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Background Appropriate infant and young child feeding practices are critical for optimal child growth and development, but in Ethiopia, complementary feeding (CF) practices are very poor. Alive & Thrive (A&T) provided intensive behavior change interventions through 4 platforms: interpersonal communication (IPC), nutrition-sensitive agricultural activities (AG), community mobilization (CM), and mass media (MM). Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of A&T intensive compared with nonintensive interventions (standard nutrition counseling and agricultural extension service and less intensive CM and MM) on CF practices and knowledge and child anthropometric outcomes. Methods We used a cluster-randomized evaluation design with cross-sectional surveys among households with children aged 6–23.9 mo [n = 2646 at baseline (2015) and n = 2720 at endline (2017)]. We derived difference-in-difference impact estimates (DDEs) and conducted dose–response and path analyses to document plausibility of impacts. Results At endline, exposure to IPC was 17.8–32.3%, exposure to AG was 22.7–36.0%, exposure to CM was 18.6–54.3%, and exposure to MM was 35.4% in the intensive group. Minimum dietary diversity and minimum acceptable diet increased significantly in the intensive group but remained low at endline (24.9% and 18.2%, respectively). Significant differential declines in stunting prevalence were observed (DDE: −5.6 percentage points; P

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the level and predictors of dietary diversity (DD) in predominantly food-insecure area of South Wollo, Ethiopia among children ages 6 to 23 mo. Methods The study was conducted in October 2014. We selected 2080 children using a multistage sampling technique. DD in the preceding day of the survey was assessed with the standard seven-food group score. Predictors of DD were identified via Poisson regression model and the outputs are presented using adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Only 7% (95% CI, 5.9%–8.1%) of the children met the recommended minimum DD. Child age and maternal knowledge of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) were significant predictors of DD with IRR of 1.027 (95% CI, 1.022–1.032) and 1.026 (95% CI, 1.010–1.043). Households with moderate and severe food insecurity had 9% (95% CI, 3.8–13.9%) and 24.9% (95% CI, 14.6–44%) reduced chance of providing diversified food. Husbands' direct involvement in IYCF increased DD by 13.7% (95% CI, 7.4–20.4). Caregivers who discussed IYCF with health extension workers, participated in cooking demonstrations, and heard radio spots about IYCF in the preceding 3 mo had 11.7% (95% CI, 3.4–20.7%), 18.9% (95% CI, 0.3–40.9%), and 11.4% (95% CI, 4.8–18.4) higher chance of providing diversified food, respectively. Backyard gardening (IRR, 1.088; 95% CI, 1.031–1.148) and number of chickens owned (IRR, 1.011; 95% CI, 1.001–1.021) also were significant predictors. Conclusions In predominately food-insecure areas, nutrition education, implementation of nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and husband involvement in IYCF can improve children's DD.

Malnutrition in children under 5 years of age is pervasive in Ethiopia across all wealth quintiles. The objective of this study was to determine the willingness to pay (WTP) for a weeks supply of Nutributter® (a lipid-based nutrient supplement or LNS) through typical urban Ethiopian retail channels. In February 2012 128 respondents from 108 households with 6-24-month-old children had the opportunity to sample Nutributter® for 2 days in their homes as a complementary food. Respondents were asked directly and indirectly what they were willing to pay for the product and then participated in market simulation where they could demonstrate their WTP through an exchange of real money for real product. Nearly all (96%) of the respondents had a positive WTP and 25% were willing to pay the equivalent of at least $1.05 which we calculated as the likely minimum unsubsidized Ethiopian retail price of Nutributter® for 1 week for one child. Respondents willing to pay at least $1.05 included urban men and women with children 6-24 months old from low- middle- and high-wealth groups from four study sites across three cities. Additionally we estimated the initial annual market size for Nutributter® in the cities where the study took place to be around $500000. The study has important implications for retail distribution of LNS in Ethiopia showing who the most likely customers could be and also suggesting why the initial market may be too small to be of interest to food manufacturers seeking profit maximization.

