Abstract:

This study aimed to describe the dietary habits of populations in Gaza and Inhambane provinces, Mozambique, and to investigate potential differences in average monthly consumption by province, place of residence, sex, and age group. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed, involving 55 households and a total of 300 individuals (Gaza: n=151; Inhambane: n=149). Data were collected using a food frequency questionnaire validated for Portugal and adapted to the Mozambican context. The analysis revealed that household diets were predominantly composed of “Vegetables and greens”, notably onions, lettuce/watercress, and cabbage, “Beverages”, primarily water and tea, “Fruits”, such as mango, fresh tomato, and banana, and “Bread, cereals and related products”, particularly rice, bread, and xima. Statistically significant differences were observed between provinces: Inhambane exhibited higher consumption of “Dairy products”, “Fruits”, and “Beverages”, whereas Gaza reported greater intake of “Eggs, meat and fish” and “Bread, cereals and related products”. Place of residence further influenced consumption patterns across most food groups, with urban households generally reporting higher intake than their rural counterparts, except in the case of “Vegetables and greens”. Additionally, sex and age were associated with different consumption of “Dairy products” and “Beverages”, respectively, with women consuming more dairy than men, and adolescents and adults consuming more beverages than children. These findings provide a comprehensive overview of dietary patterns in Gaza and Inhambane provinces and underscore the widespread consumption of foods vulnerable to mycotoxin contamination. The results offer a critical foundation for developing targeted sampling strategies to assess fungal and mycotoxin contamination and for conducting risk assessments of population exposure.