Determinants of Underweight among Lactating Mothers: In Anlemo Woreda, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2018-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Under-nutrition is a serious problem in developing countries including Ethiopia, particularly the study area. Determinants of nutritional status of lactating mothers widely vary locally, regionally and nationally. However, there was lack of understanding the factors of nutritional status at community level for adequate intervention. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the determinants of underweight among lactating mothers in Anlemo woreda. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted on 266 sample lactating mothers from six kebeles. A household survey was undertaken using structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS.version.22), for descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Binary logistic analysis was used to test association between each independent variable with dependent variable at P < 0.2. Nutritional status of lactating mothers was normal, underweight, overweight and obese was 51.9%, 24.8%, 20.3% and 3% respectively. Findings of this study revealed that the educational status of lactating mothers [AOR = 6.0, 95% CI: 1.09, 35.3], monthly income [AOR = 8.27, 95% CI: 1.2, 56.85], number of meals [AOR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.56] and ANC follow up [AOR = 13, 95% CI: 1.42, 21.3] were found significant determinants with underweight of lactating mothers (P < 0.05). The factors propagate undernutrition which puts substantial burden on lactating mothers in Anlemo woreda. Local government of the Anlemo woreda should give emphasis on lactating mother’s education, income source improvement, health practices and feeding pattern is a vital to reduce undernutrition problem of the community.
Keywords: Nutritional Status, Lactating mothers, Determinants, Underweight, Southern Ethiopia