Background: Childhood malnutrition remains common in many parts of the world; the magnitude of worldwide stunting, underweight and wasting in children under five years of age were 24.7 %, 15.1 % and 7.8 %, respectively. More than 150 million children under the age of five years in the developing world are malnourished. Ethiopia is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa with the highest rates of malnutrition. In Ethiopia, 44.4% and 9.7% of children under-five years old were stunted and wasted, respectively. This study was aimed to assess nutritional status and effect of maternal employment among children aged 6–59 months. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Wolayta Sodo Town, Southern Ethiopia. Socio-demographic characteristics, child feeding and healthcare seeking practice of mothers, and child's anthropometric status were assessed. Probability proportional to size sampling approach was used to select a sample of 316 mothers having children aged 6-59 months. The study was ethically approved by Institutional Review Board of Health Science College, Hawasa University. Result: The overall result revealed that the prevalence of stunting was 22.2%, of which 21.8% and 22.6% were in children of employed and unemployed mothers, respectively. Low-weight-for age was 10.8% for children of employed mothers and 13.4% for children of unemployed mothers. Wasting was 8.8% and 10.8% for children of employed and unemployed mothers, respectively. There was no statistically significant association between maternal employment and nutritional status of their children. However, chronic malnutrition (stunting) was influenced by being educated mother (OR: 0.37) child age group of 24-59 months (OR: 0.36) and households' fifth wealth quintile (OR: 0.28). Conclusion: Low prevalence of stunting was observed. Stunting is a public health concern in the study area. Furthermore, stunting is significantly influenced by mothers’ education, household wealth and child age. However, maternal employment was not statistically associated with child nutritional status. Thus, nutritional intervention initiatives should focus on improving household food security, maternal education and agricultural diversification. Keywords: Childhood Nutrition, Maternal employment, Southern Ethiopia

Thirty samples each of bulla and kotcho, processed products of enset (Ensete ventricosum) were collected from the Awassa open market and analyzed for some microbiological and biochemical properties. Both products had high counts of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and yeasts (>106 cfu/g). Coliform counts were markedly higher in bulla (10 5 cfu/g) than in Kotcho (around 103 cfu/g). Counts of enterococci was also high in both food types (10 4 to 1Q' cfu/g). Micrococcus and Bqcillus species dominated the aerobic flora in both products. All samples yielded staphylococci at levels > 1.0x10 5 cfu/g and Staphylococcus au reus constituted between 50 and 100% of the isolates. Bulla and Kotcho yielded various yeast species and Rhodotornla glutinis, Kluyveromyces marxianus and Pichia membranefaciens were isolated from most or all samples. All products had pH values around neutral and moisture contents of around 50% .Bulla and Kotcho appeared to be processed in unhygienic conditions. Unfermented bulla and kotcho are likely to pose health problems and could spoil easily. [Ethiop. I. Health Dev. 1996;10(2):117-122]

To investigate the relative validity of a multiple-pass interactive 24-h recall (24-HR) for assessing nutrient intakes of a group of rural Ethiopian women.Dietary intakes from a 24-HR were compared with weighed record (WR) intakes collected on the same day for 58 women of child-bearing age from three subsistence farming communities in Sidama. The impact of memory lapses, use of average recipe data, and inaccurate portion size estimates on 24-HR intakes was also assessed.Median daily intakes of energy and most nutrients (except fat and phytate) were lower (P0.05) by the 24-HR versus the WR. Controlling for energy densities decreased the discrepancies to lower than ±6%, except for vitamin C. No significant differences between the two methods existed for the contribution of six food groups to energy intakes (percentages). Fewer than 40% of 24-HR intakes were ±10% of the WR. After classifying intakes (per day) into quartiles, Cohen's κ values were poor (4.0) for protein, iron, retinol, and dietary fiber and fair (≥0.40 to ≤0.75) for energy and other nutrients; all values per megajoule were mostly fair. Bland-Altman plots confirmed a negative bias for daily energy and nutrient intakes with the 24-HR versus WRs. Discrepancies were attributed mainly to inaccurate portion size estimates.In this setting, the 24-HR cannot be substituted for the WR to assess absolute nutrient intakes for a group or the prevalence of inadequate intakes but could be used for energy-adjusted intakes. Prior training may improve the accuracy of the 24-HR.

