| dc.description.abstract | INTRODUCTION
Malnutrition including under nutrition is a widespread problem, affecting the global population at some life stage. This public health epidemic targets everyone, but the most vulnerable groups are poverty stricken people, young children, adolescents, older people, those who are with illness and have a compromised immune system, as well as lactating and pregnant women leading to undesirable birth outcomes.
METHODOLOGY
It was cross section research study that involved consecutive sampling of 256 early postpartum women from Kawempe National Referral Hospital with data collected using questionnaires. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression to determine associations between under nutrition, factors for and its effects on the birth outcomes.
RESULTS
The total number of participants in this study was 256. The median age of the majority of the participants was 26, IQ (22-31) and were from urban areas 166/256 (64.8%). Most of the participants, 136/256(53.1%) were married, unemployed, 140/256 (54.7 %) and earned less than Ugshs.50,000 monthly 133/256 (44.14%The prevalence of undernutrition was 10.2% (26).The mean height was 157.3cm, the mean weight was 68kg mean BMI and the mean MUAC was 26.7(±3.515).
Using Pearson’s chi square and Fisher’s exact tests, there was a significant association between the nutrition status of the participants and planning for pregnancy (p=0.001), number of antenatal care visits ( p=0.001), food security (p<0.001),weeks of gestation (p= 0.002), new born complications (p< 0.001), admission to special care unit (p< 0.001), birth weight (p< 0.001), history of resuscitation (p= 0.001).
Using bivariate logistic regression, participants with lack of food security were 7.6 times more likely to become undernourished(OR=7.6, 95%CI: 3.2 - 18.1,p value<0.001) and participants with preterm birth (OR=3.5, 95%CI: 1.5 - 8.1,p value=0.003), History of admission to SCU (OR=4.3, 95%CI: 1.9 - 10.1, p value=0.001), low birth weight (OR=6.5, 95%CI: 2.8 - 15.2,p value<0.001), had a history of resuscitation (OR=3.8, 95%CI:1.7 - 8.9, p value=0.002) and reported loss of appetite (OR=3.9, 95%CI: 2.2-7.2, p<0.001)
multiple logistic regression showed that participants with lack of food security were 6.5times more likely to be undernourished (AOR=6.5,95%CI: 1.7 - 24.4, p= 0.005).
Conclusion
The prevalence of undernutrition among women in early post-partum period was high 26/256 (10.2%). There was a significant association between birth weight, preterm birth and nutrition status of the mother. | en_US |
