(P22-08-26) Associations Between Diet Quality and Diversity and Mental Health in Women of Reproductive Age in Northern Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: Mental disorders among women of reproductive age (WRA) in Sub-Saharan Africa are an increasing concern. Diet is one of the most modifiable risk factors for mental disorders, yet population-specific information from this region is limited. Our objective was to examine associations between diet quality and diversity and mental health among WRA in rural northern Tanzania.

Methods: We analysed follow-up data from 808 WRA (15-49 years of age) participating in a cluster-randomized controlled trial in rural Tanzania (2023-ongoing). Diet was assessed using a quantitative 24-hour dietary recall. We calculated the Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS; 0-49) and the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women score (MDD-W; 0-10), defining adequate diversity as MDD-W≥5. Mental health was assessed using the WHO Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ). We calculated a summary score (0-20) and defined depressive symptoms as SRQ-20≥8, based on a validated cut-off from East African contexts. Associations between diet quality and diversity and mental health were evaluated using generalized linear models controlling for individual (age, education, marital status, physiological status, social support), household (wealth, food security), and study design (treatment group) characteristics.

Results: Mean SRQ-20 was 2.6 (SD 3.3) and 10% of WRA had depressive symptoms. Mean GDQS was 21±3.8 and MDD-W was 4.9±1.3, with 67% of WRA meeting adequate dietary diversity. Higher MDD-W scores were associated with lower SRQ-20 scores (mean difference (MD) -0.28 (95% CI -0.49, -0.06), p=0.02) and a 20% lower risk of depressive symptoms (risk ratio (RR) 0.80 (95% CI 0.68, 0.93), p< 0.01)). Meeting MDD-W was associated with lower SRQ-20 scores (MD -0.89 (95% CI -1.48, -0.30), p=0.01) and a 58% lower risk of depressive symptoms (RR 0.42 (95% CI 0.27, 0.65), p< 0.01)). GDQS was not significantly associated with SRQ-20 scores or depressive symptoms (MD -0.06 (95% CI -0.13, 0.01), p-0.08 and RR 0.96 (95% CI 0.92, 1.01), p=0.10, respectively).

Conclusions: Dietary diversity was positively associated with mental health among WRA in rural northern Tanzania. While causality cannot be inferred from cross-sectional data, improving dietary diversity remains a priority for women’s nutrition and may also support better mental health outcomes.

Funding Sources: CGIAR Trust Fund