Dietary diversity, undernutrition and associated factors among pregnant women in Gindeberet district, Oromia, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Appropriate levels of dietary diversity are essential for proper physiology of human being and it is crucial to consume healthy foods at every phase of life, especially during pregnancy. Inadequate dietary diversity and malnutrition are risk factors for low birth weight, intrauterine growth reduction and small for gestational age. This study was aimed to assess dietary diversity, undernutrition and associated factors among pregnant women in Gindeberet district, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2020. METHOD: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 627 pregnant women in Gindeberet district selected by systematic random sampling from October 10/2020– November 10/2020. Data were collected through interviewer administered questionnaires. The collected data were coded and entered to Epi-info version 7.2.2.6 and analyzed by SPSS version 23. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify factor associated with undernutrition and dietary diversity. Level of statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: overall prevalence of inadequate dietary diversity and undernutrition were 276 (44.4%) and 110 (17.7%) respectively. Pregnant women who did not receive antenatal care (AOR = 2.32, [95% CI: 1.38, 3.90]), family size ≥ 5 (AOR: 2.93; [95%CI: 1.10, 7.79]), unprotected sources of water (AOR: 4.14; [95% CI: 1.63, 10.52]) were significantly associated with undernutrition. Rural residence (AOR = 2.59, [95% CI: 1.66–4.04]), pregnant women who did not received ANC (AOR = 2.52, [95% CI: 1.58–4.03]) and nutrition information (AOR = 1.43; [95% CI: 1.10, 2.10]) were significantly associated with dietary diversity among pregnant women. CONCLUSION: undernutrition and inadequate dietary diversity among pregnant women were high in study area. Source of drinking water, ANC visit and family size were significantly associated with pregnant women undernutrition. Place of residence, ANC visit and nutrition information were significantly associated with inadequate dietary diversity. Therefore, pregnant women, government, non-governmental organization and stakeholders should focus on importance of ANC visit, clean source of drinking water and adequate dietary diversity to improve nutritional status of pregnant women.