Adolescent pregnancy has become a global health concern in recent years. Globally, approx. 16 million adolescent girls aged 15-19 and 2 million girls under 15 give birth each year, with more than 90% of these births occurring in developing countries 1. In Africa, the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy is reported to be 18.8% in the Sub-Saharan region and 21.5% in East Africa 2. According to the Tanzania Demographic Health Survey (2022) 3, the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy in Tanzania is 22%, with higher rates in rural areas (25%) compared to urban areas (16%). Health outcomes as of malnutrition, low birth weight and anemia among others are nutritional related risks to pregnant adolescents due to dual nutrient demand in their bodies and low adherence to healthy dietary practice 45

Malnutrition, low birth weight, and anemia are significant risks associated with adolescent pregnancy due to the increased physiological demands on young mothers 16. These risks are exacerbated by peer pressure, eating habits, inadequate nutrition education, and socioeconomic challenges, further complicating the nutritional status of pregnant adolescents 78. The increased nutritional demands during pregnancy make dietary diversity essential, as there is a direct link between maternal nutrition and fetal development 9.

Dietary diversity refers to the number of different foods or food groups consumed over a given reference period 10. The food groups include carbohydrates (energy-giving foods), proteins (body-building foods), vitamins (supporting metabolic functions and immune health), fats and oils (providing insulation and transportation of nutrients), and minerals (essential for functions) 1112.Evidently, one food item may contain one or more of the food types differing in proportions hence diversity is encouraged in order to ensure that nutrient demand is sufficiently met by an individual 10. With respect to the pregnant adolescents, it is crucial to maintain a diverse diet , as they need to support not only the growing fetus but also their own body development4. Adolescent pregnant women who consume a wide variety of food groups, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy products, get vital nutrients like iron, calcium, folic acid, and protein. These nutrients are important in preventing complications like anaemia, preterm birth, and low birth weight 413. However, a study done in Ethiopia stated that inadequate dietary diversity may lead to micronutrient deficiencies such as anaemia, that affects both the mother and growing foetus, but can also result in preterm delivery, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction and abortion 15. In considering significance of nutrition to these women, interventions have been in play such as nutrition counselling and education to ensure adherence to healthy diet 11.

Although interventions such as nutrition education and counseling are included in antenatal clinic services, these are often not tailored to meet the specific needs of age groups, specifically pregnant adolescents 1617. This gap makes it challenging for them to achieve the necessary dietary diversity while managing the demands of both motherhood and adolescence. Consequently, it is evident that poor dietary patterns in these young mothers can lead to malnutrition and health complications for both the mother and the newborn 14.

This study aimed to understand the dietary diversity, nutritional status, and factors influencing them among pregnant adolescents attending antenatal clinics by assessing i) dietary diversity, ii) nutritional status of pregnant adolescent girls, and iii) investigating socio-demographics, socio-economic and cultural factors influencing dietary diversity and the nutrition status of pregnant adolescent girls. The findings intend to inform the design of culturally appropriate and context-specific interventions to address the unique needs of pregnant adolescents. We discuss our results in the context of identifying key factors affecting dietary diversity and nutritional status among pregnant adolescents, with the goal of developing culturally appropriate and context specific interventions to support their unique health needs during antenatal care.

This study was carried out at St Francis Referral Hospital located at Ifakara within Kilombero district, Morogoro region of Tanzania. It is located at 36° 40' 46.44" S and -8° 8' 42.47" E South-eastern Tanzania. Saint Francis Regional Referral Hospital (SFRRH) is a private referral hospital serving two districts Kilombero and Ulanga 18. This hospital consists of various units including Reproductive and Child Health Unit (RCH) where pregnant women attend clinic. It is among the hospitals in Ifakara town council offering the best antenatal care services making an influx of visitors either patients or clinic attendee to be a significant number 18. This study area was significant to obtain the information on dietary diversity and nutrition status among adolescent pregnant girls since it serves a huge population around 800,000 people (St. Francis Referral Hospital Ifakara, n.d.)

