Dietary Diversity and Haemoglobin Level Associated With Under Nutrition Among Pregnant Women at Sidama Hawassa, Ethiopia: Facility Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Under nutrition among pregnant women is common public health problem in developing countries including Ethiopia. It leads to poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. Despite its consequences there is shortage of research evidence to support intervention in this regard in the southern part of the country. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the determinates of under nutrition among pregnant women visiting antenatal care clinics at selected health facilities in Hawassa town.

Methods: Health facility based cross-sectional study was employed among 454 systematically selected study participants. Data were collected by using structured and pre-tested questionnaires with face to face interview. Data were entered into Epi info and then exported to SPSS version 26 statistical software for analysis. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics; bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression.

Result: The over all of prevalence of under nutrition among pregnant women was 27.6% [95% CI (22.6, 30.8)]. In multivariate logistic regression model, lowest wealth quintile [AOR = 3.3, 95% CI (1.7, 7.0)], women with dietary diversity [AOR = 2.0, 95% CI (1.3, 4.0)], presence of anemia [AOR = 10.7, 95% CI (5.8,19.8)], lower pregnant women education level [AOR = 3.3, 95% CI (1.4, 7.9)], lower partner education level [AOR = 3.1, 95% CI (1.1, 8.5)], not ate flush/meat food [AOR = 2.8, 95% CI (1.7, 4.8)], and not ate other fruits [AOR = 1.8, 95% CI (1.1, 2.8)] had significant association with under nutrition.

Conclusion: In this health facility based study, the burden of under nutrition was high. Lowest wealth quintiles, low dietary diversity scores, being anemic and low education of the pregnant women and her partner were associated with under nutrition. Therefore, counseling for dietary diversity during antenatal care, health promotion and education for pregnant women and empowering women on income generation activities are a key intervention to tackle under nutrition.