Dietary Diversity and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Shashemane, Oromia, Central Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Melaku Desta,Meskerem Tesfaye,Mesfin Tadese,Mohammed Akibu

doi:10.1155/2019/3916864

Abstract

Background Maternal dietary diversity is a proxy indicator of maternal nutrient adequacy and improves health outcomes for both mothers and babies. However, little is documented on dietary diversity among pregnant mothers. Therefore, this study assessed diet diversity and associated factors among pregnant mothers attending the antenatal clinic in Shashemane, Oromia, Central Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 315 systematically selected pregnant women attending antenatal clinic of Shashemane town in April 2017. Dietary diversity was assessed using a 24 h dietary recall method, and the dietary diversity score was computed for ten food groups. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were computed to identify associated factors of dietary diversity. Result In this study, only a quarter (25.4%) of pregnant mothers consumed adequate dietary diversity. Mother's tertiary (AOR 3.18; 95% CI: 1.8, 6.35) and secondary (AOR 2.13; 95% CI: 2.32, 8.72) education, household monthly income above 3500 ETB (AOR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.47, 7.78), livestock ownership (AOR = 4.15; 95% CI: 2.07, 9.86), women who got emotional support from the husband (AOR = 3.49; 95% CI: 1.12, 8.23), and women who participated in the shooping (AOR = 2.54; 95% CI: 3.27, 9.83) were more likely to attain the adequate dietary diversity. Conclusion The study revealed that the overall consumption of adequate dietary diversity was found to be low. Developing the educational level of women, increasing household income and owning of livestock, increasing husbands' support, and improving women's participation in the shopping are recommended to improve women's adequate dietary diversity.

Highlights

Multiple micronutrient deficiencies remain a major public health concern in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) especially among reproductive women
Adequate nutrient intake during pregnancy was found to reduce the risk for low birth weight (19%), small-forgestational-age births (8%), preterm birth by 16%, and infant mortality by 15% in those highly adhered to the regimen
Dietary diversity has been defined as the number of different food groups that are consumed over a specific reference period [5, 7,8,9,10]

Summary

Introduction

Multiple micronutrient deficiencies remain a major public health concern in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) especially among reproductive women. Malnutrition during pregnancy can permanently affect physiological development of the fetus, increases risk of intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight, preterm delivery, and maternal morbidity and mortality [2]. Adequate nutrient intake during pregnancy was found to reduce the risk for low birth weight (19%), small-forgestational-age births (8%), preterm birth by 16%, and infant mortality by 15% in those highly adhered to the regimen. Dietary diversification is one of the best strategies highly recommended among pregnant women which associated with improved diet adequacy through increased food groups in daily diet. Erefore, this study assessed diet diversity and associated factors among pregnant mothers attending the antenatal clinic in Shashemane, Oromia, Central Ethiopia. Only a quarter (25.4%) of pregnant mothers consumed adequate dietary diversity.

Objectives

Methods

Results