Household food security, food hygiene practices and their interaction on self-reported health among pregnant women in the Bono region of Ghana: a population-based cluster survey

Abstract Background Food security and food hygiene practices can negatively influence health. Poor food hygiene and food insecurity risk poor health. Studies have investigated the direct associations of food security and food hygiene practices on health outcomes, however, combine effects of these variables on self-reported health is under explored. This study aimed to assess household food security, food hygiene practices and their interaction on self-reported health among pregnant women in Bono Region, Ghana. Methods Cross-sectional study was conducted among 408 pregnant women in Sunyani West Municipality. Data collected were entered into SPSS version-22. Descriptive statistics, One-way ANOVA with Post Hoc test, and multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the data and results presented at 95% confident interval with p-value ≤ 0.05 considered significant. Results Mean prevalence and 95%CI of self-reported health, household food security and food hygiene practices were: 1.69 (1.59—1.79), 5.36 (4.92—5.79) and 122.06 (106.12—137.99), respectively. Being Student/Apprentice (AOR = 0.44, 95%CI = 0.20—0.98), having: low food hygiene practices (AOR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.18—0.83), low household food security (AOR = 4.85 95%CI: 2.44—9.61), interaction of moderate food hygiene practices with low food security (AOR = 2.51, 95%CI = 1.38—4.54) and interaction of low food hygiene practices with moderate food security (AOR = 2.93, 95%CI = 1.57—5.48) were associated with poor self-reported health. Conclusion Household food security food hygiene practices and their interaction were associated with poor self-reported health among pregnant women in Sunyani West Municipality. Public health officers in the municipality should consider implementing Behavior Change Communication Strategies (BCCS) and food safety training to promote positive food hygiene practices. The Municipal assembly should prioritize food subsidies and direct food aid/cash to targeted vulnerable households.