DIETARY CONSUMPTION PATTERNS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CARE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH FACILITIES IN GAR-OWE, PUNTLAND, SOMALIA

Abstract

Background: Adequate maternal nutrient intake during pregnancy is important to ensure optimal maternal health outcomes. But the usual dietary intake estimates are not comprehensive, is challenging and prone to errors. Dietary pattern analysis gives a novel opportunity to holistically and comprehensively evaluate dietary consumption with a better prediction. However, studies using these methods is lacking among pregnancy women in Somalia, particularly Gar-owe city. Objectives: To assess dietary consumpion patterns and associated factors among pregnancy women who attended antenatal care both public and private Health care in Gar-owe City, Puntland, Somalia, from June 20 to July 20 2024 Methods: Afacility based cross-sectional study was carried out on 420 randomly selected pregnant women was conducted. Data was collected using pretested and structural questionnaire. Avalidated food frequency questionnaire over the past one month was used to assess dietary intake. An exploratory factor analysis was done to identify dietary patterns and the corresponding factors scores were ranked as high and low consumption quartiles. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the factors associated with major dietary patterns among pregnant women level of statically significance was declared at p-value <0.05. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval is reported. Results: three major dietary patterns (“Nutrient dense”, “Fruits and vegetable”, “Animal source and sweety foods”) were identified explaining 24.736% of total variance. A total of 56.3%, had high terciles of “Nutrient dense, “Fruits and vegetable”, “Animal source and sweety foods”, respectively. Education of mother Collage and above (AOR= 3.4, 95% CI 1.1-10.9) and the middle family size (AOR= 4.38, 95% CI 1.60-11.9), income high socioeconomic (AOR= 1.87, 95% CI 1.0-3.47) had significantly associated with higher tercile o f legumes and nutrient dense and fruits and vegetable. Women with no craving (AOR= 2.52, 95% CI 1.45-4.39) and no food aversion (AOR= 1.62, 95% CI 1.01-2.60) women received nutritional counseling (AOR= 1.88, 95% CI 1.08-3.25) were sigficantly positively associated with higher tercile of Nutrient dense and fruits and vegetable consumption. Urban residence (AOR= 1.97 95% CI 1.1-3.4) and food restriction (AOR= 2.0, 95% CI 1.15-3.46) had association with higher tercile of Animal source and sweety foods consumption. Conclusion: In general three major dietary patterns composed of cereals and tubers, legumes and vegetable and fruits, explain the major variation indietary consumption of pregnant women