Factors associated with undernutrition among pregnant women in Chiro district, eastern Ethiopia

Background: Undernutrition denotes inadequate intake of energy and nutrients to meet one’s optimal needs. Pregnant women are at an increased risk of undernutrition due to the added nutritional demand for fetal growth and development. Updated evidence is important for monitoring progress and informin...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Eyasu Bamlaku Golla, Habtamu Geremew, Abinet Tesfaye Diro, Samuel Abdisa, Alegntaw Abate, Meron Admasu, Mohammed Ahmed Ali, Getachew Gashaw
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-03-01
Series:Women's Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057251325117
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849774796881002496
author Eyasu Bamlaku Golla
Habtamu Geremew
Abinet Tesfaye Diro
Samuel Abdisa
Alegntaw Abate
Meron Admasu
Mohammed Ahmed Ali
Getachew Gashaw
author_facet Eyasu Bamlaku Golla
Habtamu Geremew
Abinet Tesfaye Diro
Samuel Abdisa
Alegntaw Abate
Meron Admasu
Mohammed Ahmed Ali
Getachew Gashaw
author_sort Eyasu Bamlaku Golla
collection DOAJ
description Background: Undernutrition denotes inadequate intake of energy and nutrients to meet one’s optimal needs. Pregnant women are at an increased risk of undernutrition due to the added nutritional demand for fetal growth and development. Updated evidence is important for monitoring progress and informing healthcare decisions. However, there is a paucity of evidence about the nutritional status of pregnant women in the rural communities of eastern Ethiopia, particularly in Chiro district. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factors among pregnant women in Chiro district, eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was employed in Chiro district, from November 1 to 30, 2022, among 423 randomly selected pregnant women. The data were collected using face-to-face interviews and anthropometric measurements by trained research assistants. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regressions were fitted to identify predictors of undernutrition by using STATA-14 statistical software. Results: The overall prevalence of undernutrition was 40.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 36.2%, 45.8%). Antenatal care (ANC) follow-up (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 5.61, 95% CI: 3.01, 10.45), history of illness in the past 2 weeks (AOR: 4.25, 95% CI: 2.23, 8.12), khat chewing (AOR: 4.01, 95% CI: 2.12, 7.56), household food security (AOR: 5.84, 95% CI: 3.36, 10.14), and dietary diversity practice (AOR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.47, 5.09) were factors associated with undernutrition. Conclusion: Four out of every 10 pregnant women in the study area were undernourished. ANC follow-up, illness in the past 2 weeks, khat chewing, household food security, and dietary diversity practice were significantly associated with undernutrition. Therefore, improving access to ANC services, strengthening nutritional counseling, and addressing food insecurity might reduce undernutrition among pregnant women.
format Article
id doaj-art-b3a55ef38a8a49d498f37e4a6f89b659
institution DOAJ
issn 1745-5065
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Women's Health
spelling doaj-art-b3a55ef38a8a49d498f37e4a6f89b6592025-08-20T03:01:36ZengSAGE PublishingWomen's Health1745-50652025-03-012110.1177/17455057251325117Factors associated with undernutrition among pregnant women in Chiro district, eastern EthiopiaEyasu Bamlaku Golla0Habtamu Geremew1Abinet Tesfaye Diro2Samuel Abdisa3Alegntaw Abate4Meron Admasu5Mohammed Ahmed Ali6Getachew Gashaw7College of Health Sciences, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, EthiopiaCollege of Health Sciences, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, EthiopiaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Science, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, EthiopiaCollege of Health Sciences, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, EthiopiaDepartment of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Science, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, EthiopiaBackground: Undernutrition denotes inadequate intake of energy and nutrients to meet one’s optimal needs. Pregnant women are at an increased risk of undernutrition due to the added nutritional demand for fetal growth and development. Updated evidence is important for monitoring progress and informing healthcare decisions. However, there is a paucity of evidence about the nutritional status of pregnant women in the rural communities of eastern Ethiopia, particularly in Chiro district. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factors among pregnant women in Chiro district, eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was employed in Chiro district, from November 1 to 30, 2022, among 423 randomly selected pregnant women. The data were collected using face-to-face interviews and anthropometric measurements by trained research assistants. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regressions were fitted to identify predictors of undernutrition by using STATA-14 statistical software. Results: The overall prevalence of undernutrition was 40.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 36.2%, 45.8%). Antenatal care (ANC) follow-up (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 5.61, 95% CI: 3.01, 10.45), history of illness in the past 2 weeks (AOR: 4.25, 95% CI: 2.23, 8.12), khat chewing (AOR: 4.01, 95% CI: 2.12, 7.56), household food security (AOR: 5.84, 95% CI: 3.36, 10.14), and dietary diversity practice (AOR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.47, 5.09) were factors associated with undernutrition. Conclusion: Four out of every 10 pregnant women in the study area were undernourished. ANC follow-up, illness in the past 2 weeks, khat chewing, household food security, and dietary diversity practice were significantly associated with undernutrition. Therefore, improving access to ANC services, strengthening nutritional counseling, and addressing food insecurity might reduce undernutrition among pregnant women.https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057251325117
spellingShingle Eyasu Bamlaku Golla
Habtamu Geremew
Abinet Tesfaye Diro
Samuel Abdisa
Alegntaw Abate
Meron Admasu
Mohammed Ahmed Ali
Getachew Gashaw
Factors associated with undernutrition among pregnant women in Chiro district, eastern Ethiopia
Women's Health
title Factors associated with undernutrition among pregnant women in Chiro district, eastern Ethiopia
title_full Factors associated with undernutrition among pregnant women in Chiro district, eastern Ethiopia
title_fullStr Factors associated with undernutrition among pregnant women in Chiro district, eastern Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Factors associated with undernutrition among pregnant women in Chiro district, eastern Ethiopia
title_short Factors associated with undernutrition among pregnant women in Chiro district, eastern Ethiopia
title_sort factors associated with undernutrition among pregnant women in chiro district eastern ethiopia
url https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057251325117
work_keys_str_mv AT eyasubamlakugolla factorsassociatedwithundernutritionamongpregnantwomeninchirodistricteasternethiopia
AT habtamugeremew factorsassociatedwithundernutritionamongpregnantwomeninchirodistricteasternethiopia
AT abinettesfayediro factorsassociatedwithundernutritionamongpregnantwomeninchirodistricteasternethiopia
AT samuelabdisa factorsassociatedwithundernutritionamongpregnantwomeninchirodistricteasternethiopia
AT alegntawabate factorsassociatedwithundernutritionamongpregnantwomeninchirodistricteasternethiopia
AT meronadmasu factorsassociatedwithundernutritionamongpregnantwomeninchirodistricteasternethiopia
AT mohammedahmedali factorsassociatedwithundernutritionamongpregnantwomeninchirodistricteasternethiopia
AT getachewgashaw factorsassociatedwithundernutritionamongpregnantwomeninchirodistricteasternethiopia