Table 4 Factors associated with undernutrition among pregnant women in the Afar region, northeast Ethiopia

Women’s age

15–24

83 (70.3)

114 (43.3)

1.00

1.00

25–34

34 (28.8)

135 (51.3)

0.34 (0.21, 0.55)

0.54 (0.37, 1.06)

35 + 

1 (1.8)

15 (4.3)

0.09 (0.02, 0.76)

0.19 (0.12, 1.12)

Place of residence

Urban

86 (72.9)

219 (83.3)

1.00

1.00

Rural

32 (27.1)

44 (16.7)

1.85 (1.10, 3.11)

2.25 (1.90, 5.65)^a

Women’s education

Illiterate

57 (48.3)

78 (29.7)

2.69 (1.61, 4.52)

3.08 (1.24, 7.67)^a

Primary

29 (24.6)

67 (25.5)

1.59 (0.88, 2.86)

1.79 (0.78, 4.11)

Secondary + 

32 (27.1)

118 (44.9)

1.00

1.00

Partner education level

Illiterate

40 (33.9)

51 (19.4)

2.21 (1.31, 3.73)

1.65 (0.60, 4.54)

Primary

27 (22.9)

68 (25.9)

1.12 (0.65, 1.94)

0.62 (0.29, 1.34)

Secondary + 

51 (43.2)

144 (54.8)

1.00

1.00

Women’s occupation

Unemployed

95 (80.5)

195 (74.1)

1.00

1.00

Employed

23 (19.5)

68 (25.9)

0.69 (0.41, 1.18)

1.64 (0.72,3.78)

Monthly income (in ETB)

 ≤ 1000

13 (11.0)

18 (6.8)

2.11 (0.97, 4.59)

0.75 (0.23, 2.54)

1001–2000

20 (16.9)

44 (16.7)

1.33 (0.722, 2.45)

0.32 (0.11,1.94)

2001–3000

30 (25.4)

40 (15.2)

2.19 (1.25, 3.85)

1.55 (0.69, 3.48)

 > 3000

55 (46.6)

161 (61.2)

1.00

1.00

Family size

 < 5

94 (79.7)

202 (76.8)

1.00

1.00

5 + 

24 (20.3)

61 (23.2)

0.85 (0.49, 1.44)

1.19 (0.52, 2.75)

Gravidity

Prim gravida

61 (51.7)

82 (31.2)

1.00

1.00

Multigravida

57 (48.3)

181 (68.8)

0.42 (0.27, 0.66)

0.25 (0.12, 1.23)

Women used substances during pregnancy

Yes

20 (16.9)

9 (3.4)

5.75 (2.53, 13.10)

7.24 (2.35, 22.28)^a

No

98 (83.1)

254 (96.6)

1.00

1.00

Husband used substances in the last 24 h

Yes

30 (25.4)

31 (11.8)

2.55 (1.45, 4.46)

2.73 (0.87, 5.98)

No

88 (74.6)

232 (88.2)

1.00

1.00

Counselled about balanced diet

Yes

81 (68.6)

212 (80.6)

1.00

1.00

No

37 (31.4)

51 (19.4)

1.89 (1.15, 3.11)

1.75 (1.08, 3.60)^a

Chronic medical problems

Yes

26 (22..0)

27 (10.3)

2.47 (1.36, 4.45)

6.55 (2.64, 16.27)^a

No

92 (78.0)

236 (89.7)

1.00

1.00

Travel to health facilities (min)

 > 30

71 (60.2)

138 (52.5)

1.00

1.00

 ≤ 30

47 (39.8)

125 (47.5)

0.73 (0.47, 1.13)

0.44 (0.26, 1.31)

Feed extra meal in the last 24 h

Yes

57 (48.3)

158 (60.1)

1.00

1.00

No

61 (51.7)

105 (39.9)

1.61 (1.03, 2.49)

2.76 (1.29, 5.89)^a

Food restriction during pregnancy

Yes

44 (37.3)

71 (27.0)

1.61 (1.01, 2.55)

3.71 (1.82, 7.55)^a

No

74 (62.7)

192 (73.0)

1.00

1.00

Number of ANC visits

Only one

54 (45.8)

90 (34.2)

1.00

1.00

2–3 visits

55 (46.6)

147 (55.9)

0.62 (0.39, 0.98)

0.77 (0.42, 1.46)

4 + visits

9 (7.6)

26 (9.9)

0.57 (0.25, 1.32)

0.27 (0.15, 1.09)

HIV status

Positive

16 (13.6)

8 (3.0)

5.01 (2.07, 12.04)

4.41 (1.34, 14.52)^a

Negative

102 (86.4)

255 (97.0)

1.00

1.00

GA at the initiation of ANC (weeks)

 < 12

6 (5.1)

24 (9.1)

1.00

1.00

12–16

23 (19.5)

53 (20.2)

1.73 (0.62, 4.81)

0.81 (0.22, 2.94)

 > 16

89 (75.4)

186 (70.7)

1.91 (0.75, 4.85)

0.78 (0.24, 2.58)