Abstract:
Background:-Essential Nutrition Action (ENA) is an operational frame work for managing the
advocacy, planning, and the delivery of an integrated package of preventive nutritional actions
encompassing infant and young child feeding, micronutrient and the nutrition of woman.
However, ENA practice and associated factors among health workers is less understood in
low-income countries.
Objective: - Thus the Objective of this study was to assess Essential Nutrition actions practice
and associated factors among health workers rendering in antenatal care health services at public
facilities in Assossa zone, West Ethiopia.
Method and materials: - A Health facility based cross-sectional study design supplemented with
qualitative inquiry was used. Quantitative data on the ENA Practice were collected from 382
Health workers in three selected district Health facilities, from May 25 to June 15/2017 using a
pre tested interviewer administered questionnaire. Qualitative data were collected using in-depth
interview and observation of client provider interaction in purposively selected health facilities.
Bi-variable logistic regression analyses were done to see the association between dependent and
each independent variable. Odds ratio along with 95% confidence interval were estimated to
identify factors associated with ENA practice. The qualitative data were analyzed manually using
thematic framework analysis.
Result: - ENA was practiced by 61%, 95%CI (56%, 65.8%) of the health workers. Having been
supervised on ENA [AOR=4.352, 95%CI (2.362, 8.019)], having good knowledge about ENA
[AOR=2.725, 95%CI (1.602, 4.335)], having monthly report form for nutrition indicators
[AOR=1.94, 95%CI (1.079, 3.486)], running out of IEC material within the last 30 days
[AOR=0.294, 95%CI (0.172, 0.504)], and availability the micronutrients iron {AOR=2.221,
95%CI(1.123, 4.394)] were significantly associated with ENA practice.
Conclusions and Recommendations: - ENA Practice in the study area was low. Supervision on
ENA, knowledge on ENA, monthly report form including nutrition indicators, IEC material stock
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out, and availability of micronutrients were found to be associated with ENA practice. Therefore,
training, supervision, incorporation of ENA indicators in monthly report form, supply of IEC
material and micronutrients should be strengthened
