Abstract

Aims: Dietary diversity is a key indicator of diet quality and food security. The Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) is widely used to assess access to varied diets, especially in resource-limited settings. While national data exist for Bangladesh, granular insights into vulnerable coastal regions remain scarce. This study aimed to assess the household dietary diversity status in Patuakhali, a coastal district in Bangladesh prone to climate-related agricultural stress. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 households from March to June, 2023. Participants were selected through simple random sampling from three upazilas (Patuakhali Sadar, Kalapara, and Bauphal). Data were collected using a structured, culturally adapted questionnaire based on a 24-hour recall and analyzed using SPSS 27. Results: The mean HDDS was 7.49 (SD ±1.45), indicating high dietary diversity. Overall, 76.3% of households exhibited high dietary diversity, 23.3% showed medium diversity, and only 0.3% had low diversity. All households consumed cereals, with high intake of oils (96.3%) and vegetables (90%). However, lower consumption was observed for meat (35.7%), fruits (41%), and pulses (41%). Conclusions: Most households in Patuakhali demonstrated high dietary diversity, exceeding national rural averages. This suggests relatively strong local food access, potentially driven by aquaculture, market availability, and economic conditions. Targeted interventions should address the few households with low or moderate diversity to ensure inclusive nutrition progress.

Key words: HDDS, Household Dietary Diversity, Food Security, Coastal Bangladesh, 24-hour Recall