Anemia and Underweight among Married Women in Yemen; Evidence from Yemen Demographic Health Survey (YDHS-2013)

Background: Women in conflict are vulnerable to health and nutrition risks. Anemia and underweight are the common risks faced by women particularly in war torn countries. Yemen is one of the most affected places that has a fragile public health system due to the conflict. Increasing conflict has put women’s health and wellbeing at risk and has severely affected their nutritional development. Therefore, this study aims to examine the association between underweight and anemia with different risk factors among married women in Yemen. Methods: This study used the data from Yemen demographic health survey-2013 (YDHS-2013) of married women aged 15-59 year. Bivariate and multivariate logistic models were used to study the association between anemia and underweight with various socio-economic and maternal health risk factors. Results: A positive and significant association of socio-economic and maternal health risk factors was found with anemia and underweight. Women belonging to more prosperous groups had the lowest odds of underweight [OR=0.30, P<0.001)] and anemia [OR=0.61, P<0.001). The study also examined some key risk factors like breast feeding, iron supplements and contraceptive use among women and found a positive and significant association of these risk factors with underweight and anemia. Conclusions: Nutritional challenges have to be addressed especially in the country like Yemen. The results clearly indicate that women in Yemen are facing acute nutritional risks of underweight and anemia. Therefore, policy interventions are required to address their nutritional needs and also empower them economically to minimize these nutritional risks. Moreover, nutrition related interventions are required to attain the targets for sustainable development goals in Yemen.