Dietary Diversity Score and Its Association with Anemia Among Pregnant Women Attending Public Health Facilities in Hossana town, South Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Anemia is a major public health problem among pregnant women in developing countries like Ethiopia. Nutritional deficiency related anemia is an important contributor to maternal mortality and poor fetal outcomes. This indicates urgent enhancements in dietary diversity and control of infectious diseases. Even if, limited studies were conducted in different parts of the country to assess dietary diversity and its association with anemia among pregnant women, the issue is not studied in Hossana town and Hadiya zone. Therefore, this study aims to assess prevalence of anemia and its association with dietary diversity score among pregnant women in public health facilities of Hossana town, South Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women in Hossana town from March 15 to April 30, 2017. Systematic random sampling procedure was employed to select 314 study subjects. Data were collected using an interviewer administered pretested semi structured questionnaire supplemented by laboratory tests and analyzed using SPSS for window version 20. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were done to isolate independent predictors of anemia. Result: out of the total of 314 participants the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was 24.2%, from this mild, moderate and severe anemia accounts for 43(56.6%), 31(40.8%) and 2(2.6%) respectively. The mean dietary diversity and food variety score of study participants were 7 and 22 respectively. The educational status of mother (AOR=10.5; 95% CI: 2.2, 57), occupation of spouse (AOR=9.3; 95% CI: 1.6, 53), nutrition during pregnancy (AOR=2.5; 95% CI: 1.5, 6.4) and women minimum dietary diversity score (AOR=18.6; 95% CI: 4.4, 78) were identified as factors associated with anemia among pregnant women. Conclusions and Recommendations: Anemia is found to be a moderate public health problem in this study. Women education, occupation of spouse, nutrition during pregnancy and minimum dietary diversity score were significantly and independently associated with anemia among pregnant women. Empower women education and occupations of spouse, promotion awareness of healthy diets were recommended for reducing prevalence of anemia in the study area.