Undernutrition and Associated Factors among Adults with Mental Health Problems in Catholic Church Missionary of Charity Medium Clinic, Dire Dawa Administrative City, Eastern Ethiopia.

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.