Factors associated with malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers in Miesso Health Center, Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION: Malnutrition is one of the major problems in which the physical function of an individual is impaired to the point that it can no longer maintain adequate body processes such as growth, physical work, and resistance to or recovery from disease. Malnutrition is associated with a low economic situation, and poor personal and environmental hygiene. Recent studies found that the centre of the problem is the backward socioeconomic development of the country. The level of the healthcare services in Ethiopia is low, even when compared to sub-Sahara African countries. The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of malnutrition and associated factors among pregnant women and lactating mothers in the Miesso Health Centre, Miesso Woreda, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 February to 30 May 2017, among pregnant women and lactating mothers in Miesso Woreda. A sample of 304 women was selected using a systematic random sampling approach from the list of patients, with different sociodemographic status. RESULTS: Our results showed that among all pregnant women and lactating mothers, 12.6% were overweight and 30.3% were underweight. From multiple logistic regression analysis, family incomes (AOR=2.056, 95% CI: 1.051–4.023) and age of women (AOR=2.169, 95% CI: 1.015–4.634) were significantly associated with the nutritional status of the study participants. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that authorities should: facilitate the rural-urban community’s access to information on nutrition including eating-practices sanitation; initiate a health and development program during pregnancy and lactation; expand women’s education on diet during pregnancy and lactation.