UNDERNUTRITION AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG LACTATING WOMEN IN GOG DISTRICT, ANGWA ZONE, GAMBELLA REGION, SOUTH WEST, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Lactating women from low-income settings are considered as a nutritionally vulnerable group. It is one of the best ways to ensure maternal and fetal wellbeing in developed and developing countries. However, there was limited information on maternal nutrition status in low-income countries like Ethiopia, especially in the study area. Objective: To assess the prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factors among lactating women in Gog district, Angwa zone, Gambella region South West Ethiopia. Methods and Materials: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a cluster random sample of 611 lactating women. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Women’s body weight and height were measured using the standard anthropometric measurement procedures and Statistical package for social science version 22 software was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data. Bivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between each independent and dependent variable. All variables with a p-value of less than 0.25 were entered into multivariable logistic regression to control for all possible confounders and to identify factors associated with undernutrition. Odds Ratios along with 95% Confidence intervals were estimated to measure the strength of the association. Level of statistical significance was declared at a p-value less than 0.05. Result: The prevalence of undernutrition among lactating women was 24.4%; 95% CI (20.9, 27.8). Women who were unable to read and write were two times more likely to be undernourished than women who had formal education [AOR=2.08 95% CI: (1.15, 3.75)]. Women who experienced early pregnancy (<18 years) were more likely to be undernourished than those whose age at birth was >= 18 years [AOR=1.91 95% CI: (1.21, 3.29)]. Women whose dietary diversity score below the mean (< 5) were 3.7 times more likely to be undernourished than women with a score >= 5 [AOR= 3.65 95% CI: (2.21, 6.05)]. Women from food insecure household were more likely to be undernourished than women found in food secured household [AOR=1.74 95% CI: (1.12, 2.94)]. Conclusion: The prevalence of undernutrition in the study area was high. Low educational status of the women, early pregnancy (<18 years), women’s adequate dietary diversity and household food insecurity status were found to be predictors of undernutrition. Thus, multi-sectoral collaboration targeted at improving women’s educational status and increasing household food security status need to be emphasized.