Magnitude and Determinants of Food Insecurity Among Pregnant Women in Nigeria: Evidence from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey
Background: Food security is essential for improving maternal nutrition during pregnancy. However, evidence regarding the extent and social determinants of food insecurity among pregnant women is limited in Nigeria. Objective: To determine the prevalence and factors contributing to food insecurity a...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2024-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Medicine and Health Development |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmh.ijmh_13_24 |
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| Summary: | Background: Food security is essential for improving maternal nutrition during pregnancy. However, evidence regarding the extent and social determinants of food insecurity among pregnant women is limited in Nigeria. Objective: To determine the prevalence and factors contributing to food insecurity among pregnant women in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study involved a secondary analysis of nationwide data from the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey 2018, utilizing a cross-sectional household survey design. The data was adjusted for sampling weight, stratification, and cluster sampling design. The dependent variable was food security status, categorized into food security (indicating dietary diversity) and food insecurity (indicating lack of dietary diversity). Independent variables encompassed women’s socio-demographic and household characteristics. Bivariate analysis and complex sample logistic regression were conducted to ascertain the adjusted effect of each independent variable on food insecurity. Statistical significance for all inferential analyses was set at P < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of food insecurity among pregnant women in Nigeria is 45%. Factors associated with increased likelihood of food insecurity include pregnant women residing in the North-East (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26–2.29, P < 0.001) and South-East (AOR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.04–2.07, P = 0.028) regions, having no education (AOR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.28–2.70, P = 0.001) or only primary education (AOR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.28–2.69, P = 0.001), being married or living with a partner (AOR: 3.33, 95% CI: 1.28–8.67, P = 0.014), widowed, divorced, or separated (AOR: 3.83, 95% CI: 1.68–8.73, P = 0.001), lack of exposure to television (AOR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.26–1.92, P < 0.001), and barriers to healthcare access (AOR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.43–1.99, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The proportion of food-insecure pregnant women needs improvement in Nigeria. It is imperative to incorporate the social determinants of food insecurity identified in this study into policies and plans aimed at enhancing food security among pregnant women in Nigeria. |
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| ISSN: | 2635-3695 2667-2863 |