Low Socioeconomic Status as an Independent Predictor of Maternal Undernutrition Among Pregnant Women in Tharparkar, Pakistan

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Published: 2026-03-15
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61919/cvr8bq14
Keywords:
Maternal undernutrition; Pregnancy; MUAC; Socioeconomic status; Household income; Tharparkar

Main Article Content

Bhawna Pirthvi
District TB Officer, DHO Office Mithi, Pakistan
Pirthvi Acharya
Independent Public Health Researcher, Health Service Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan
Preh Ayub Abro
Lecturer, SMBB Medical University, Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan
Rajev Brahman
Hospital Pharmacist, Health Department, Government of Sindh, Sindh, Pakistan
Neeraj
MSPH Scholar, Ziauddin University
Sagar Acharia
Medical Officer, Paramedical Institute Mithi Tharparkar, Mithi, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Maternal undernutrition remains an important public-health concern in socioeconomically disadvantaged settings, where limited household resources may adversely affect maternal nutritional status during pregnancy. Objective: To determine the prevalence of MUAC-defined undernutrition and assess its association with socioeconomic characteristics among pregnant women attending Civil Hospital Mithi, Tharparkar. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 421 pregnant women recruited through convenience sampling from July to December 2024. Socioeconomic information was collected using a structured, pre-tested questionnaire, and nutritional status was assessed using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), with MUAC <23 cm defining undernutrition. Associations were examined using bivariate tests and univariate and multivariable logistic regression. Results: Overall, 285/421 women (67.7%) were undernourished. Undernutrition occurred in 68.9% of women from low-income households compared with 20.0% from middle-income households. Low household income was associated with higher crude odds of undernutrition (OR=8.84, 95% CI: 1.85–42.23; p=0.006) and remained independently associated after multivariable adjustment (AOR=5.32, 95% CI: 1.46–19.38; p=0.012). Women with no formal education had higher but statistically imprecise adjusted odds of undernutrition (AOR=3.15, 95% CI: 0.95–10.45; p=0.061). Conclusion: MUAC-defined undernutrition was common among pregnant women attending Civil Hospital Mithi, and low household income was independently associated with greater odds of undernutrition

Article Details

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 5 (2026)

Section

Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

[1]
Bhawna Pirthvi et al. 2026. Low Socioeconomic Status as an Independent Predictor of Maternal Undernutrition Among Pregnant Women in Tharparkar, Pakistan. Journal of Health, Wellness and Community Research. 4, 5 (Mar. 2026), 1–7. DOI:https://doi.org/10.61919/cvr8bq14.

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