Determine Joint Factors that Affect Maternal Weight and Body Mass Index Among Pregnant Women in Ethiopia: A Bi-variate Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: A low maternal body mass index and sub-optimal weight gain during pregnancy are long recognized risk factors for delivery of infants too small for gestational age, low birth weight as well as to increase the risk of subsequent obesity and hypertension in the off- spring. Maternal body mass index and maternal weight is positively associated with infant obesity risk. The main objective of this research was to determine the determinants of maternal body mass index and maternal weight simultaneously based on Ethiopia demographic health survey 2016 which was implemented in statistical package R. Methodology: Cross sectional study design was used from Ethiopia demographic health survey 2016. Bi-variate linear regression model was used to determine the factors that affect maternal body mass index and maternal weight simultaneously. Result: The bi-variate analysis of maternal pregnancy weight and body mass index identified that the co-variate husband educational level, preferred waiting time for birth, region, family size, frequency of watching television, maternal height, desire for more children and number of tetanus injections before pregnancy were statistically associated with maternal pregnancy weight. Moreover, educational level of husband, preferred waiting time for birth, region, family size, desire for more children, frequency of watching television and number of tetanus injections before pregnancy were statistically significant for maternal pregnancy body mass index in Ethiopia (p≤0.05). Conclusion: The risk of over pregnancy weight and body mass index increased when parent prefer high number of waiting time to birth another child in Ethiopia. In addition the risk of over pregnancy weight and body mass index increased when mother received more tetanus injection during pregnancy.