Nutrition Security Status of Women in Northwest Ethiopia

Background: Nutrition security of women is one of the most vital foundations for the overall development and wellbeing of society. Since understanding the factors that influence the nutrition security of women is very important for implementing appropriate interventions, this study was conducted to determine the nutrition security status of women in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: Survey data were collected from 197 rural women selected using a two- stage sampling method (Cluster sampling in the first stage and Stratified random sampling in the second stage). Data in the two outcomes (nutritionally secured whose BMI ≥ 18.5, and nutritionally insecure whose BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) were analyzed using a Logit regression model to determine the significance of the determinants on women’s nutrition security status. Results: The study showed that 72.6% of the women in the study area were nutritionally insecure. Results of the statistical analysis revealed that family size (negative effect); and the consumption of milk, women’s daily feed frequency, fruits and vegetables, women empowerment, and animal products have positive effect. The height, weight, and BMI of nutritionally secure women (50.8 kg, 1.55 m, and 21.1 kg/m2, respectively) were significantly higher than those of nutritionally insecure women (44 kg, 1.45 m, and 15.8 kg/m2, respectively). Conclusions: This is the first study on the determinants of rural women’s nutrition security status using social and demographic data collected at the grassroots level and analyzed using an advanced econometric model. The findings of the study show the need for government and other stakeholders’ interventions to increase access to nutritious food products and to provide trainings on feeding culture and dietary diversity to women. The findings of this study can help the Government of Ethiopia to achieve its National Development Priorities.