The Impact of Slum Dwelling on Healthy Eating Index in the Border of Tehran Publisher



Rajabzadeh F¹ ; Yekaninejad M² ; Moshtaq M¹ ; Kordi S¹ ; Jibril AT¹ ; Dorosty Motlagh AR¹ ; Esmaeily Z¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Nutrition and Food Science Published:2022

Abstract

Purpose: Life conditions for most slum dwellers are deplorable, with poor socio-economic status and high rates of malnutrition and communicable diseases. Studies have shown lower intake of many nutrients in such people, but no study yet has checked the quality of diet using Healthy Eating Index (HEI) in them. This study aims to assess the quality of diet among slum dwellers of Tehran using the HEI-2015. Design/methodology/approach: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 slum dwellers from two slums located on the border of Tehran city which is the capital of Iran. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select subjects for this study. Data on socioeconomic characteristics and 24-hours dietary recalls were obtained through face-to-face interviews with the respondents by trained personnel. Findings: The overall diet quality of the respondents was poor, with a mean HEI score of 40.9 ± 23.7. About 84% of the participants had low overall HEI scores. A significant relation was seen in the following: the HEI and educational level (p = 0.044); the HEI and employment status (p = 0.001); and the HEI and chronic diseases (p = 0.049). There was no significant difference between the mean HEI score and marital status, welfare status and addiction status. From the findings, the diet of most of these slum dwellers needs modification. Therefore, taking measures to reduce slum dwelling and to improve the nutritional intake of this study population is needed. Originality/value: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.