School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
J Health Popul Nutr. 2024 Nov 24;43(1):192. doi: 10.1186/s41043-024-00680-7.
Poor maternal nutrition is a significant public health problem, especially in conflict-affected areas. Lactating mothers are particularly vulnerable due to increased nutritional demands. The recent conflict in the Tigray region has resulted in serious crises and disruptions, worsening maternal undernutrition.
This study aimed to determine the post-war nutritional status of lactating mothers, in Tigray, Ethiopia, 2024.
A household-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 16 to February 14, 2024, across six zones of Tigray, excluding the Western zone, which included 1245 lactating mothers with children under six months of age. Data were collected through a structured interview-based questionnaire designed in KoboToolBox. The collected data were managed and analyzed via Stata version 17 software. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariable robust (modified) Poisson regression models were fitted to identify the factors associated with maternal undernutrition, after checking the necessary model assumptions. Adjusted prevalence rates with 95% confidence intervals were used as measures of effects and statistical significance.
The prevalence of undernutrition among lactating mothers was 55.2% (95% CI: 52.3-58.1). The proportion of undernourished lactating mothers was greater in rural areas (60.7%: 57.3-64.0) than in urban (41.8%: 36.5-47.2). The factors independently associated with maternal undernutrition included elementary education [aPR (95% C.I): 1.1(1.01-1.3)], rural residence [aPR (95% C.I): 1.3(1.1-1.5)], iodized salt use [aPR (95% C.I): 0.9(0.8-0.99)], and low meal frequency [aPR (95% C.I): 1.3(1.2-1.5)].
This study revealed a high maternal undernutrition prevalence among lactating mothers in Tigray in the post-conflict era. Therefore, interventions targeting educational opportunities, iodized salt use, and adequate meal frequency may help improve the nutritional status of lactating mothers in the conflict-affected areas in Tigray, Ethiopia.
孕产妇营养状况不佳是一个严重的公共卫生问题，尤其是在受冲突影响的地区。哺乳期妇女由于营养需求增加而特别脆弱。提格雷地区最近发生的冲突导致了严重的危机和破坏，使孕产妇营养不良状况恶化。
本研究旨在确定 2024 年提格雷地区哺乳期母亲的战后营养状况。
2024 年 1 月 16 日至 2 月 14 日，在提格雷六个地区（不包括西区）进行了一项基于家庭的横断面研究，纳入了 1245 名 6 个月以下儿童的哺乳期母亲。通过基于 KoboToolBox 的结构化访谈式问卷收集数据。使用 Stata 版本 17 软件管理和分析收集的数据。在检查必要的模型假设后，拟合描述性统计和双变量及多变量稳健（修正）泊松回归模型，以确定与孕产妇营养不良相关的因素。使用调整后的患病率（95%置信区间）作为效应和统计学意义的度量。
哺乳期母亲营养不良的患病率为 55.2%（95%CI：52.3-58.1）。农村地区（60.7%：57.3-64.0）营养不良的哺乳期母亲比例高于城市地区（41.8%：36.5-47.2）。与孕产妇营养不良独立相关的因素包括小学教育[aPR（95%CI）：1.1（1.01-1.3）]、农村居住[aPR（95%CI）：1.3（1.1-1.5）]、食用碘盐[aPR（95%CI）：0.9（0.8-0.99）]和低进餐频率[aPR（95%CI）：1.3（1.2-1.5）]。
本研究显示，提格雷地区冲突后哺乳期母亲营养不良的患病率较高。因此，针对教育机会、食用碘盐和充足进餐频率的干预措施可能有助于改善提格雷地区冲突地区哺乳期母亲的营养状况。
