Food Insecurity and Diet Quality Among Low-Income Women in Dhaka City Amidst COVID-19 and the Ukraine Crisis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have exacerbated food insecurity and poor diet quality in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. Urban poor populations in Dhaka, particularly slum dwellers, face chronic food insecurity and limited access to nutritious foods. This study assessed food insecurity, diet quality, and nutritional status among women in low-income slums of Dhaka. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 women residing in low-income slum communities in Dhaka City of Bangladesh and selected through convenience sampling. Data on socio-demographics, food insecurity, diet quality, and anthropometry were collected. Food insecurity was assessed using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), while dietary diversity and quality were evaluated using the Diet Quality Questionnaire (DQQ). Logistic regression models were used to examine the factors associated with food insecurity and dietary diversity. Results: The study found a high prevalence of food insecurity, with 90% of participants experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity, of which 34.6% were classified as severely food insecure. Women in the Dhaka South City Corporation had significantly higher odds of food insecurity, while households with multiple earners were less likely to experience it. About 42% of women met the minimum dietary diversity (MDD-W) criteria. Older age, higher education, high income, and increased food expenditure were positively associated with MDD-W. Vegetables and pulses were the most frequently consumed foods associated with non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention. In contrast, sweet foods and deep-fried items were the most commonly consumed NCD risk foods. Additionally, 8.8% of the women were underweight, and 42.3% were overweight or obese. Conclusion: This study reveals severe food insecurity, poor dietary quality, and a high prevalence of overweight or obesity among women in low-income settlements of Dhaka City amid COVID-19 and the Ukraine Crisis. Targeted interventions, including expanded social safety nets, nutrition education, and regulatory measures to reduce NCD-risk foods, are essential to improve food access, dietary diversity, and nutritional status in these vulnerable communities during crises.