Undernutrition and associated factors among lactating mothers in North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, 2023. Community based cross-sectional study.

BackgroundHealth and nutritional status of women are closely linked with the overall health and nutrition of the population. The nutritional demands of lactating women are greater than at any other stage of a womens reproductive life. Undernutrition during lactation can lead to poor cognitive development in children, reduced immunity, growth faltering, reduced quality and quantity and quantity of breast milk, and increased morbidity and mortality for both in mother and child. ObjectiveTo assess the magnitude of undernutrition and associated factors among lactating mothers North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, 2023. MethodCommunity based cross-sectional study was conducted on 722 lactating mothers with children aged 6-23 months in North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia, from January 01-30/2023. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed using Body mass index (BMI). Simple random sampling was used to select study participants. Data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for further analysis. Bi-variable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify potential covariates. Variables with a p-value < 0.2 in the bivariate analysis were into a multi-variable logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of undernutrition, with a significance set at P-value < 0.05. ResultAnthropometric measurements showed that the women had a mean BMI of 22.9 {+/-}3.5 kg/m2. Among the respondents, 450(66.4%) were of normal weight, 42(6.3%) were obese, 126(18.7%) were over-weight, and 58(8.6%) were under-weight. Factors associated with undernutrition among lactating mothers in this study included being housewives, having a family size five or more, breastfeeding for more than 12 months, lack of postnatal follow up and not using contraceptives. ConclusionTwo-thirds of lactating mothers in North Shewa Zone were within the normal BMI range (18.5 - 24.9kg/m2). The prevalence of underweight among lactating mothers was relatively low when comparing with similar communities in Ethiopia. Based on the findings, it is recommended to promote family planning to limit household size and to provide targeted nutritional support for mothers who breastfeed for extended periods.