Research Article
Addisu Shiferaw and Gebi Hu
Abstract
Background: Maternal malnutrition is global health problem affecting higher proportion of women in developing countries. Maternal under nutrition in Ethiopia is amongst the highest in the world and twice sub-Saharan average level 27%. However, little evidences were documented on acute under nutrition and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia in general and the study area in particular. Objective: To assess acute under nutrition and associated factors among pregnant women in Gumay district of Jimma Zone at, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 30 to July 30, 2018. Data was collected from 382 pregnant women that randomly selected. The collected data was double entered to Epi-info7 and analyzed using SPSS version 21 software. Descriptive statistics was used to describe characteristics of study participants. Multivariable logistic regressions were carried out, association between independent and dependent variables were measured using adjusted odds ratios and its 95% confidence interval and P-value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: Prevalence of acute under nutrition among pregnant women was about 44.9%, [95% CI= 40.0-50.0]. Family monthly income [AOR=8.72 (4.80, 15.83)], Women’s decision making autonomy [AOR=0.40 (0.19, 0.82)], skipping meal [AOR=2.62 (1.41, 4.89)], substance use [AOR=2.01 (1.07, 3.77)], household food insecurity [AOR=2.01 (1.06, 3.80)], lack of prenatal dietary advices [AOR=2.73 (1.53, 4.89)], absence of Household latrine [AOR=9.23 (3.48, 24.46)], not participating health development army’s meeting at village level [AOR=3.01 (1.57, 5.72)] and hand washing habit [AOR=6.55 (3.02, 14.20)] had shown statistically significant association with maternal acute under nutrition. Conclusion: Magnitude of acute under nutrition among pregnant women was 44.9% in a district. Monthly income, women’s decision making autonomy, skipping meals, substances use, household food insecurity, lack of prenatal dietary advices, poor hand washing habit, lack of latrine and not participate on health development army’s meeting were found to be predictors of women acute under nutrition.