What factors are associated with pre-pregnancy nutritional status? Baseline analysis of the KITE cohort: a prospective study in northern Ethiopia.

The prevalence of pre-pregnancy undernutrition in our study population was very high. The pre-pregnancy nutritional status could be improved by advancing community awareness on dietary practice and gender equality, empowering females, raising agricultural productivity and strengthening health extension. Such changes require the coordinated efforts of concerned governmental bodies and religious leaders in the Ethiopian setting.