This study sought to determine dietary diversity and nutrition status along with influencing factors such as socio-economic and demographic among adolescent pregnant. Given the dual nutritional demands faced by pregnant adolescents, understanding dietary patterns is crucial to ensuring they receive adequate nutrition, which in turn supports the health and well-being of both mother and child Although the sample size was reduced by 50%, the results are based on this reduced sample and show no impact on the significance of the findings.

The results reveal that approximately 93% of the participants met the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women of Reproductive Age (MDD-W) during the 24-hour recall period, indicating that most adolescent pregnant women had access to a relatively diverse diet. Nutrition education, demonstrations, and counselling provided during monthly antenatal clinic visits likely contributed to this adherence to a diverse diet. This finding contrasts with a study in Tanzania by Heri et al. 17, which found that only 28% of pregnant women met the minimum dietary diversity score, largely due to limited nutrition education within the general population, underscoring the importance of nutrition education in promoting dietary diversity. Moreover, a study done by Mruma et al. in Tanzania, revealed that some pregnant women fail to utilize the given nutritional information at the clinic, and thereafter fail to adhere to a diverse diet further posing risks of deficiencies and poor health outcomes21.

Furthermore, several factors were identified to influence dietary diversity, including socio-demographic aspects such as age, education level, and marital status, as well as socio-economic factors like economic status and occupation. When analysing age in dietary diversity scores, the study found no significant differences across age groups, suggesting that age does not substantially impact dietary diversity. However, studies in Ethiopia suggested that younger pregnant women under 20 years old may adhere better to dietary diversity guidelines due to their lack of experience compared to older women1522. Therefore, it can be evident that the younger a woman is the more she adheres to the guideline but also considering the number of children born of the mother also could entail adherence level.

The results indicated that dietary diversity was different depending on gravidity, with primigravida women (those pregnant for the first time) more likely to achieve the minimum dietary diversity score compared to multiparous women (those with more than one child). This largely is attributed to novice pregnancy experience that constricts these mothers to listen and follow their health instructor to ensure better nutrition and their well-being during the pregnancy period. A study done in Somalia also reported that primigravida women had a better adherence to diverse diets per direction contributing to their nutritional status 23. Similarly, a study from Eastern Ethiopia suggested that first-time mothers often have more resources and support, which may facilitate better dietary practices compared to women who have had multiple pregnancies 24. These findings highlight the importance of considering parity when addressing dietary diversity in pregnant women.

Additionally, marital status significantly influenced dietary diversity, with a significant difference observed between married and unmarried women. Married women have their husbands’ support emotionally and physically as well, this greatly gives assurance and psychological support that is essential during the time 25. This finding aligns with a study done in Ethiopia, which found that marital status had a more substantial impact on dietary diversity, possibly due to social support systems involved 15.

Moreover, educational status was a notable factor in dietary diversity, with women who had at least a secondary education showing better adherence to diverse diets. This can be attributed to their enhanced understanding of the importance of nutrition. This finding aligns with a study done in Western Ethiopia, which emphasized the role of education in fostering nutritional knowledge and making healthier dietary choices 26. Conversely, occupation did not have a significant impact on dietary diversity, suggesting that regardless of employment status, women had equal opportunities to maintain a diverse diet. This may be because most women had similar occupations of peasantry as the study took place in a rural setting. Moreover, access to the same food markets purchasing the same kind of food items, along with societal norms regarding dietary practices during pregnancy. However, this finding contrasts with a study done in Nepal, which found that employment status significantly influenced dietary diversity due to increased income, which allowed for better food access 27. The interplay between education and occupation highlights the complex nature of dietary diversity determinants.

