2025/09/12 by Ayelign Mengesha Kassie, Biruk Beletew Abate, MesfinWuduKassaw +1
paper · doi:10.20372/nadre:18231
Background. Underweight is defined as being below the healthy weight range. Underweight in reproductive age group women not only affects womenbutalsoincreases the risk of an intergenerational cycle of malnutrition and child mortality. Various factors are linked with underweight among women. However, studies on the prevalence of underweight and its associated factors among womenare limited in Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of underweight and its associated factors among reproductive age group women in Ethiopia. Methods. For this study, data were drawn from the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey (EDHS). Fromthetotal, 15,683 womenparticipants of the 2016 EDHS;asubsampleof2,848participantsaged 15–49 years whohadacompleteresponsetoallvariablesofinterestwere selectedand utilized for analysis. Datawere analyzedusing SPSS version 20 software program. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to assess the frequency distribution of underweight and is presented with different sociodemographic characteristics. Logistic regression models were applied for analysis. A two-sided p value of less than 0.05 was used to declare astatistically significant association between the independent variables and underweight among women. Results. e prevalence of underweight among reproductive age group women in Ethiopia was 17.6%. e majority, 78.3% of underweight women, were rural dwellers. e odds of being underweight was higher among the young aged women,amongthoseresiding in rural areas, in those with higher educational status, and in those who have one or more children. On the other hand, the odds of underweight among respondents living in Benishangul, SNNPR, and Addis Ababa were less compared to those living in Dire Dawa. Similarly, the odds of underweight among participants with a higher level of husband or partner educational status and among those who chew Khat were less compared to their counterparts. Conclusion. Underweight among reproductive age group women in Ethiopia is still a major public health problem, particularly among rural dwellers. Underweight was significantly associated with different sociodemographic variables. Hence, context-based awareness creation programsneedtobedesignedonthepreventionmethodsofunderweightinEthiopia,givingespecialemphasistothoseresiding in rural areas.