The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional status and cognitive performance of women and their 5-year-old children using a cross-sectional design. Cognitive performance of mothers and children was assessed with Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices (CPM) and Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-II (KABC-II). Demographic characteristics, food consumption patterns and anthropometry were also measured. Four rural districts in Sidama, southern Ethiopia served as the setting for this study. Subjects were one hundred women and their 5-year-old children. Mean ± standard deviation age of the mothers was 29 ± 6 years and family size was 7.0 ± 2.6. Maternal body mass index (BMI) ranged from 15.3 to 29.0 with 14% of the mothers having BMI < 18.5. Anthropometric assessment of children revealed 29% to be stunted (height-for-age z-score < -2) and 12% to be underweight (weight-for-age z-score < -2). Mothers' education significantly contributed to prediction of both mothers' and children's cognitive test scores. There were significant differences in mean cognitive test scores between stunted and non-stunted, and between underweight and normal-weight children. Height-for-age z-scores were correlated with scores for short-term memory (r = 0.42, P < 0.001), and visual processing (r = 0.42, P < 0.001) indices and weight-for-age z-scores were also correlated with scores of short-term memory (r = 0.41, P < 0.001) and visual processing (r = 0.43, P < 0.001) indices. Malnutrition in the community likely contributed to the cognitive performance of the subjects. Performance on memory and visual processing tasks was significantly lower in children with growth deficits suggesting that efficient and cost effective methods to alleviate malnutrition and food insecurity would impact not only child health but also cognitive function.

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of zinc inadequacy based on dietary intakes and plasma zinc concentrations and, simultaneously, the prevalence of inadequate intakes of energy, protein, calcium and iron.DesignA cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of subsistence farming households in Sidama, Southern Ethiopia.SubjectsDietary intakes were calculated from 1-day weighed food records and 40 repeats from 99 pregnant women in the third trimester using analysed values of major staple foods for zinc, iron, calcium and phytate. The distribution of observed intakes was adjusted for usual intakes and the prevalence of inadequacy estimated using the estimated average requirement (EAR) cutpoint method. Prevalence of inadequacy for zinc, protein and iron intakes were compared with those based on biochemical measures.ResultsPrevalence of zinc inadequacy was very high: 99% for US FNB EAR and 100% for IZiNCG EAR compared to 72% based on low plasma zinc concentrations. Corresponding prevalence estimates for iron were much lower: 4% for inadequate intakes based on US FNB EAR vs. 8.7% for iron deficiency anaemia (haemoglobin < 110 g l−1; ferritin < 12 μg l−1) and 32.3% for low storage iron. Prevalence of inadequacy for protein was 100% for adjusted intakes and 91% for serum albumin < 32 g l−1. For calcium, 74% were at risk for inadequate intakes.ConclusionThe high prevalence of inadequate intakes of zinc and protein was reasonably consistent with those based on biochemical measures. Such dietary deficits could be overcome by regular consumption of cellular animal protein. In contrast, both dietary and biochemical measures of iron inadequacy were low.

The etiology of anemia during pregnancy in rural Southern Ethiopia is uncertain. Intakes of animal-source foods are low and infections and bacterial overgrowth probably coexist. We therefore measured the dietary intakes of a convenience sample of Sidama women in late pregnancy who consumed either maize (n = 68) or fermented enset (Enset ventricosum) (n = 31) as their major energy source. Blood samples were analyzed for a complete blood count, vitamin B-12 and folate status, plasma ferritin, retinol, zinc, albumin, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The role of infection and gravida was also examined. Dietary intakes were calculated from 1-d weighed records. No cellular animal products were consumed. Of the women, 29% had anemia, 13% had iron deficiency anemia, 33% had depleted iron stores, and 74 and 27% had low plasma zinc and retinol, respectively. Only 2% had low plasma folate ( 271 nmol/L). None had elevated plasma cystathionine or total homocysteine (tHcys). Women with enset-based diets had higher (P = 0.052) plasma vitamin B-12 concentration and lower (P or = 12 microg/L) status were major positive predictors of hemoglobin. Despite some early functional vitamin B-12 deficiency, there was no macrocytic anemia. Consumption of fermented enset may have increased vitamin B-12 levels in diet and plasma.

Speed of information processing and recognition memory can be assessed in infants using a visual information processing (VIP) paradigm. In a sample of 100 infants 6-8 months of age from Southern Ethiopia, we assessed relations between growth and VIP. The 69 infants who completed the VIP protocol had a mean weight z score of -1.12 ± 1.19 SD, and length z score of -1.05 ± 1.31. The age-appropriate novelty preference was shown by only 12 infants. When age was controlled, longest look duration during familiarization was predicted by weight (sr(2) = .16, p = .001) and length (sr(2) = .05, p =.058), and mean look duration during test phases was predicted by head circumference (sr(2) = .08, p = .018) implying that growth is associated with development of VIP. These data support the validity of VIP as a measure of infant cognitive development that is sensitive to nutritional factors and flexible enough to be adapted to individual cultures.

