Year: 2026 | Month: August | Volume: 13 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 297-304
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260828
Influence of Cultural and Socio-Economic Factors on the Nutritional Status of Pregnant Women in Garowe Camps of Internally Displaced Persons, Puntland, Somalia
Ruweyda Hussein Jama1, Lawrence Mugambi1, Rose Juma1
1Department of Public Health, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Kenya Methodist University, Nairobi, Kenya
Corresponding Author: Ruweyda Hussein Jama
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted in Garowe IDP camps with the aim of examining the influence of socio-cultural and socio-economic factors on nutritional status of pregnant women in Garowe IPDs camps. Specifically, the study assessed the association between cultural beliefs, food taboos, household socio-economic characteristics, and maternal nutritional status among pregnant women attending Barwaqo, Jilab, and Jowle Health Centers.
This is a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design with mixed-methods A total of 218 pregnant women were registered during the study period; 180 participants had complete nutritional-status data and were included in the outcome analyses. The study revealed that multiple factors significantly influence the nutritional status of pregnant women in IDP camps.
The findings showed that both cultural and socio-economic factors were significantly associated with the nutritional status of pregnant women. Restrictive cultural beliefs and food taboos were associated with poorer nutritional status (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.36–0.90, p = 0.019), while better socio-economic conditions increased the likelihood of normal nutritional status (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.23–2.69, p = 0.003).
Targeted interventions should address harmful cultural beliefs and food taboos, strengthen women's economic empowerment and household livelihoods, improve access to nutritious foods and maternal health services, and integrate culturally sensitive nutrition counseling into routine antenatal care to improve maternal nutritional status among pregnant women in IDP camps.
Keywords: Nutritional status; maternal nutrition; socio-cultural factors; socio-economic status; pregnant women; internally displaced persons (IDPs).
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