Dietary patterns and associated factors among pregnant women attending Antenatal care at Government public health facilities in Gondar city North West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Dietary patterns (DP) represent a general profile of food and nutrient consumption, characterized on the basis of eating habits Mother‘s dietary pattern during pregnancy plays a key role in determining her health and well-being, as well as that of her child. Maternal nutrition is also an important modifiable determinant of foetal development, birth weight, pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. For instance, micronutrient deficiencies among pregnant women in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are risk factors for iron deficiency anemia, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), small gestational age (SGA), maternal and prenatal deaths, and morbidity.Pregnancy significantly increases nutritional demands. Understanding how dietary patterns influence the intake of essential nutrients for both mother and baby is crucial. Nevertheless, there is dearth evidence on dietary pattern and associated factors among Pregnant Women in low and middle-income countries including Ethiopia. Objective: To assess dietary pattern and associated factors among pregnant women attending ANC at government public health facilities in Gondar city North West, Ethiopia. Methods: Institution based cross sectional study design was conducted among systematicallyselected 901 pregnant women attending Public health facilities in Gondar city from May 20 to June 20, 2024. A pre-tested structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were entered through kobo tool box, and exported to Stata version 17. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with dietary patterns. All variables with p- value of < 0.2 in bivariable analysis were included in the multivariable analysis to control for all potential confounders and identify significant factors associated with dietary patterns. Adjusted odds ratios alongside 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to measure the strength of the assocviation. Level of statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0. Result: Four major dietary patterns (―sweet‖, ―fiber and diary‖, non-alcoholic drink and vegetable foods‖, and ―fruit and soft drink‖) were identified, and they accounted for 71.34% of the total variation: "sweet food" (23.4%); "fiber and diary" (17.0%); ―non-alcoholic drink and P a g e | 9 vegetable foods‖ (15.7%);‖ fruit and soft drink ―(15.0%). Women who had private work (AOR = 2.13; 95% CI: (1.20–3.80), second trimester stage of pregnancy (AOR = 2.10; 95% CI: (1.16–3.77), woman who had greater than 4 times ANC visit (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI: (1.10–2.26), ‗pica practice‘ (AOR = 1.51; 95% CI: (1.00, 2.26) were significantly positively associated with a higher consumption of sweet foods. Women who had hyperemesis gravidarum (AOR = 2.40; 95% CI: (1.79–3.21), practiced ‗pica‘ during pregnancy (AOR = 1.51; 95% CI: (1.001, 2.26), employed partners (AOR = 1.69; 95% CI: (1.12–2.56) had significantly higher odds of consuming non-alcoholic drink and vegetable foods. Snacking habit (AOR = 1.52; 95% CI: (1.12–2.05), hyperemesis gravidarum (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI: (1.05–1.89), active dieting habit (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI: (1.25–2.94) were significantly associated with higher odds of fruit and soft drink food consumption. Meal skipping habit (AOR = 3.30; 95% CI :( 2.23–4.90), women had employed partner (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI: (1.27–2.95) had a higher likelihood of eating fiber and dairy foods. Conclusion: We described four dietary patterns of pregnant women using a data-driven technique, principal component analysis. We also identified factors influencing maternal dietary Patterns.In this study, engagement in private work, second trimester stage of pregnancy, multiple ANC visits, pica practice, hyperemesis gravidarum, belonging to employed partners, snacking , active dieting and meal skipping habits predicted a woman‘s dietary patterns. This underscores public health interventions, especially behavioural and social change communication during pregnancy.