Gebremichael Birhanu Berhe*, Asamirew Alemu Atimo and Sebsibe Eliyas Adisu
Background: Nutrition is valuable for disease resistance, physical wellbeing, maturation and mental development as well as it breaks intergenerational malnutrition. However, in most developing countries, under nutrition is one of the common public health problems, especially in lactating mothers. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess prevalence of under nutrition and associated factors among lactating mothers in Mizan Aman Town,Bench Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 01 to May 03, 2020 among randomly selected 548 lactating mothers. Binary logistic regression was done to assess association between independent and dependent variable. Adjusted Odds Ratios with its 95% confidence interval were estimated to identify factors associated with the outcome variable in multivariable logistic regression.
Results: A total of 527 lactating mothers were participated in this study with response rate of 96.5%. The prevalence of under nutrition was 23.7%. Identified Factors associated with under nutrition among lactating mothers were educational status of women[AOR=7.53,CI:(1.237, 25.373)],women dietary diversity score[AOR=4.461,CI:(1.732,11.492)], age of first pregnancy [AOR=1.660,CI: (1.321,3.466)],and family size status [AOR=1.83,CI:(1.026,3.271)].
Conclusion: According to WHO classification, the prevalence of under nutrition among lactating mothers in the study area was high. Thus, strengthening health education on proper maternal and child dietary practices and adequate dietary intake during lactation is beneficial, multi-sectorial collaboration targeted at improving women’s status in community is very
