Abstract:
Background; Undernutrition is the result of inadequate intake of food in terms of either quantity or quality,
poor utilization of nutrients due to infections or other illnesses, or a combination of these immediate causes or
lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough food, not eating enough food containing substances, and
other direct and indirect causes, necessary for growth and health. Despite different polices and strategies
implemented and studies done on undernutrition among pregnant women, still there is high prevalence of
undernutrition in pregnancy women in Ethiopia. This study was identified the magnitude and associated factors
among pregnant women in study area.
Objective To determine the magnitude of under nutrition and its associated factors among Pregnant Women
at Public Health Facility in Toke Kutaye District , West Shoa Zone , Oromia , Ethiopia, 2024
Method and Materials; Facility based cross-sectional study design was carried out from May 15/2024 July
15/ 2024 among 271 pregnant women. The study participates were selected by systematic random sampling
methods from antenatal care clinic of four Health center and one primary Hospital found in Toke kutaye district
Interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data and Mid upper arm
Circumference was measured to assess the magnitude of undernutrition among the participates . The data
were cleaned ,coded and entered to Epidata version 4.7 and then export to SPSS version 27.0 fo analysis .
Descriptive and inferential statistics was used. Bivariables and Multivariable Logistic regression was used to
identify independent predictors considering adjusted odd ratio at P-value <0.05 to measure the strength of
association between dependent and independent variables.
Result. The magnitude of undernutrition among pregnant women was found to be 20.3% (95% of
CI:15.7%,25.6%),Age at first pregnancy below eighteen[(AOR =5.88 95%CI(1.918-18.04)],Family size 4-
6(AOR 6.07 95%CI(1.583-23.255) and >6 (AOR 8.35 95%CI (1.806 - 38.70) , low food dietary diversity
(AOR 9.07,95% IC(2.703-30.42)and not dewormed (AOR 3.53, 95%CI (1.12-11.16) were factors significantly
associated with undernutrition.
Conclusion and Recommendation;; This study revealed the magnitude of undernutrition in pregnant women
is 20.3%. Factors associated with undernutrition were family size 4-6 an >6,age at firs pregnancy below
eighteen ,low food dietary diversity and not dewormed were potentials predictors of under nutrition in
pregnancy . Recommended was given to supplement deworming during pregnancy , give appropriate advice
on dietary diversity for pregnant women, delay early pregnancy and limit family size by promotion family
planning from health professional at all primary health care and community level were recommended .
