School of Public Health, Institute of Health, Bule Hora University, Bule Hora, Ethiopia.
Medical Director, Abel Medium Clinic, Gondar Town, Northern Ethiopia.
PLoS One. 2022 Oct 13;17(10):e0276079. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276079. eCollection 2022.
Food cravings is a strong and intense urge to consume a specific food and reported as being associated with overweight and overall caloric intake in pregnant women. However, the nutritional and anthropometric consequences are not well recognized. Therefore, this study aimed to assess magnitude and effects of food cravings on nutritional status of pregnant women in Southern Ethiopia.
A community-based cross-sectional study conducted among 586 randomly selected pregnant mothers at Sidama Regional State from June 1-20, 2019. Pre-tested and semistructured face-to-face interview questionnaires used to collect the data. The data were cleaned, coded, and entered into Epi Data version 3.1 and analysed using SPSS IBM version 20. The bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression used to identify the possible factors of food cravings. Principal component analysis used to determine the wealth status of the study participants. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) together with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) used to declare statistical significance.
The study found that nearly three in five, 309 (58.3%) [95%, CI: 54.2%-62.8%] of the study participants reported food cravings. Meat (71.5%) and Fruits (41.7%) were the most frequently craved. About one-third, 194 (36.6%) of the study participants were undernourished (MUAC < 23 cm). Age of women (20-34 years), government employed, Antenatal Care (ANC), Pica practice, lowest wealth quintile, and skipping meals were statistically associated with food cravings. Whereas, wealth quintile and ability to consume craved food were factors associated with the nutritional status of pregnant women. Moreover, our study result found that maternal undernutrition and food cravings were statistically associated (p<0.001).
The prevalence of food cravings in this study is comparable to the global level. However, the magnitude of undernutrition found to be higher. Thus, health care providers need to take every opportunity to encourage women to adopt healthful dietary practices during pregnancy.
食物渴望是一种强烈而强烈的冲动，想要食用特定的食物，并被报道与孕妇超重和总热量摄入有关。然而，其营养和人体测量学后果并未得到很好的认识。因此，本研究旨在评估食物渴望对埃塞俄比亚南部孕妇营养状况的程度和影响。
2019 年 6 月 1 日至 20 日，在西达玛地区州进行了一项基于社区的横断面研究，随机选择了 586 名孕妇。使用经过预测试和半结构化的面对面访谈问卷收集数据。数据经过清理、编码并输入 Epi Data 版本 3.1，并使用 SPSS IBM 版本 20 进行分析。使用双变量和多变量逻辑回归来确定食物渴望的可能因素。使用主成分分析来确定研究参与者的财富状况。调整后的优势比（AOR）与 95%置信区间（CI）一起用于宣布统计学意义。
研究发现，近五分之三，309 名（58.3%）[95%，CI：54.2%-62.8%]的研究参与者报告了食物渴望。肉类（71.5%）和水果（41.7%）是最常渴望的食物。大约三分之一，194 名（36.6%）的研究参与者营养不良（MUAC <23 厘米）。女性年龄（20-34 岁）、政府雇员、产前护理（ANC）、异食癖、最低财富五分位数和不吃饭与食物渴望有统计学关联。然而，财富五分位数和食用渴望食物的能力是与孕妇营养状况相关的因素。此外，我们的研究结果发现，孕产妇营养不良和食物渴望有统计学关联（p<0.001）。
本研究中食物渴望的流行率与全球水平相当。然而，营养不良的程度被发现更高。因此，医疗保健提供者需要利用一切机会鼓励妇女在怀孕期间采取健康的饮食实践。
