Nutrition

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

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

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

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

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

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

MINIMUM MEAL FREQUENCY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN AGED 6-23 MONTHS ATTENDING HEALTH CENTERS IN HARAR CITY, HARARI REGION, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

MINIMUM MEAL FREQUENCY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN AGED 6-23 MONTHS ATTENDING HEALTH CENTERS IN HARAR CITY, HARARI REGION, EASTERN ETHIOPIA BEREKETABE NEGA (BSC); Dr.Abdu Oumer (PhD); Mr. Gelana Mamo (MPH, Assistant Professor) Background: - Adequate nutrition during the first two years of life is vital for brain and physical development, preventing malnutrition, and ensuring long-term health. Proper nutrition enhances cognitive function, reduces chronic disease risk, and fosters healthy eating habits. Key feeding practices include breastfeeding, timely introduction of complementary foods, and regular meal frequency. Currently, there is limited data on Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF) and its associated factors among children attending health facilities in the Harari region of Eastern Ethiopia. Objective: - To assess the magnitude of minimum meal frequency and associated factors among children aged 6 to 23 months attending health centers in Harar City, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: - A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in five health centers in Harar City, with 516 mothers/caregivers of children aged 6 to 23 months selected through a systematic random sampling technique. MMF was assessed using a minimum frequency depending on child age; two for 6-8 months and three for 9-23months. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire via Kobo Toolbox. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with feeding frequency. Results were reported using adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval. Result: - A total of 514 mothers/caregivers participated (99.6% response rate). Overall, 61.5% (95% CI: 57%–65%) of children met the Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF). In multivariable analysis, younger age (6–8 months) was associated with higher odds of MMF (AOR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.10–3.12), and breastfeeding substantially increased the likelihood of meeting MMF (AOR = 3.20; 95% CI: 1.80–5.68). Maternal primary education (AOR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.05 5.45) and high maternal knowledge (AOR = 3.40; 95% CI: 1.40–8.10) were also significant predictors. Household socioeconomic status showed a graded association: middle-class (AOR = 3.80; 95% CI: 1.40–10.1), rich (AOR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.02–6.10), and very rich households (AOR = 3.20; 95% CI: 1.20–8.50) had higher odds of meeting MMF. Children from food secure households were more likely to achieve MMF (AOR = 3.10; 95% CI: 1.40–6.70), and postnatal care attendance further increased MMF likelihood (AOR = 3.10; 95% CI: 1.70–5.50). Among Health Belief Model constructs, high perceived susceptibility (AOR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.05–2.20) and high self-efficacy (AOR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.30–3.25) were also significantly associated with MMF. The final model demonstrated good fit (Hosmer–Lemeshow p = 0.177) with no evidence of multicollinearity. Conclusion: This study highlights that more than one-thirds of children did not fulfill MMF and it is associated with socioeconomic, maternal such as education status and maternal knowledge on MMF, and psychosocial factor significantly influence adherence to MMF among children in Harar, Ethiopia. Addressing economic and educational gaps through targeted interventions is crucial for improving child feeding practices. Multisectoral approaches are needed to enhance nutrition outcomes and healthcare equity. 106

PREVALENCE OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN 0-6 MONTHS ATTENDING HOSPITALS IN HARGEISA CITY, SOMALILAND.

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

PREVALENCE OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN 0-6 MONTHS ATTENDING HOSPITALS IN HARGEISA CITY, SOMALILAND. FATHIA MOHAMOUD H.HASSAN; Dr. Kasiye Shiferaw (PhD, Assistant Professor); Ms. Abiyot Asfaw (Assistance professor) Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as feeding breast milk only, for the first six months, only 40% of children worldwide exclusively breastfed which is far from the recommendation, while in Africa only 37% of infants were exclusively breastfed. In Somaliland the Demographic health survey showed that only 30% exclusively breastfed among infants aged 0–6 months. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, however, exclusive breastfeeding practice in Somaliland is not well practiced and previous studies had omitted some of the determinant factors such as mothers' attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding, so the aim of this study is to assess the extent of exclusive breastfeeding practice and associated factors among mothers attending a selected hospitals in Hargeisa city, Somaliland from January 2025 to March 2025. Objective: To assess the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and its associated factors among mothers attending a selected hospitals in Hargeisa city, Somaliland from January 2025 to March 2025. Method: A facility -based cross-sectional study was conducted among 630 randomly selected mothers with children who are less than 6 months attending in a selected Hospitals in Hargeisa City, Somaliland. Data was collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Bivariable analysis identified variables for multivariable analysis, which controlled for potential confounding factors. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to assess the association between predictors and outcome variable. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, and results are presented in tables. The level of statistical significance was declared at P-value < 0.05 and the result was presented as tables. Result: The overall prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in this study was 54%, Having ANC visit (AOR=2, 95% CI: 1.37-3.29), normal delivery (AOR=1.63, 95% CI: 1.05-2.52), frequency of breastfeeding (AOR =6.6, 95% CI: 4.24 – 10.18) family support (AOR= 1.62(1.07-2.44), good knowledge (AOR= 2.46, 95% CI 1.58-3.83) , positive attitude ( AOR= 3.0 (2.13, 4.21) were more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding. initiation of breastfeeding, after hours (AOR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.27-0.69), after days: (AOR: 0.30, 95% CI: (0.16-0.54), were less likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding Conclusion: The prevalence of this study of exclusive breastfeeding was 54%, The prevalence of this area is moderate according to the World Health Organization guideline. initiation of breastfeeding, frequency of breastfeeding, ANC Visit, mode of delivery, family support, good knowledge and positive attitude was statistically significant with exclusive breastfeeding in the multivariable analysis. It recommended to the health institutions, healthcare workers and other concerned parties to enhance Antenatal and postnatal care by developing and implementing programs that educate mothers on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. 80