Abstract:
Background: Poor nutritional status can be consequence of impaired mental health that may
lead to involuntary weight gain, weight loss, or deficiency of essential nutrients. However, little
is known about the magnitude of under nutrition and associated factors among adults with
mental health problems in low-income countries like Ethiopia including the study area.
Objective: To measure the magnitude of Undernutrition and associated factors among adults
with mental health problems in Catholic Church Missionary of Charity Medium Clinic Dire
Dawa administrative city, Eastern Ethiopia.
Methods: Institution based cross sectional study design was used among adult patients with
mental health problems from March 1/03/2019-1/04/2019.Interviewer administered pretested
structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from 501 participants. Anthropometric
data was collected using standardized weight and height scales. Descriptive statistics was done
to describe the data. Bivariable analyses were carried out to see the association between each
independent variable and the dependent variable. All variables with p value< 0.25 during
bivariable analyses were entered into Multivariable logistic regression analysis to control for
all possible confounders and to identify factors associated with the outcome variable Odds ratio
along with 95% Confidence interval was estimated to measure the strength of the association.
Level of statistical significance was declared at p-value less or equal to 0.05.
Result: The prevalence of undernutrition was [62.7%; 95% CI: (58.3, 67.7)], Adults with meal
frequency <3 per 24 hours were 2.07 times more likely to be undernourished than those with
meal frequency ≥3 [AOR=2.07 CI: (1.18, 3.63)].Those adults using multiple medication were
3.02 times more likely to be undernourished than those taking single medication [AOR=3.02
CI: (1.88,4.84)].Regarding smoking cigarrate the odds of being undernourished was reduced
by 53% [AOR=0.47 (0.25, 0.91)] in those who did not smoke cigarate. The odds of being
undernourished was reduced by 55% among those who used the prescribed diet compared with
their counterparts [AOR=0.45 CI: (0.26, 0.78)].
Conclusion: The prevalence of undernutrition was found to be high among Adults with mental
health problem in the study setting: Multiple medication, Cigarate smoking, Frequency of meal
and not taking prescribed diet were significantly associated with undernutrition. Thus,
multisectoral collaboration in planning and implementing nutritional programs to improve
nutritional status of adults with mental health problem should be given attention.
