Undernutrition Among Pregnant Women in Rural Ethiopia: PhD Thesis Defense - Nana Chea Hankalo

Year
2026
Summary

Maternal undernutrition in rural Ethiopia remains highly prevalent at 38 percent. This thesis identifies key drivers including gender inequality, poor nutritional counseling, and cultural food taboos. Using human-centered design, a “couples forum” intervention was developed and validated, showing strong feasibility and cultural acceptability as a promising community-based solution.