Animal source food (ASF) intake among women of reproductive age in rural Vietnam (VN)

Abstract

Maternal anemia and low birth weight babies are common among rural VN women. Thus, we evaluated the ASF intake of non‐pregnant women of reproductive age with BMIs < 18.5. 218 women (18 to 30 yrs) from 21 communes participated in focus group sessions. 24‐hr dietary recalls were done in 24 women from different communes between harvests; 5 non‐consecutive repeats were done in 9 women (60 recalls total). Nutrient intakes were calculated using VN food composition tables. Mean (SD) energy intake was 1815 (501) kcal/d with14% from protein and 3.6% from ASF protein. Mean (SD) iron intake was 10.8 (3.9) mg/d, zinc 8.3 (2.7) mg/d, vitamin A 636 (757) μg RAE/d, and vitamin B12 3.2 (3.6) μg/d. 10% of iron, 13% of zinc, and 41% of vitamin A were from ASF. Nearly 100% had iron and zinc intakes below the VN RDA; about 50% had vitamin A and B12 intakes below the RDA. Eggs and fish were the primary sources of ASF. Women consumed more ASFs when pregnant if encouraged to do so by their husbands and mothers‐in‐law, when income was higher, during holidays, and between harvests when they could catch field crabs and fish. Often women abstained from eating ASFs to protect their image when ASFs were available for other family members. Thus, accessibility and cultural habits limit ASF intake by rural VN women putting them at risk for micronutrient deficiencies and poor pregnancy outcomes.Support: Jastro‐Shields UC Davis Graduate Student Scholarship