Abstract
There is limited information on the magnitude and determinants of household food insecurity (HFI) and how it relates to the nutritional status of pregnant women in Northern Ghana. The magnitude, determinants of HFI, and how it relates to the nutritional status of pregnant women were evaluated in the Africa RISING West Africa project intervention communities in Northern Ghana. The prevalence of moderate and severe household hunger was 25.9% (95% CI: 19.0, 34.3) and 6.8% (95% CI: 4.2, 10.9) respectively. The independent predictors of maternal thinness were region of residence, gestational age and maternal age. Compared to women in the first trimester, women in the third trimester were 2.2 times more likely of being underweight adjusted odds ratio (AOR = 2.19, CI: 1.02, 4.70). Women who were under 20 years of age were 11.9 times more likely of being thin compared to women aged more than 35 years (AOR = 11.97, CI: 2.55, 5. 67). Food insecurity was highly prevalent but it was not associated with maternal thinness of pregnant women. The risk of maternal thinness increased as the gestational age increased and this has a great potential of adversely influencing pregnancy outcomes and overall quality of life.
Highlights
It is well documented that adequate nutritional status of women especially during pregnancy is crucial for child survival because an undernourished mother is more likely to deliver an infant with low birth weight, significantly increasing its risk of dying (Abu-Saad & Fraser, 2010; Black et al, 2008; El-Farrash, Abdel Rahman Ismail, & Shafik Nada, 2012; Hoque & Hoque, 2011; Kavosi et al, 2014; Kinyoki et al, 2015; Kumar et al, 2008; Scholl, 2005; Singh & Patra, 2014; Zangmo, de Onis, & Dorji, 2012)
The risk of maternal thinness increased as the gestational age increased and this has a great potential of adversely influencing pregnancy outcomes and overall quality of life
Though a good understanding of the factors that contribute to household food insecurity (HFI) is critical for designing effective strategies to address poor maternal dietary intake, there is limited information on the magnitude and determinants of HFI and how it relates to the nutritional status of pregnant women in Northern Ghana
Summary
It is well documented that adequate nutritional status of women especially during pregnancy is crucial for child survival because an undernourished mother is more likely to deliver an infant with low birth weight, significantly increasing its risk of dying (Abu-Saad & Fraser, 2010; Black et al, 2008; El-Farrash, Abdel Rahman Ismail, & Shafik Nada, 2012; Hoque & Hoque, 2011; Kavosi et al, 2014; Kinyoki et al, 2015; Kumar et al, 2008; Scholl, 2005; Singh & Patra, 2014; Zangmo, de Onis, & Dorji, 2012). Food insecurity adversely affects individuals in both resource-poor and resource-rich environments (FAO, 2010). Though food insecurity can affect any one, its effect on women deserves special attention because of their social vulnerability to it. Though a good understanding of the factors that contribute to household food insecurity (HFI) is critical for designing effective strategies to address poor maternal dietary intake, there is limited information on the magnitude and determinants of HFI and how it relates to the nutritional status of pregnant women in Northern Ghana. This study assessed household food insecurity, its determinants and relationship with nutritional status of pregnant women belonging to different gestational ages
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