Agroecological comparison of levels and correlates of nutritional status of women

Abstract

Abstract Background: Observation and focus group discussions during the first round survey indicated that women in the lowlands areas are more malnourished compared to the women in the highlands. Additional analysis was needed to verify the observation. Objectives: To compare the levels and determinants of nutritional status of women living in lowland and highland areas in Limu wereda of Hadiya Zone, southern Region. Methods: Information on potential factors influencing nutritional status were gathered in two rounds from 450 mothers in three randomly selected peasant associations. Results: Women living in the lowlands are more malnourished compared to women living in the highlands (31.0% in the lowlands and 19.1% in the highlands; Odds ratio=1.62; 95% CI 1.1-2.4). Household size, agricultural production, age and parity were found to be similar among the two groups of women. However, religion, ethnicity, livestock holding (more in the lowland), land ownership (greater in the lowlands), education (more literate in the highlands) and types of illness (more malaria in the lowlands) were found to be significantly different among the two groups of women. The logistic regression analysis indicated that only agricultural production, sickness and education were associated with maternal malnutrition in the studied area. Conclusion: Creating mechanisms and opportunities to increase agricultural production (in both low land and high land) and women’s education as well as providing better access to health care, particularly, in the low lands are recommended to improve the situation. [Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2003;17(3):189-196]