Prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factors among older adults using Mini Nutritional Assessment tool in Womberma district, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, North West Ethiopia, 2020.

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition is a frequent and serious problem in the world's older adults. Even though life expectancy is increasing, they are more vulnerable and at risk for nutritional problems. However, not much is known about the nutritional status of this group of the population, and they are often neglected. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at assessing undernutrition and associated factors among older adults in Womberma District, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, 2020. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was used among randomly selected 594 older adults aged above 60 years with a multistage simple random sampling method and proportional sample size allocation was used to address study subjects at the village level. The collected data was entered into Epi-Data version 4.2 and analyzed by using SPSS version 25. All variables with a p-value<0.25 in the bivariable analysis were considered for multivariable logistic regression for further analysis and the level of statistical significance was declared at p-value<0. 05. RESULTS: The prevalence of undernutrition among older adults was found to be 14.6% (95%CI: 11.9-17.7). A number of independent variables have a significant association with undernutrition, including gender, females [(AOR (95%CI): 3.14 (1.50-6.54)], age (Oldest Old [AOR (95%CI): 4.91 (2.44-6.08)] and Middle Old, [AOR (95%CI): 2.96 (1.44-6.08)], meal frequency [AOR (95%CI): 2.01 (1.12 (1.04-3.63)], dietary diversity score [AOR (95%CI): 2.92 (1.54-5.53)], depression [AOR (95%CI): 5.22 (3-9.07)], individuals with a sickness in the last 4 weeks [AOR (95%CI): 2.12 (1.02-4.41)] and individuals with a known hemorrhoid [AOR (95%CI): 3.51 (1.12-10.97)]. CONCLUSION: This study found that the prevalence of undernutrition in older adults is high and needs attention. Sex, age, meal frequency, dietary diversity, being sick in the last 4 weeks, having hemorrhoids, and depression were the associated risk factors. Therefore, the government, family members, and other stakeholders should give more attention to older individuals.

Zinc deficiency and associated factors among pregnant women's attending antenatal clinics in public health facilities of Konso Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Zinc is an essential mineral known to be important for the normal physiological functions of the immune system. It is one of the basic nutrients required during pregnancy for the normal development and growth of the fetus. However, Zinc deficiency during pregnancy causes irreversible effects on the newborn such as growth impairment, spontaneous abortion, congenital malformations and poor birth outcomes. Even though, the effect of Zinc deficiency is devastating during pregnancy, there is scarcity of evidence on Zinc deficiency and related factors among pregnant women in the current study area. OBJECTIVE: To assess Zinc deficiency and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in public health facilities of Konso Zone, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 424 pregnant mothers. Data were collected using pre tested questionnaire (for interview part), and 5 blood sample was drawn for serum zinc level determination. Data were entered to Epi-Data version 3.1 software and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was computed and independent variables with a p-value ≤ 0.25 were included in multivariable analysis. Serum zinc level was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy by applying clean and standard procedures in the laboratory. Finally adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence level, P-value < 0.05 was used to identify significant factors for Zinc deficiency. RESULT: The prevalence of Zinc deficiency was found to be 128 (30.26%) with the mean serum zinc level of 0.56±0.12 g/dl. Age, 25-34 years [AOR 2.14 (1.19,3.82)], and 35-49 years [AOR 2.59 (1.15, 5.85)], type of occupation, farming [AOR 6.17 (1.36, 28.06)], lack of antenatal follow up during pregnancy [AOR 3.57 (1.05,12.14)], lack of freedom to purchase food items from market [AOR 3.61 (1.27, 10.27)], and inadequate knowledge on nutrition [AOR 3.10(1.58, 6.08)] were factors associated with Zinc deficiency. CONCLUSION: Zinc deficiency is a public health problem among pregnant mothers in the current study area. Improving maternal nutritional knowledge, motivating to have frequent antenatal follow up, and empowering to have financial freedom to purchase food items from market were the modifiable factors to reduce Zinc deficiency. Nutritional intervention that focused on improving nutritional knowledge and insuring access to Zinc sources food items should be delivered for pregnant mothers.