. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional dietary survey in 4 cities (Bouaké, Daloa, Abengourou, and Yopougon). Dietary data were collected through one 24-h recall from 443 children (6-12 y) and 441 adult females (15-49 y); a second recall was administered to 12% of participants. Dietary patterns were derived using latent class analysis. Associations with nutritional status, sociodemographic indicators, diet quality, diet diversity, and nutrient adequacy (Probability of Adequacy) were examined using the 3-step bias-adjusted approach. RESULTS: Four dietary patterns were identified for each group. Two were found in both children and adult females ("Fish, oil, and vegetables" and "Dairy and sweet"), whereas children had "Poultry and fruit" and "Refined, red meat, and vegetable" patterns, and adult females had "Poultry, red meat, and fruit" and "Low energy intake" patterns. The fish and dairy patterns, more common in Bouaké and Daloa, were associated with lower education levels (and with occupation, housing, and dependent children among adult females only), yet showed higher diet quality, characterized by greater dietary diversity and nutrient adequacy. In contrast, the poultry (children) and low-intake (adult females) patterns showed poorer dietary diversity and nutrient adequacy. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary patterns among urban Ivorian children and adult females were largely comparable. Promoting familiar, fish- and vegetable-based diets may enhance nutrient adequacy. The early stage of nutrition transition suggests a window of opportunity for preventive policy action.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT06175130.