Representative staple foods from Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, were analyzed for phytate using HPLC, and for Zn, Fe and Ca by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Enset starchy foods had the lowest phytic acid content, followed by fermented injera prepared from tef. Oleaginous seeds (niger and sesame) had the highest phytate content (∼1600 mg/100 g). The iron content of raw tef and tef injera, unlike barley flour or corn bread, varied markedly, attributed to contaminant iron from soil. The foods prepared from enset and tef were also rich sources of calcium. Most of the fermented foods prepared from enset and tef had low Phy:Zn and Phy:Fe molar ratios, whereas corn bread (unleavened), kidney beans, sesame, and niger seeds had higher molar ratios. Absorption of intrinsic Zn, Fe, and Ca as well as any exchangeable contaminant iron is unlikely to be compromised by phytate in the fermented foods prepared from enset and tef, unless consumed together with high phytate foods such as corn bread, legumes, and oil seeds.

Regardless of efforts by the health sector and partner organizations, maternal and child malnutrition is still a challenge in Ethiopia.To describe the context of current infant and child feeding patterns in Ethiopia.Feeding patterns, diet content and quality, and nutritional outcomes and feeding practices of mothers of young children are described from literature review of a number of field studies.Protein and energy deficiencies and multiple micronutrient deficiencies are common. Breastfeeding is often prolonged until 2 years of age, with introduction of small amounts of poor-quality complementary foods. Vitamin A and iodine deficiencies have also been problems. Focus group discussions showed that mothers did not believe that animal-source foods are needed.by young children or schoolchildren. However, the Health Extension Program led by the Federal Ministry of Health promotes optimal child feeding as one of the health extension packages.Continued use of germination and fermentation of cereals should be encouraged to increase bioavailability of trace elements. Use of fat in the diet would increase energy density. To improve the situation, extension education, including nutrition and agricultural expertise delivered in aformat understandable to mothers about appropriate complementary feeding, including animal-source foods, is urgently needed, with expansion of governmental and nongovernmental resources.

Little is yet known about zinc absorption in late pregnancy, and no information on absorption from the total diet is available.The objective was to measure the fractional absorption of zinc (FAZ) and to estimate the total quantity of absorbed zinc (TAZ) each day during the third trimester of pregnancy in poor rural southern Ethiopian women.The participants (n = 17) were a convenience sample from a larger study population. The third stage of pregnancy was estimated from fundal height by the Bushulo Health Center prenatal outreach program. FAZ was determined with a dual-isotope tracer ratio technique that uses measurements of urine enrichment with zinc stable isotopes administered intravenously and orally, as an extrinsic label, with all meals in 1 d. Total dietary zinc (TDZ) was calculated from weighed diet records and Ethiopian food-composition tables supported by zinc and phytate analyses of major food items for individual meals. Plasma zinc and exchangeable zinc pool size were also estimated.Mean (+/-SD) FAZ was 0.35 +/- 0.11, TDZ was 6.0 +/- 3.2 mg/d, TAZ was 2.1 +/- 1.0 mg/d, phytate intake was 1033 +/- 843 mg/d, plasma zinc was 44.1 +/- 6.0 microg/dL, and the exchangeable zinc pool size was 142 +/- 39 mg. The molar ratio of phytate to zinc was 17:1.Women from a poor rural population who were dependent on a moderately high-phytate diet had low TDZ and low plasma zinc concentrations in the third trimester of pregnancy. TAZ was modestly higher than that predicted but did not meet physiologic requirements.

The relation between zinc status and cognitive function was examined in a cross-sectional study in the Sidama area of Southern Ethiopia. Pregnant women >24 weeks of gestation from three adjacent rural villages volunteered to participate. Mean (s.d.) plasma zinc of 99 women was 6.97 (1.07) μmol/l (below the cutoff of 7.6 μmol/l indicative of zinc deficiency at this stage of gestation). The Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) test was administered individually. Scores for the Raven’s scale A, which is the simplest scale, ranged from 4 to 10 of a possible 12. Women with plasma zinc 7.6 μmol/l. Plasma zinc and maternal age and education predicted 17% of the variation in Raven’s CPM scale A scores. We conclude that zinc deficiency is a major factor affecting cognition in these pregnant women.

