Abstract:
Background: - Fruit and vegetable consumption is an important source of nutrients for healthy
growth and development, as well as a protective factor against chronic non-communicable
diseases. Despite consistent evidence on the importance of fruit and vegetables (F&V), their
consumption in low-and-middle income countries like Ethiopia remains very low.
Objectives: - This study aimed to assess the current level of fruits and vegetables (F&V)
consumption and identify factors towards (F&V) consumption of Debre Berhan Town residents,
North Shoa, Amhara Region, Ethiopia in 2023.
Method: - A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed among 615 households
from Feb 01 to Jun 15, 2023. The study participants were selected using a multistage sampling
technique. The data was collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured and pre-tested
tool. Data were cleaned and entered into Epi-Data version 4.6 and transferred to SPSS version 25
for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated
with fruit and vegetable consumption. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit was applied to test
for model fitness and significant variable was obtained at adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI and p value <0.05.
Result: - The prevalence of adequate fruits, vegetables ,and both fruit and vegetables(F&V)
consumption were 22.4%,8.3% and 7.7%, respectively .The odds of adequate Fruit and vegetable
consumption were higher among high income family level (AOR 1.42[95%CI 1.12-1.80])
,affordability (AOR 3.29 (2.42-4.46),availability(AOR 4.06[95% CI 3.23-5.09]),age between 26-
44 (AOR 1.42[95% CI 1.13 -1.77] and those who had place to do home gardening(AOR 3.273
[95% CI 1.091-5.818]).
Conclusion: - Fruit and Vegetable consumption among Debre Berhan town is remains low and
inadequate. Income, affordability, education, Age, place to do home gardening and availability
were factors associated with adequate fruit and vegetable consumption.
Keywords: -fruit, vegetables, consumption, determinants
