Contribution of socio-economic and demographic factors to the trend of adequate dietary diversity intake among children (6–23 months): evidence from a cross-sectional survey in India

BACKGROUND: The present study aims to estimate the factors contributing to the change adequate diversified dietary intake (ADDI) from 2005–06 to 2015–16 among children aged 6–23 months in India. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a large representative survey data. Data from the National Family Health Survey 2005–06 and 2015–16 was used. The effective sample size for the present study was 14,422 and 74,132 children aged 6–23 months in 2005–06 and 2015–16, respectively. The outcome variable was minimum adequate dietary diversity intake. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the factors associated with ADDI. Additionally, the Fairlie method of decomposition was used, which allows quantifying the total contribution of factors explaining the decadal change in the probability of ADDI among children aged 6–23 months in India. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in ADDI from 2005–06 to 2015–16 (6.2%; p < 0.001). Additionally, compared to the 2005–06 years, children were more likely to have ADDI [AOR; 1.29, CI: 1.22–1.35] in 2015–16. Mother's education explained nearly one-fourth of the ADDI change among children. Further, the regional level contribution of 62.3% showed that the gap was widening across regions between the year 2005–06 and 2015–16 in ADDI among children. The child's age explained 5.2% with a positive sign that means it widened the gaps. Whereas the household wealth quintile negatively contributed and explained by -5.2%, that means between the years the gaps has reduced in ADDI among children aged 6–23 months. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that increasing awareness of the use of mass media and improving the education levels of mothers would be beneficial for adequate dietary diversity intake among children aged 6–23 months. Investments should support interventions to improve overall infant and young children feeding practices in India. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40795-022-00655-z.