Abstract:
Introduction: Chronic energy deficiency is caused by eating too little or having an unbalanced
diet that lacks adequate nutrients. Globally one in ten women of reproductive age is underweight.
One-third of the 9 million annual child deaths are related to undernutrition. Women of
reproductive age are especially vulnerable to chronic energy deficiency due to low dietary intake,
inequitable distribution of food within the household, improper food storage and preparation,
dietary taboos, infectious diseases, and inadequate care practices
Objectives: To assess magnitude of Undernutrition and associated Factors among Mothers
attending Family Planning Service at Public Health Centers of Gemechis Woreda November
2020
Methods: A facility- based cross- sectional study design was conducted among 368 modern
family planning users in selected health centers of Gemechis Woreda. Systematic random
sampling techniques were used to recruit study participants. Binary logistic regression was
performed to assess the association between independent and dependent variable. Odds Ratio
along with 95% Confidence intervals was used to identify factors associated with the outcome
variable. The level of statistical significance was declared at p-value less than 0.05.
Results: The prevalence of underweight (Body mass index <18.5 kg/m2) was 21.5 % (95 % CI
19.3–23.7 %). Age at first pregnancy (AOR=2.54; 95%CI=1.08-5.98), Meal frequency
(AOR=2.23; 95%CI=1.10-4.50), number of pregnancy (AOR=2.82; 95%CI=1.43-5.55), dietary
diversity (AOR=2.82; 95%CI= 1.39-5.72), Women education (AOR=2.43; 95%CI=1.18-5.02),
illness in the last two weeks prior to survey (AOR=2.85; 95%CI=1.29-6.29) and currently
lactating (AOR=2.37; 95%CI=1.17-4.78) were found to be independent predictors of
underweight.
Conclusion & recommendation: The result of this study revealed high prevalence of under
nutrition among mothers using modern family planning. Health education should be given for
mothers about the importance of delaying first pregnancy and adequate intake of diversified
food, giving especially attention women with lower educational level. Additionally, improving
women‟s educational status in the community is very essential in order to improve health and
nutritional outcomes of women using family plannin
