Determinants of Acute Undernutrition among Pregnant Women attending Primary Healthcare Unit in Chinaksen District, Eastern Ethiopia: a case-control study

Abstract Background Poor nutritional status of women during prenatal and pregnancy increases the risk of maternal mortality and neonatal birth outcome complication. It is important to identifying factors affecting maternal undernutrition during pregnancy and evidence answering major determinant factors was limited in Ethiopia. This study was assessed to determinants of acute undernutrition among pregnant women attending primary health care unit in Chinaksen district, eastern Ethiopia. Method a facility-based case-control study was conducted on 226 (113 cases and 113 controls) pregnant women attended primary healthcare units in Chinaksen district from February 01 to March 30, 2017. Data entered using EpiData 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses applied to identify determinant factors acute undernutrition. A p value < 0.05 was considered to be declare statistically significant. Result women living in large family size (AOR = 6.98, 95 CI: 2.82, 17.27), low minimum dietary diversity for women (AOR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.20, 5.12), house hold food insecure (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.44, 6.51), not advised prenatal dietary diversity (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.67, 8.00), not participated on cooking food demonstration (AOR = 5.41, 95% CI: 2.39, 12.24), using substance (AOR = 3.65, 95% CI: 1.30, 10.23) and have not basic latrine (AOR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.28, 6.58) were found to be statistically significant factor with acute undernutrition among pregnant women. Conclusions The study revealed main determinants of acute undernutrition among pregnant women. Large family size, low minimum dietary diversity, house hold food insecurity, not advised prenatal dietary diversity, not participation on cooking food demonstration, substance use and have not basic latrine were a basic determinant of acute undernutrition among pregnant women. Multi-sector approach is required to deal with acute undernutrition among pregnant women and improving minimum dietary diversity food and ensuring household food security is essential in improving maternal nutrition.