Sociodemographic Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Indonesia: Insights from the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey

Inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption is a recognized risk factor for non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to identify the sociodemographic determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption in Indonesia, which would be fundamental to developing targeted public health interventions for non-communicable diseases.

Methods

This cross-sectional study utilized secondary data from the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey. We analyzed the data from 595.303 adults aged above 19 years old, comprising variables of fruit and vegetables consumption and sociodemographic determinants. A logistic regression analysis is conducted to examine associations between sociodemographic factors and fruit and vegetable consumption.

Results

A significant majority of Indonesians (97.1%) fail to meet the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables. Better fruit and vegetable consumption patterns were observed among females (aOR=1.31; 95% CI=1.24-1.38), individuals with higher education (aOR=1.47; 95% CI=1.23-1.75), those employed (aOR=1.13; 95% CI=1.06-1.20), married (aOR=1.25; 95% CI=1.16-1.34), from lower economic status groups, and residents of Nusa Tenggara (aOR=1.32; 95% CI=1.13-1.53), Maluku (aOR=1.54; 95% CI=1.16-2.06), Papua (aOR=1.95; 95% CI=1.46-2.60), and rural areas (aOR=1.12; 95% CI=1.02-1.23).

Conclusion

Indonesians consume very few fruits and vegetables, and this low consumption isn’t uniform. We see significant differences based on factors like sex, education, occupation, marital status, socioeconomic status, and where people live (both urban/rural and specific residential areas). This makes it clear that we urgently need targeted nutrition campaigns and flexible public health policies.