The objective of this study was to identify correlates of household food insecurity and poor dietary diversity in
rural Cambodia. Trained interviewers administered a survey to 900 households in four rural districts of Prey
Veng Province, Cambodia. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Household Dietary Diversity
Score (HDDS) were used to assess household food insecurity and dietary diversity. Multivariate logistic regression
models were constructed to identify independent correlates of household food insecurity and poor dietary
diversity (HDDS 3). The meanSD HFIAS and HDDS scores were 5.33.9 and 4.71.6, respectively. The
respective prevalence of mild, moderate, and severe food insecurity were 33%, 37%, and 12%; and 23% of
households had an HDDS 3. In multivariate analyses, several indicators of socioeconomic status, and ownership
of agricultural land were associated with household food security status, although the latter association lost its
significance in models that adjusted for household income. Similarly, although ownership of agricultural and
homestead land was initially associated with poorer dietary diversity, income mitigated these associations. The
presence of electricity and vegetable production were the only other variables that were significantly associated
with both outcomes. In this rural area of Cambodia, the prevalence of any degree of household food insecurity
was very high and dietary diversity was generally low. Interventions to improve food security and dietary diversity
should encompass income-generating activities and be targeted toward the poorest households.