A mixed‐method study on gender and intrahousehold differences in food consumption from Khatlon Province, Tajikistan

Tajikistan faces significant food insecurity and multiple forms of malnutrition in its population, with women particularly at risk. Social norms related to gender and intrahousehold hierarchy are pervasive. Yet, how gender impacts dietary intake in Tajikistan remains to be studied. Understanding thi...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Pechtl, Sarah M. L., Mardonova, Mohru, Ergasheva, Tanzila, Lambrecht, Isabel B.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Wiley 2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178422
_version_ 1855531071954747392
author Pechtl, Sarah M. L.
Mardonova, Mohru
Ergasheva, Tanzila
Lambrecht, Isabel B.
author_browse Ergasheva, Tanzila
Lambrecht, Isabel B.
Mardonova, Mohru
Pechtl, Sarah M. L.
author_facet Pechtl, Sarah M. L.
Mardonova, Mohru
Ergasheva, Tanzila
Lambrecht, Isabel B.
author_sort Pechtl, Sarah M. L.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Tajikistan faces significant food insecurity and multiple forms of malnutrition in its population, with women particularly at risk. Social norms related to gender and intrahousehold hierarchy are pervasive. Yet, how gender impacts dietary intake in Tajikistan remains to be studied. Understanding this mechanism is critical to develop adequate strategies for effective, equitable progress in mitigating malnutrition and food insecurity. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was conducted to assess the extent and identify the drivers of gender-based and intrahousehold differences in dietary diversity in Khatlon Province, Tajikistan. Predictors of dietary diversity were statistically assessed using quantitative survey data from 1704 adults who participated in the 2023 USAID/IFPRI Population-Based Survey. Qualitative data from 12 focus group discussions, 19 individual interviews, and 21 Photovoice interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to further ascertain and understand these drivers. Gender was identified as a predictor of dietary diversity in both quantitative and qualitative findings. Women reported lower dietary diversity than men, even within in the same household. Gender norms contribute to unequal food distribution and opportunities to consume food away from the household. Expressing social values such as respect during mealtimes and perceptions of dietary needs prioritize men and children over women in consuming foods deemed more nutritious (e.g., meat). This study highlights the importance of considering household dynamics and gender roles in equitably addressing food and nutrition insecurity and malnutrition. Mitigating malnutrition in Tajikistan will necessitate gender equity-focused social behavior change interventions targeting women and men across different generations.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace178422
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2026
publishDateRange 2026
publishDateSort 2026
publisher Wiley
publisherStr Wiley
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1784222026-01-02T15:32:42Z A mixed‐method study on gender and intrahousehold differences in food consumption from Khatlon Province, Tajikistan Pechtl, Sarah M. L. Mardonova, Mohru Ergasheva, Tanzila Lambrecht, Isabel B. gender households food consumption analytical methods nutrition dietary diversity Tajikistan faces significant food insecurity and multiple forms of malnutrition in its population, with women particularly at risk. Social norms related to gender and intrahousehold hierarchy are pervasive. Yet, how gender impacts dietary intake in Tajikistan remains to be studied. Understanding this mechanism is critical to develop adequate strategies for effective, equitable progress in mitigating malnutrition and food insecurity. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was conducted to assess the extent and identify the drivers of gender-based and intrahousehold differences in dietary diversity in Khatlon Province, Tajikistan. Predictors of dietary diversity were statistically assessed using quantitative survey data from 1704 adults who participated in the 2023 USAID/IFPRI Population-Based Survey. Qualitative data from 12 focus group discussions, 19 individual interviews, and 21 Photovoice interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to further ascertain and understand these drivers. Gender was identified as a predictor of dietary diversity in both quantitative and qualitative findings. Women reported lower dietary diversity than men, even within in the same household. Gender norms contribute to unequal food distribution and opportunities to consume food away from the household. Expressing social values such as respect during mealtimes and perceptions of dietary needs prioritize men and children over women in consuming foods deemed more nutritious (e.g., meat). This study highlights the importance of considering household dynamics and gender roles in equitably addressing food and nutrition insecurity and malnutrition. Mitigating malnutrition in Tajikistan will necessitate gender equity-focused social behavior change interventions targeting women and men across different generations. 2026 2025-12-01T21:37:03Z 2025-12-01T21:37:03Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178422 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/162924 https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.136488 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175568 Open Access Wiley Pechtl, Sarah M. L.; Mardonova, Mohru; Ergasheva, Tanzila; and Lambrecht, Isabel B. A mixed‐method study on gender and intrahousehold differences in food consumption from Khatlon Province, Tajikistan. Maternal and Child Nutrition. Article in press. First published November 27, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.70133
spellingShingle gender
households
food consumption
analytical methods
nutrition
dietary diversity
Pechtl, Sarah M. L.
Mardonova, Mohru
Ergasheva, Tanzila
Lambrecht, Isabel B.
A mixed‐method study on gender and intrahousehold differences in food consumption from Khatlon Province, Tajikistan
title A mixed‐method study on gender and intrahousehold differences in food consumption from Khatlon Province, Tajikistan
title_full A mixed‐method study on gender and intrahousehold differences in food consumption from Khatlon Province, Tajikistan
title_fullStr A mixed‐method study on gender and intrahousehold differences in food consumption from Khatlon Province, Tajikistan
title_full_unstemmed A mixed‐method study on gender and intrahousehold differences in food consumption from Khatlon Province, Tajikistan
title_short A mixed‐method study on gender and intrahousehold differences in food consumption from Khatlon Province, Tajikistan
title_sort mixed method study on gender and intrahousehold differences in food consumption from khatlon province tajikistan
topic gender
households
food consumption
analytical methods
nutrition
dietary diversity
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178422
work_keys_str_mv AT pechtlsarahml amixedmethodstudyongenderandintrahouseholddifferencesinfoodconsumptionfromkhatlonprovincetajikistan
AT mardonovamohru amixedmethodstudyongenderandintrahouseholddifferencesinfoodconsumptionfromkhatlonprovincetajikistan
AT ergashevatanzila amixedmethodstudyongenderandintrahouseholddifferencesinfoodconsumptionfromkhatlonprovincetajikistan
AT lambrechtisabelb amixedmethodstudyongenderandintrahouseholddifferencesinfoodconsumptionfromkhatlonprovincetajikistan
AT pechtlsarahml mixedmethodstudyongenderandintrahouseholddifferencesinfoodconsumptionfromkhatlonprovincetajikistan
AT mardonovamohru mixedmethodstudyongenderandintrahouseholddifferencesinfoodconsumptionfromkhatlonprovincetajikistan
AT ergashevatanzila mixedmethodstudyongenderandintrahouseholddifferencesinfoodconsumptionfromkhatlonprovincetajikistan
AT lambrechtisabelb mixedmethodstudyongenderandintrahouseholddifferencesinfoodconsumptionfromkhatlonprovincetajikistan