NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PRISONERS IN DIRE DAWA FEDERAL PRISON, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is amajor public health problem of low-income countires affecting all segments of the population including the disadvantgiuos groups like prisoners.The causes of malnutrition are different. Reduction in the amount of calorie intake is the most common cause of malnutrition. However, little is known about the magnitude of malnutrition and associated factors among prisoners to design appropriate interventions. Objective: - The objective of this study is to assess the nutritional status and associated factors among prisoners in Federal prison of, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. March 20 up to April 20 in 2018. Methods: - Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted among 586 study participants in Dire Dawa Town at Federal prison. The study population was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using interviewer administered pretested structured questionnaire and by measuring height and weight of the respondents The collected data were checked for completeness, organized and entered onto Epi Data version 3.1 and exported to Stata version 13 for analysis . Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and percentage was used to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors of the nutritional status (outcome variable). Odds ratio along with 95%CI were estimated to measure the strength of the association. Level of statistical significance was declrared at p value less than 0.05. xiv Result: - This study revealed that the magnitude of underweight was 18 (3.07%, 95%CI: (1.945, 4.83%), normally nourished 376 (64.2%, 95%CI: (60.2%, 67.96%) and 192 (32.8%, 95%CI :( 29.1%, 36.7%) were overweight. In multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis, being in the age group of 27-41years with [AOR=2.77, 95% CI: (1.84, 4.18)], 42-56years with [AOR=3.04, 95% CI: (1.52, 6.07)], 57+ years with [AOR=9.17, 95% CI: (2.59, 32.5)] and prisoner who were also merchant befor their imprisonment with [AOR=1.88, 95% CI: (1.05, 3.36)] were associated with a significantly increased risk of overweight. Conclusion: - the magnitude of overweight was found to be high among prisoners of Dire Dawa prison. Age of prisoners and being Merchant before the imprisnment were significantly associated with overweight among the study population. Thus, the prison administration and all relevant stakeholders should promote actions that improve the prisoners' health including change in eating habit, encouraging adoption of low calorie menu, and enough physical activity programs.