Determinants of Malnutrition and its associated factors among pregnant and lactating women under armed conflict areas in North Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: a community-based study

Aysheshim Kassahun Belew; Tadesse Awoke; Kassahun Alemu Gelaye; Asmamaw Atnafu; Tadesse Guadu; Telake Azale; Mezigebu Yitayal; Yohannes Awoke Assefa; Rediet Getachew; Tadele Amare; Sewbesew Yitayih; Kegnie Shitu; Demeke Demilew; Endalkachew Dellie; Andualem Yalew Aschalew; Biruk Fanta; Netsanet Worku; Ermias Solomon Yalew; Yohannes Abich; Getachew Azeze; Chanyalew Worku; Alemu Kassaw Kibret; Tsegaye G/Medhin; Melkamu Tamir Hunegnaw; Endalamaw Salelew; Goshu Nenko; Hailab Fekadu; Ayenew Molla

doi:10.1186/s40795-023-00758-1

Determinants of Malnutrition and its associated factors among pregnant and lactating women under armed conflict areas in North Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: a community-based study

BMC Nutr. 2023 Sep 4;9(1):102. doi: 10.1186/s40795-023-00758-1.

Authors

Aysheshim Kassahun Belew¹, Tadesse Awoke², Kassahun Alemu Gelaye², Asmamaw Atnafu³, Tadesse Guadu⁴, Telake Azale⁵, Mezigebu Yitayal³, Yohannes Awoke Assefa⁶, Rediet Getachew⁶, Tadele Amare⁷, Sewbesew Yitayih⁷, Kegnie Shitu⁵, Demeke Demilew⁷, Endalkachew Dellie³, Andualem Yalew Aschalew³, Biruk Fanta⁷, Netsanet Worku⁸, Ermias Solomon Yalew⁹, Yohannes Abich⁹, Getachew Azeze⁹, Chanyalew Worku¹⁰, Alemu Kassaw Kibret⁹, Tsegaye G/Medhin³, Melkamu Tamir Hunegnaw⁸, Endalamaw Salelew⁷, Goshu Nenko⁷, Hailab Fekadu², Ayenew Molla²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. aysheshim121@gmail.com.
² Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Health system and Policy, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
⁴ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
⁵ Department of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
⁶ Department of occupational therapy, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
⁷ Department of physiatriy, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
⁸ Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
⁹ Department of Physiotherapy, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
¹⁰ Department of Medical Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Introduction: Maternal malnutrition remains a major public health problem, particularly in low and middle-income countries and war-affected areas like Ethiopia. Malnourished pregnant and lactating women with low nutrient stores have babies with poor mental and physical development, increasing the risk of poor birth outcomes. Despite the fact that the majority of Ethiopian mothers are malnourished, there is little evidence in war-affected areas. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among pregnant and lactating mothers in the war affected area of North Gondar Zone, northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 10 to May 25, 2022. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 1560 pregnant and lactating mothers. MUAC was to ascertain the outcome variable. Data was entered and analyzed by using EPI INFO version 3.5.3 and SPSS version 24, respectively. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the factors associated with acute malnutrition. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was used to show the strength of the association, while a P-value of 0.05 was used to declare the significance of the association.

Results: The prevalence of acute malnutrition among pregnant and lactating women was 34.3% at the 95% CI (31.9-36.8). The age of the mothers (AOR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.99), family size 6-8 (AOR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.82), and greater than or equal to 9 family sizes (AOR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.97), were significantly associated with acute malnutrition.

Conclusions: In the current study, the prevalence of acute malnutrition among pregnant and lactating mothers is high in the study area. Mother's age and family size were factors associated with acute malnutrition in war-affected areas. As a result, mothers with large families will require special assistance to reduce the impact of malnutrition.

Keywords: Ethiopia; Malnutrition; North Gondar Zone; Pregnant and lactating mother; War.