Socioeconomic determinants of nutritional behaviors of households in Fars Province, Iran, 2018

INTRODUCTION: Households' dietary habits are affected by their environment and socioeconomic status (SES). This study aims to investigate eating behaviors and determine the factors affecting nutritional status in households in Fars Province in 2018. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, urban and rural households were selected using the multistage sampling method. A questionnaire was employed to interview the mother or householder to record the demographic, SES, and dietary habits of the family for major food items commonly used. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the data. The p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: In total, 6,429 households participated in the study. The majority of households use traditional flatbread, low-fat milk, and liquid/cooking oil. Frying was the most prevalent method of cooking. Parents' level of education and SES were associated with type of consumed bread, milk and dairy, methods of food preparation, adding salt at the table, eating out, and fast-food usage. Parents' higher level of education was significantly associated with salt storage in optimal conditions and not using salt before tasting the meal. CONCLUSION: Most of the households had healthy practices, especially in consumption of certain oils and methods of preparing their food as well as keeping salt in an optimal condition and using iodized salt. The most important unhealthy nutritional behavior was high consumption of fast food and outdoor food, especially in urban regions. Unhealthy dietary habits were more prevalent in households with low household and regional SES. Both households and regions with higher SES had better dietary habits.