Introduction: Evidence-based food security interventions are more likely to be effective and impactful. Despite substantial investments in food and nutrition programmes, empirical evidence connecting community-level food security conditions with nutrition status across diverse rural contexts remains limited. This study aimed to link key food security indicators with nutritional status to support more targeted interventions. Methods: Cross-sectional household surveys were conducted in 2023 among 1,016 farming households across 36 rural villages in South Sumatra, South Sulawesi, and East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, categorised as high, moderate, and low geographical accessibility. Anthropometric data were collected from mothers in the household, with body mass index (BMI) representing nutritional status. Five key food security indicators that measured food availability, access, and utilisation were analysed: food source, household food insecurity, food expenditure share, dietary diversity, and nutrition knowledge. Pearson’s chi-square test assessed associations between BMI and the indicators within each accessibility group; significant indicators were identified as key determinants. Results: Food source, particularly reliance on homegrown foods, was a key determinant of nutritional status in low-accessibility villages. In moderately accessible villages, nutrition knowledge and food expenditure share were significantly associated with BMI. No significant associations emerged in highly accessible villages, suggesting more complex food environments in periurban settings. Conclusion: Geographical accessibility shapes the determinants of nutritional status. Recommended interventions include enhancing subsistence food production in low-accessibility areas, strengthening financial and nutrition literacy in moderately accessible areas, and expanding nutrition education in highly accessible areas. Tailored approaches can improve the effectiveness of food and nutrition programmes across rural Indonesia.

Introduction: The transmigration scheme of the Indonesian government was aimed at easing overpopulation in Java by moving people to less populated areas. This study investigated food consumption and dietary diversity of women from the original location and transmigration rice farming areas. Methods: Food intake using a single 24-hour dietary recall was determined among women of reproductive age in Demak, Central Java (original location) and Buol, Central Sulawesi (transmigrant area). Food taboos were investigated using focus group discussions (FGDs). Dietary diversity and its score were obtained from 387 and 121 women in Demak and Buol, respectively, while 38 women from both areas participated in four FGDs on food taboos. Results: On average, women from both study areas had low dietary diversity scores, especially among lactation mothers. Rice, swamp cabbage, spinach and tempeh were popular in both areas. Fruits and vegetables from own cultivation or collected as wild foods were consumed in Buol, while women in Demak consumed comparatively more purchased foods (fruits and vegetables, legumes, meat and fish). Fewer types of food was avoided during pregnancy and lactation in Buol. Conclusion: While some food intake behaviour was similar in both study areas, differences were observed as influenced by economic and environment factors. Food intake of Demak women was influenced by household purchasing power, while Buol women depended on own grown food and gatherings from nearby forest. As dietary diversity scores in both areas was low, nutrition interventions are suggested to improve maternal food intake during pregnancy and lactation.