College of Health and Medical Sciences

DIETARY CONSUMPTION PATTERNS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CARE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH FACILITIES IN GAR-OWE, PUNTLAND, SOMALIA

2026-04-02T08:32:30Z

DIETARY CONSUMPTION PATTERNS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CARE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH FACILITIES IN GAR-OWE, PUNTLAND, SOMALIA ZAINAB SAID ABDULLAH (BSC); Dr. Abdu Omer; Mr. Berhe Gebremichael Background: Adequate maternal nutrient intake during pregnancy is important to ensure optimal maternal health outcomes. But the usual dietary intake estimates are not comprehensive, is challenging and prone to errors. Dietary pattern analysis gives a novel opportunity to holistically and comprehensively evaluate dietary consumption with a better prediction. However, studies using these methods is lacking among pregnancy women in Somalia, particularly Gar-owe city. Objectives: To assess dietary consumpion patterns and associated factors among pregnancy women who attended antenatal care both public and private Health care in Gar-owe City, Puntland, Somalia, from June 20 to July 20 2024 Methods: Afacility based cross-sectional study was carried out on 420 randomly selected pregnant women was conducted. Data was collected using pretested and structural questionnaire. Avalidated food frequency questionnaire over the past one month was used to assess dietary intake. An exploratory factor analysis was done to identify dietary patterns and the corresponding factors scores were ranked as high and low consumption quartiles. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the factors associated with major dietary patterns among pregnant women level of statically significance was declared at p-value <0.05. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval is reported. Results: three major dietary patterns (“Nutrient dense”, “Fruits and vegetable”, “Animal source and sweety foods”) were identified explaining 24.736% of total variance. A total of 56.3%, had high terciles of “Nutrient dense, “Fruits and vegetable”, “Animal source and sweety foods”, respectively. Education of mother Collage and above (AOR= 3.4, 95% CI 1.1-10.9) and the middle family size (AOR= 4.38, 95% CI 1.60-11.9), income high socioeconomic (AOR= 1.87, 95% CI 1.0-3.47) had significantly associated with higher tercile o f legumes and nutrient dense and fruits and vegetable. Women with no craving (AOR= 2.52, 95% CI 1.45-4.39) and no food aversion (AOR= 1.62, 95% CI 1.01-2.60) women received nutritional counseling (AOR= 1.88, 95% CI 1.08-3.25) were sigficantly positively associated with higher tercile of Nutrient dense and fruits and vegetable consumption. Urban residence (AOR= 1.97 95% CI 1.1-3.4) and food restriction (AOR= 2.0, 95% CI 1.15-3.46) had association with higher tercile of Animal source and sweety foods consumption. Conclusion: In general three major dietary patterns composed of cereals and tubers, legumes and vegetable and fruits, explain the major variation indietary consumption of pregnant women 87

GESTATIONAL WEIGHT GAIN AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CARE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH FACILITIES IN GAROWE, PUNTLAND, SOMALIA

2026-04-02T08:27:03Z

GESTATIONAL WEIGHT GAIN AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CARE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH FACILITIES IN GAROWE, PUNTLAND, SOMALIA HAFSO FARAH MIRE (BSC); Mr. Berhe Gebremichael (MPH, Assistant Professor); Dr. Tesfaye Assebe (PhD. Associate Professor) Background: The weight gained during pregnancy is known as gestational weight gain, which is a normal physiological process that support the increased metabolic demands of pregnancy as well as fetal growth and development. However inappropriate GWG is significant public health concerns, as it has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcome and increases the risk of future obesity and chronic disease in women. Evidence regarding gestational weight gain is scarce in Somalia, particularly in the Garowe City. Objectives: To assess the level of gestational weight gain and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in public and private health facilities in Garowe City, Puntland, Somalia, from July 15 to August 15 2024. Methods: An institution- based cross-sectional study was conducted on 412 systematically selected pregnant women in selected public and private health facilities in Garowe district of Puntland, Somalia. Data were firstly entered into kobo Toolbox, cleaned in Excel, and then exported to Stata version 17 for analysis. Data was collected using pretested and structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analysis, including simple frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation were used to describe participants’ characteristics .Information was presented using text descriptions, tables and figures. Binary logistic regression was fitted to identify the factors associated with gestational weight Gain. Level of statistical significance was declared at p- value<0.05 in the multivariable analysis, reporting adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals (CI) Result: The study showed that the mean gestational weight gain of the women was 8.22 kg (SD=1.73), and 57.35% (95% CI 52.4%, 62.08%) of the women had inadequate gestational weight gain. No formal education (AOR=2.00, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.77), multi gravidity (AOR=5.47, 95% CI: 1.91, 15.58) and lower early pregnancy body mass index (underweight) (AOR=5.32, 95% CI: 3.06, 9.26) were significantly associated with inadequate gestational weight gain. Conclusions The finding of the study revealed a higher magnitude of inadequate gestational weight gain. Being underweight at early pregnancy and lack of adequate food was positively associated with inadequate weight gain. These results highlight the importance of addressing pre-pregnancy BMI, ensuring a balanced diet. 89

