Perceived access and actual intake of healthy diets among households in vulnerable Salvadoran communities

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the dietary intake of Salvadoran households according to perceived access to healthy meals (PAHD), and to identify household characteristics associated with diet quality and PAHD.

Methods: Secondary data analysis with a sample of 139 Salvadoran households from resource-poor communities in El Salvador. Chi-square tests and ANOVA were used to assess differences in dietary intake across households classified according to PAHD.

Results: High-PAHD households had higher women's education, household food security levels, overall diet quality, and variety, and higher intakes of animal products, fats, cholesterol, vitamin C, and sodium (P < .05). Diet quality was not associated with the household characteristics studied.

Conclusions and implications: Overall diet quality was associated with higher levels of PAHD, but some differences in intakes were not as expected, such as higher intakes in foods and nutrients associated with low-quality diets, among high PAHD households.

Keywords: El Salvador; diet quality; food security; nutritional transitions.