Undernutrition and Its Predictors Among Pregnant Women in Semipastoral Communities of Southwest Ethiopia

Maternal undernutrition poses significant risks to maternal, fetal, and child health, leading to long-term and irreversible consequences such as growth failure. This study evaluated the prevalence and predictors of undernutrition among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Bachuma Primary Hospital in Southwest Ethiopia. Using an institution-based cross-sectional design, 346 randomly selected pregnant women were assessed for nutritional status based on mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), with values below 23 cm indicating undernutrition. Data analysis revealed that 31.5% of pregnant women were undernourished (95% CI: 26.6%-36.7%). Predictors of undernutrition included low dietary diversity scores (< 5) (AOR = 1.88; 95% CI (1.06-3.33)), consuming fewer than three meals daily (AOR = 2.87; 95% CI (1.29-6.36)), high parity (gravida six or more) (AOR = 4.98; 95% CI (1.06-23.4)), and intestinal parasitic infections (AOR = 2.86; 95% CI (1.58-5.18)). The study highlights the urgent need for interventions such as enhanced dietary counseling, improved maternal nutrition practices, and the screening and treatment of parasitic infections to mitigate undernutrition in this population.