Factors associated with chronic energy malnutrition among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia: An analysis of the 2016 Ethiopia demographic and health survey data

BACKGROUND: Women with chronic-energy malnutrition persists in many developing countries, including Ethiopia. To avert this problem identifying the predictor variables for a high magnitude of underweight is paramount. Consequently, this study aimed to assess the factors associated with chronic energy malnutrition among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia. METHODS: We used the 2016 Ethiopia demographic health survey data. The survey was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted from January 18 to June 27, 2016. A two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique was employed to select Participants. A total of 13,451 reproductive-age group women (age 15–49 years and who were not pregnant and < 2 months of postpartum) were included in the analysis. Both descriptive and analytical analyses were performed. A P-value of less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. RESULTS: About 22.6% (95%CI: 21.5%-23.6%) of reproductive-age women were underweight. The magnitude of underweight is highest in the Afar region (39.6%) and lowest in Addis Ababa city administration (13.5%). Women who lived in the rural area (AOR = 1.59; 95%CI: 1.19–2.12), those who did not attend formal education (AOR = 1.23; 95%CI: 1.01–1.50), unemployed women (AOR = 1.28; 95%CI:1.13–1.44), women who belong to the poorest household wealth index (AOR = 1.42; 95%CI:1.04–1.94), women who were not married (AOR = 1.41; 95%CI: 1.18–2.69), women who lived in Tigray and the pastoral regions have higher odds of underweight. On the other hand, women who lived in southern nations nationalities and people’s region, and women whose age group 25–34 years had lower odds of underweight. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic-energy malnutrition among reproductive-age women is high in Ethiopia. Improving the food security of rural, never married, and unemployed women would reduce the magnitude of underweight. Moreover, strengthening girls’ education, creating employment opportunities for women, and enhancing household income can further reduce the problem of chronic energy malnutrition.