Undernutrition and associated factors among pregnant women attending ANC follow up in Alamata general hospital, Northern Region, Ethiopia, 2017

Background: Maternal nutritional problems remain as one of the public health problems in Ethiopia and it affects all child bearing age group females’ especially pregnant women and this can cause low birth weight baby, preterm birth, and it increases pregnancy risk problems. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of under nutrition and associated factors among pregnant women. Method: An institution based cross sectional study was conducted on 321 pregnant women attend ANC follow up in Alamata General Hospital, Northern Region, Ethiopia from April 1st to June 20th 2017. Study subjects were selected using systematicandom sampling technique based on the annual patient flow.Data were collected by using a pre-tested, structured, and standardized and interviewer administered questionnaire and wasting was assessed by using anthropometric measurement MUAC of pregnant women. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis to identify associated factors and multivariable logistic regression analysis were employed to control the effect of potential confounders. Variables with p value < 0.05 in the multivariable model were identified as predictors of under nutrition. Result: The overall prevalence of under nutrition among pregnant women was 22.3%. Multivariable logistic analysis showed that age group of 15-24years old (AOR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.57, 0.638), pregnant women with educational level of university (AOR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.079, 0.789) and supplemented iron foliate during pregnancy (AOR: 0.356, 95% CI: 0.140, 0.906) were negatively associated with under nutrition. Whereas pregnant women with husbands of primary education (AOR: 17.461, 95% CI: 3.401, 89.634), took anti- malarial drug during pregnancy (AOR: 4.298, 95% CI: 1.314, 14.063) were positively associated with under nutrition. Conclusion: This study revealed that the prevalence of under nutrition was relatively high based on WHO standards. Therefore, nutrition intervention targeting illiterate and age of pregnant women is highly recommended. Further study should be under taken to explore other determinant variables.