Spatial variation of overweight/obesity and associated factor among reproductive age group women in Ethiopia, evidence from EDHS 2016

BACKGROUND: Globally, at least 4.7 million people die from being overweight or obese. In Ethiopia, the level of overweight and obesity among women grew from 3% to 8%. However, as far as my literature searching, studies concerning the spatial variation of overweight/obesity and factors associated are not researched in Ethiopia using geospatial techniques. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the spatial variation of overweight/obesity and factor associated among reproductive age group women in Ethiopia using geospatial techniques. MOTHED: A total weighted sample of 10,928 reproductive age women were included in the study. ArcGIS version10.7 was used to explore the spatial variation of overweight/obesity. Bernoulli based model was used to analyze the purely spatial cluster detection of overweight/obesity through SaTScan version 9.6.1 software. Ordinary Least Square analysis and geographically weighted regression analysis was employed to assess the association between an outcome variable and explanatory variables by using ArcGIS 10.7 software. P value of less than 0.05 was used to declare statically significant. RESULT: The spatial distribution of overweight/obesity in Ethiopia was clustered. Statistically, a significant-high hot spot overweight/obesity was identified at Addis Ababa, harrari, Dire Dawa. SaTScan identified 66 primary spatial clusters (RR = 4.17, P < 0.001) located at Addis Ababa, southeast amhara, central part of oromia region and northern part of SNNP region. In geographically weighted regression, rich wealth index, women’s age (35–39 and 40–44 years), watching TV, internet use and not working were statistically significant that affecting spatial variation of overweight/obesity. CONCLUSION: In Ethiopia, overweight/obesity varies across the region. Statistically, significant-high hot spots of overweight/obesity were detected in Addis Ababa, Harari, Dire Dawa, some parts of Amhara and afar region, most of the Oromia and Somalia region, and the South Nation Nationality and People region of Ethiopia. Therefore, the ministry of health and the Ethiopian public health institute, try to initiate policies and practices that could include providing funding for physical education as well as recreational centers in communities most in need. In addition, public and private mass media create awareness of healthy lifestyles is promoted by health education regarding increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behavior through various media platforms.