Furthermore, this study found a significant correlation between nutritional status, as measured by Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), and dietary diversity score, highlighting the crucial role of dietary diversity in maternal nutrition. This supports findings from a study in Kenya, which argued that dietary diversity is closely linked to nutrient adequacy and improved maternal nutritional status 28. Similarly, A study done in Ethiopia indicated that dietary diversity positively impacts both maternal and fetal health 15. Therefore, it is essential for pregnant women, particularly adolescents, to ensure they consume a diverse diet to meet their increased nutritional needs and support fetal development, leading to better health outcomes for both mother and baby.

Moreover, while socio-economic and demographic factors did not significantly account for nutritional status as measured by MUAC, studies from Western Ethiopia and Indonesia have shown that these factors can significantly influence nutritional status through the adoption of good dietary practices 2629. Despite this contradiction with other research on the influence of these factors, they remain crucial for ensuring the health of both mother and fetus. Additionally, maintaining good nutritional status is vital for infant health, particularly given the increased nutrient requirements of adolescent mothers. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive approaches to maternal nutrition.

As well, nutrition knowledge provided at health facilities and participants' self-reported nutrition knowledge was significantly associated with higher dietary diversity. This finding is consistent with a study done in Tanzania, that highlighted the critical role of nutrition education in improving dietary outcomes 17. Moreover, a study done in Ethiopia also revealed the positive impact of nutrition knowledge given at antenatal clinics on improving dietary diversity 30.

Not only that but also, family and friend support, as well as additional resources for pregnant women, were not significantly associated with dietary diversity scores. This can be attributed to the fact that most women reported having less support from family and friends since most self-supported themselves, but also required no additional resources or support, due to acknowledgement of clinic support being sufficient. Al-Mutawal et al. nailed the significant factor of social support to enhance the well-being of pregnant women hence contributing to overall health outcomes31. These contrasts suggest that while nutrition education is pivotal, social support mechanisms should not be overlooked as it may lead to psychological support hence avoiding the risk of depression, which may result in incidences such as miscarriage3132.

Additionally, financial constraints, health issues such as illness, food aversions, lack of appetite, ignorance about healthy eating, lack of access to recommended foods due to residential settings, and cultural restrictions were identified as challenges hindering dietary diversity among adolescent pregnant women. Although these challenges were only marginally statistically significant, addressing them could potentially improve dietary diversity in this population. Similar barriers were reported where the emphasis was on the importance of overcoming socioeconomic and educational barriers to enhance dietary practices 2733.

Limitations of the study

This study was hospital-based, with the sample size being reduced by 50% due to practical constraints of time and funds, hence may not fully reflect the dietary diversity of adolescent women in the broader community. Additionally, the study's cross-sectional design and reliance on a 24-hour dietary recall period recorded on random days may not capture the full variability in daily food consumption, but also as individuals attending hospitals may tend to have higher education levels or income than those in the general population, this may have potentially introduced biases and affect the generalizability of the findings.

The findings of this study revealed that most adolescent pregnant women were able to achieve adequate dietary diversity. However, socio-demographic factors such as age, occupation, and education, along with challenges like loss of appetite and illness, influenced both their dietary diversity and overall nutritional status. To improve dietary outcomes, it is essential to address these challenges. Furthermore, future research should take a community-based longitudinal approach to better understand how these factors impact dietary patterns among adolescent pregnant women. This could lead to the development of targeted interventions aimed at promoting positive health outcomes for both mothers and their new-borns.

This study was privately funded by Miriam Muga

MPM and GCK designed and conceptualized the study, drafted the manuscript, engaged in data collection, entry, and analysis, and also prepared the initial manuscript. GCK provided supervision, revised the manuscript, engaged in data analysis, and was involved in writing and approving the final manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

My sincere gratitude to the Almighty God who has given me the strength perseverance and resilience to perform this work up to the very end. Moreover, I would like to thank the director at St Francis Referral Hospital for granting permission to perform this study at the facility along with all the study participants. Also, my sincere gratitude extends to my family for their genuine support that I can’t afford to repay with prayers to make this work a success. Last but not least, I would like to thank my mentor who has been a huge support throughout this journey.