Background Systems strengthening is essential for implementation of large-scale nutrition interventions, including infant and young child feeding (IYCF), since rapid geographic expansion places additional burdens on service delivery systems. Objective To document approaches for building capacity and supporting programs to scale up IYCF counseling in three different country contexts. Methods Situational assessments, stakeholder consultations, formative research, household and frontline health worker surveys, other related studies, and program monitoring in three countries identified gaps and opportunities for strengthening IYCF service delivery. Results Variations in program platforms, level and roles of service providers, places of service delivery, community factors, and the needs of managers and frontline workers influenced the intervention mix used for strengthening IYCF services. The programs ranged from a highly structured and standardized package of IYCF counseling services in Vietnam delivered through government health facilities to counseling delivered at the doorstep by incentivized nongovernmental organization volunteers in Bangladesh. In Ethiopia, government health extension workers based at health posts conducted outreach visits with support from volunteers. Conclusions Guidelines and standards of care, training, job aids, supportive supervision, incentives, and monitoring data can enhance performance and strengthen systems for delivering IYCF counseling services in the community or at health facilities. Leadership, financing, partnerships, and logistics support are essential to support large-scale implementation of the IYCF counseling package in diverse service delivery environments.

Malnutrition in children under 5 years of age is pervasive in Ethiopia across all wealth quintiles. The objective of this study was to determine the willingness to pay (WTP) for a week's supply of Nutributter® (a lipid‐based nutrient supplement, or LNS) through typical urban Ethiopian retail channels. In February, 2012, 128 respondents from 108 households with 6–24‐month‐old children had the opportunity to sample Nutributter® for 2 days in their homes as a complementary food. Respondents were asked directly and indirectly what they were willing to pay for the product, and then participated in market simulation where they could demonstrate their WTP through an exchange of real money for real product. Nearly all (96%) of the respondents had a positive WTP, and 25% were willing to pay the equivalent of at least $1.05, which we calculated as the likely minimum, unsubsidised Ethiopian retail price of Nutributter® for 1 week for one child. Respondents willing to pay at least $1.05 included urban men and women with children 6–24 months old from low‐, middle‐ and high‐wealth groups from four study sites across three cities. Additionally, we estimated the initial annual market size for Nutributter® in the cities where the study took place to be around $500 000. The study has important implications for retail distribution of LNS in Ethiopia, showing who the most likely customers could be, and also suggesting why the initial market may be too small to be of interest to food manufacturers seeking profit maximisation.

Iodine deficiency is one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies worldwide and is a major cause of preventable mental retardation. The purpose of this study was to assess the iodine status and cognitive function of women of childbearing age and their five-year-old children.A cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural village in southern Ethiopia. A convenience sample of one hundred women and their five year-old children participated in the study. Goiter grade, urinary iodine excretion, Raven's CPM and cognitive tests from the Kaufman ABC-II, were administered to the women and their children.The use of iodized salt was only 2%. The mean iodine content of water in and around the study area was 4.46 microg/l. Occurrence of goiter was 85% in the women and 33% in children. Urinary iodine excretion for all participants was49 microg/L, the top of the range for moderate iodine deficiency. The median urinary iodine excretion (UIE) was 1 microg/L for both mothers and children. For children, measures of short term memory (Sequential index) were correlated with the visual processing (Simultaneous index) (r = 0.49, p0.0001). Goiter and urinary iodine excretion were correlated to Sequential index (r = 0.39, p = 0.0011 and r = 0.2, p = 0.05) respectively, but not to the Simultaneous index for children. Sequential (r = 0.21, p = 0.03) and Simultaneous (r = 0.29, p = 0.004) indices of mothers and children were correlated.The high prevalence of goiter and the low urinary iodine excretion demonstrate serious long- and short-term iodine deficiency in the study area. Relations between measures of iodine status and short term memory in children raise concern about potential functional effects of iodine deficiency.

