Over-nutrition and associated factors among 20 to 49-year-old women in Uganda: evidence from the 2016 Uganda demographic health survey.

INTRODUCTION: low- and middle-income countries are currently faced with a double burden of malnutrition. There has, however, been little focus on research and interventions for women with over-nutrition. We aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with over-nutrition among 20 to 49-year-old women in Uganda. METHODS: we used the Uganda demographic and health survey (UDHS) 2016 data of 4,640 women. We analysed data using SPSS (version 25), and we used multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with over-nutrition among 20 to 49-year-old women in Uganda. RESULTS: the prevalence of over-nutrition was 28.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 26.8-29.4) with overweight at 19.3% and obesity at 8.9%. Women belonging to the poorer (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.63; 95% CI: 1.17-2.28), middle (AOR=2.24; 95% CI: 1.61-3.13), richer (AOR=3.02; 95% CI: 2.14-4.25) and richest (AOR=6.35; 95% CI: 4.52-8.93) wealth index quintiles were more likely to be over-nourished compared to women in the poorest wealth index quintile. Married women (AOR=1.52; 95% CI: 1.26-1.83) were more likely to be over-nourished compared to non-married women. Older women were more likely to be over-nourished compared to younger women. Women in the Western (AOR=2.12; 95% CI: 1.66-2.71), Eastern (AOR=1.40; 95% CI: 1.04-1.88) and Central (AOR=2.25; 95% CI: 1.69-2.99) regions were more likely to be over-nourished compared to women in the Northern region. CONCLUSION: the design of multi-faceted over-nutrition reduction programs with an emphasis on older, married, financially stable women, and those living in the Western, Eastern and Central regions of the country is needed.

Underweight and associated factors among lactating women in Uganda: Evidence from the Uganda demographic health survey 2016.

BACKGROUND: Lactating mothers are at increased risk of being underweight because of the physiological changes that lead to disproportionately higher energy and nutrient requirements compared to their non-pregnant and non-lactating counterparts. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with being underweight among lactating women in Uganda. METHODS: We used the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) 2016 data of 1356 women aged 20 to 49 years. Multistage stratified sampling was used to select study participants. The data were collected using validated questionnaires. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with underweight among 20 to 49-year-old lactating women in Uganda. RESULTS: The prevalence of underweight was 8.2% (111/1356) (95% confidence interval, [CI]: 7.0-10.0). Women who had no education were 10.21 (adjusted odds ratio, [AOR] = 10.21; 95% CI: 1.61-64.74) times as likely to be underweight as those who had higher (post-secondary) education levels. Women who were not working were 50% (AOR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.26-0.94) less likely to be underweight compared to those who were working. Women in the Western (AOR = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.07-0.32), Eastern (AOR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.18-0.66), and Central (AOR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.12-0.74) regions were 85%, 66% and 70% respectively less likely to be underweight compared to those in the Northern region. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this and other studies, it is important for the different stakeholders to design targeted nutrition programs for lactating women particularly those with low levels of education and those from the Northern region.