Abstract:
Background: Fetal malnutrition is a clinical state of a baby of any BW and gestational age
characterized by obvious intrauterine loss of or failure to acquire normal amounts of
subcutaneous fat and muscle mass as it experienced deprivation of adequate calories, proteins
and other nutrients necessary for proper growth and development. It is important to recognize
fetal malnourished babies because of increased neonatal mortality and long-term sequelae. The
purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of fetal malnutrition and associated factors
among term newborn neonates at public health facilities of Shashemene, Oromia Region,
Ethiopia.
Objective: The study aimed to determine the magnitude and to identify the factors associated
with fetal malnutrition among term newborn neonates at public health facilities of Shashemene,
Oromia Region, Ethiopia.
Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study design was conducted on live-born full term
babies (n=365) by using systematic sampling technique between April 1 and May 30, 2022, at
Shashemen public health facilities. Using Clinical assessment of nutritional status (CAN) score,
score <25 is Fetal Malnutrition. Clinical assessment of nutritional status was done on the basis of
CAN score. The data was coded and entered into EPI data manager version 4.2 and it was
exported to the SPSS version 26 for analysis. Binary and multiple regression analysis was used
for analysis .variables with p-value of 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were fitted in multivariable
analysis. In multivariable analysis, statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05.
Result: A total of 357 newborn/mother pairs were participated in the study with a response rate
of 97.8%. The overall prevalence of fetal malnutrition in this study was 13.7 %( 95% CI: 10-17).
Maternal mid upper arm circumference, placental weight and ANC visits were significantly
associated with fetal malnutrition with AOR and CI [3.4(1.55-7.8), 2.6(1.1-6.5), 3.2(1-9.6))]
respectively.
Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence of fetal malnutrition was 13.7% which is
relatively low compared to other studies. Therefore, Health care providers need to enable
mothers to use ANC follow up during pregnancy to further reduce this problem by continuousand persistent awareness creation
