Food consumption score and the Nexus of maternal nutritional status among pregnant women in Gamo Zone, South Ethiopia

Nearly one-third and three-fourths of the pregnant women were undernourished and had acceptable food consumption scores, respectively. Factors associated with acceptable food consumption scores included place of residence, wealth status, planned pregnancy, exposure to mass media, having a vegetable garden, attending antenatal care at health facilities, consuming four or more meals daily, and gestational age. Thus addressing these factors is crucial for improving FCS among pregnant women. Furthermore, efforts should be directed toward increasing media exposure, boosting household income, promoting vegetable gardening, and improving planned pregnancies and antenatal care visits.