LEVEL OF FOOD CONSUMPTION SCORE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN AT SHEGAW MOTTA HOSPITAL, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACTBackgroundAll populations are at risk for poor food consumption, but pregnant women are the most vulnerable groups for poor food consumption particularly for those in resource limiting settings like Ethiopia. However, there is a lack of literature for food consumption score in these population groups and study area. Therefore, the results of this study may give information for local decision makers.ObjectiveTo assess level of food consumption score and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal service at Shegaw Motta Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2018.MethodInstitution based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 422 pregnant women attending antenatal care service at Shegaw Motta Hospital from February 23, 2018-April 3, 2018. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data were collected using interviewer administered structured questionnaire and coded and entered to Epi-Data version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Binary Logistic Regression was used for analysis.ResultA total of 422 pregnant women with response a rate of 100% participated in the study. The overall food consumption score among pregnant women was found to be eight of study participants [1.9% (95% CI: 0.7, 3.3)] reported that their food consumption score were poor, seventy of them [16.6% (95% CI: 13.0, 20.4)] were borderline and the remaining 81.5 % (95% CI: 77.5, 85.1) of them had acceptable food consumption score. Residence, being rural or urban [AOR=4.594(95% CI: 1.871, 11.283)], religion status, being an Orthodox or others [AOR= 0.073(95% CI: 0.021, 0.254)], were factors associated with food consumption score.Conclusion and recommendationFood consumption scores among pregnant women was found to be highly unacceptable. Residence and religion were factors associated with food consumption score. Therefore, appropriate nutrition education should be given.