Correlates of minimum dietary diversity among pregnant women on antenatal care follow up at public health facility in Puntland, Somalia

Abstract

In Somalia, where a poorly diversified diet is leading to adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, there is a significant dearth of evidence that needs to be studied. Hence, this study was to identify factors associated with minimum dietary diversity among pregnant women in Somalia. A facility-based survey was conducted among 361 pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) using a structured questionnaire. Dietary diversity was measured using consumption of 10-food groups. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were used, along with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. About 48.2% (42.9–53.5) of women had an inadequately diversified diet. The risk of having an inadequately diversified diet was higher among rural residents (AOR = 1.20; 0.30–4.75), multigravida (AOR = 2.85; 1.43–5.68), young women (AOR = 2.15; 0.82–5.61), extended families (AOR = 1.19; 0.68–2.10), with infrequent ANC visits (AOR = 4.12; 2.06–8.27), fewer frequent meals (AOR = 1.84; 1.09–3.10) and from food-insecure households (AOR = 3.84; 2.28–6.49) as compared to their counterparts. Consumption of poorly diversified diet was prevalent and associated with dietary diversity was prevalent among women which could be strongly predicted by parity, ante-natal care and food security, which needs to be targeted for interventions.