Background: Vitamin A plays vital role in the physiology of vision and immunity. Globally quarters of a billion children are Vitamin A deficient. Vitamin A supplementation of children and mothers during postpartum period is a key strategy to avert the deficiency. However the effect of Vitamin A supplementation on incidence of childhood illnesses is controversial. Objective: To assess the effect of Vitamin A supplementation on the reduction of common childhood illnesses, and to measure the coverage of vitamin A supplementation among children aged 6-59 months and mothers during postpartum period. Methods: A retrospective cohort study which involves comparison between Vitamin A supplemented and nonsupplemented children was conducted in Feb 2008 in Boloso Sore Woreda, Wolayta Zone, SNNPR. A total of 1601 children aged 6-59 months were selected using Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) sampling technique. Results: Vitamin A supplementation coverage among children (6-59 months) was 83.1% and among women (in postpartum period) who had given birth in the preceding 12 months of the survey was 13.2%. In comparison with the corresponding level in 2005, the coverage in the area has increased significantly (P (95%CI 0.64-1.52)]. Recommendations: The effect of Vitamin A supplementation on reduction of childhood illnesses should be assessed through longitudinal studies among Vitamin A deficient children.

In most developing countries, complementary foods are based on staple cereal or root crops. Imported or commercially developed foods generally are not used by low-income rural households due to high cost and poor availability. To improve the quality of children's diets in Southern Ethiopia, two complementary foods were formulated based on corn, or on an indigenous root crop ( Enset ventricosum ) product called kocho. Kidney beans and pumpkin pulp were used to improve the protein and vitamin A values, respectively. Kidney beans and corn were soaked, germinated and lightly roasted before grinding. Four formulations of complementary foods were prepared. Two of them were traditional corn- or kocho-based, and served as controls. The other two were supplemented formulations, and contained either corn:kidney bean:pumpkin (CBP) or kocho:kidney bean:pumpkin (KBP). Crude protein and fat, amino acid profile, and carotene content of the corn, kocho, kidney bean, and pumpkin were determined by standard AOAC methods. The four formulations were evaluated for sensory acceptability in Southern Ethiopia by mother and child pairs. The CBP and KBP formulations had crude protein contents of 14.07 g/100 g and 13.81 g/100 g, respectively, while the traditional corn and kocho had only 8.82 g/100 g and 1.46 g/100 g, on a dry weight basis. Adding kidney beans to both mixtures improved their essential amino acid profiles, but the need to serve the foods as thin porridge for infants created low energy density products. The pumpkin in CBP and KBP provided 54 µg RAE per 100 kcal, increasing the Vitamin A value of the mixes by 25- and 180-fold, respectively. Sensory evaluation of CBP by 30 mother and child pairs, and KBP by 28 pairs indicated high acceptability (4.7 - 4.9 on a 5-pt Hedonic scales) of the complementary foods. Acceptability scores of CBP and KBP were not significantly different (p > 0.05) from those of the traditional corn and kocho formulations. Thus, addition of kidney beans and pumpkin is a potential way to increase the nutritive value of traditional Ethiopian complementary foods prepared from corn or kocho. Keywords : amino acid profile, legume, nutrient density, complementary foods, vitamin A African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development Vol. 6(1) 2006

This study was part of a cross-sectional investigation of the nutritional status of lactating women in two rural villages in Southern Ethiopia conducted in January, 2006. A convenience sample of 10...

BACKGROUND : More than 7.2 million pregnant women in developing countries suffer from vitamin A deficiency. The objective of this study was to assess dark adaptation threshold of pregnant women and related socio-demographic factors in Damot Sore District, Wolayita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS : A cross-sectional study design was employed to collect data from 104 pregnant women selected by a two stage cluster sampling. A Dietary Diversity Score was calculated by counting the number of food groups consumed by the women in 24 hour period prior to the study. Scotopic Sensitivity Tester-1 was used to test participant’s pupillary response to graded amounts of light in a dark tent. RESULTS : Half of the pregnant women in this study had dietary diversity score less than three. The majority of participants (87.5%) had consumed either animal or plant source vitamin A rich foods less than three times a week. For a unit increase in individual dietary diversity score, there was a decrease in dark adaptation measurement by 0.29 log cd/m2 (p=0.001). For a unit increase in gestational week of pregnancy, there was an increase in dark adaptation measurement by 0.19 log cd/m2 (P=0.027). CONCLUSIONS : Results from this study indicated that the pregnant women had low consumption of vitamin A rich foods, and their dark adaptation threshold increases with gestational age indicating that their vitamin A status is getting worse. There is a need to design appropriate intervention and target this group of population. KEYWORDS : Vitamin A deficiency, pregnant women, dark adaptation threshold, Southern Ethiopia