LINEAR GROWTH FAILURE AT BIRTH AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG NEWBORNS DELIVERED AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS OF WEST HARERGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

2026-04-02T08:23:08Z

LINEAR GROWTH FAILURE AT BIRTH AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG NEWBORNS DELIVERED AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS OF WEST HARERGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA HABTAMU TESFAYE (BSC.); Dr. Anteneh Berhane (Ph.D.); Dr. Maleda Tefera (Ph.D.) Introduction: Growth failure at birth, shown by low birth weight and small size for gestational age, is a serious public health problem that increases the risk of newborn illness, death, and long term developmental issues. However, there have been few studies addressing this issue in the West Harerghe Zone, Oromia. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of growth failure at birth and to identify associated factors among newborns delivered at public hospitals in West Harerghe, Oromia, Ethiopia, from February 5 to March 30, 2025. Methods and Materials: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 387 neonates born at randomly selected public hospitals in West Harerghe Zone, Oromia region, from February 5 to March 30, 2025. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected using the KoBoTool mobile application and data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics was employed to summarize the data, and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with growth failure at birth, by estimating AOR with 95% confidence intervals (CI) calculated and statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of growth failure at birth was 28.2 % (95% CI: 23.8, 33.1). Newborns from food-insecure households (AOR = 4.5; 95% CI: 1.7–11.7), mothers who had a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) less than 23 cm (AOR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.1–9.5), and maternal age 20 34 (AOR = 6.5; 95% CI: 2.3-18.8) were significant associated factors with growth failure at birth Conclusion and recommendation: More than one in four newborns in the study area experienced growth failure at birth, highlighting it as a significant public health issue. Maternal nutritional status and household food security were identified as key contributing factors. Therefore, targeted nutritional support for pregnant women and improved food security are essential to mitigate this problem. 88

UNDERNUTRITION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN HODAN DISTRICT, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

2026-04-02T08:19:30Z

UNDERNUTRITION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN HODAN DISTRICT, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA MUNIRA ISAK HUSSIEN; Mr. Berhe Gebremichael (MPH, Assistant Professor); Dr. Abdu Oumer (Phd. Assistant Professor) Background: Adolescent undernutrition is global public health issue, especially in developing countries like Somalia. Although adolescence is considered as a second window of opportunity to interrupt the intergenerational cycle of undernutrition, small attention is given to adolescents. Evidence regarding adolescent undernutrition is limited in Somalia, particularly in the study area- Hodan District of Mogadishu. Objective: To assess the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among secondary school adolescents in Hodan District Mogadishu Somalia from July 10 to August 10, 2024. Methods: A school based cross-sectional study was carried out among, 470 randomly selected adolescents from public and private secondary schools in Hodan District of Mogadishu. Data was collected using pretested and structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurement was used to assess nutritional status of adolescent. Body mass index for age and height for age z scores were calculated and a value below -2 was used to define thinness and stunting, respectively. The characteristics of adolescents are described using frequencies, percentages and appropriate summary measures. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify the factors associated with adolescent undernutrition (thinness and stunting). Level of statistical significance was declared at p-value<0.05 Results: The study showed that 28.9% [95% CI = 24.7%, 33.2%] of the adolescents were stunted, while 24.1% [95% CI = 20.1%, 28.2%] were thin. Being male adolescent (AOR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.38-3.79), mother with primary education (AOR= 2.36, 95% CI:1.27-4.76), father with no formal education (AOR = 2.45,95%CI:1.09-5.49) and adolescents with low dietary diversity (AOR= 4.02, 95%CI: 2.42-6.68) were significantly associated with thinness, while mother with no formal education (AOR= 2.18, 95%CI:1.04 4.59) and adolescents who eat less than three times (AOR = 2.00,95%CI:1.07-3.74) were significantly associated with stunting. Conclusion: Secondary school adolescents face the problem of under nutrition especially with regard to stunting and thinness. Therefore, strategies to enhance the nutritional status of adolescent students including improving parental education and promoting dietary diversity and meal frequency should be given much attention in current study area. 98