Abstract
Maternal nutritional problems remain as one of the public health problems in Sri Lanka. This study was designed to assess the nutritional status of pregnant women in a rural area. A total of 133 pregnant women in their second trimester was recruited from Maternal and Child Health clinics. A pre-tested general assessment questionnaire, validated food frequency questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were used to collect information. Nutritional status was determined using Body Mass Index (BMI), weight-gain and haemoglobin levels. Nutrient intake data were compared with Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for pregnancy. The mean age of the study sample was 26.86±4.16 years. According to the pre-pregnancy BMI at the first visit to the clinic, 15, 44.4, 35.3 and 5.3 were underweight, normal, overweight and obese, respectively. Their mean weight gain during the second trimester was 2.71±2.23 kg that was below the recommended weight gain (4.84 kg). Out of the total, 24.57% had anaemia (<11 gdL-1). Mean daily intake of energy was 2472 kcal and percentages of energy from carbohydrate, protein and fat were 61.5, 12.2 and 26.3, respectively. Although mean daily dietary intake of protein (74.19±13.64 g) was above the RDA of 59 g/day, mean intakes of Ca; 844.9 mg, Fe; 16.5 mg, and folate; 420.9mg were below the RDA. The study concluded that underweight, overweight and low dietary nutrient intakes were nutritional problems of the study sample. Therefore, effective nutrition intervention should be directed towards pregnant women to improve maternal nutritional status.
Highlights
Pregnancy is an anabolic process and a woman's normal nutritional requirement increases during pregnancy to meet the needs of the growing fetus and the maternal tissues associated with pregnancy
It was recognized that poor growth results from a deficiency of protein and energy and from inadequate intake of micronutrients that are vital during pregnancy
A cross sectional study was conducted at Maternal and Child Health (MCH) clinics in Pannala Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area, a rural area located in the Kurunegala District, North- Western Province of Sri Lanka
Summary
Pregnancy is an anabolic process and a woman's normal nutritional requirement increases during pregnancy to meet the needs of the growing fetus and the maternal tissues associated with pregnancy. The study by Mora and Nestel showed that out of 200 million pregnant women each year, many pregnant women in developing countries suffer from nutritional deficiencies and these nutritional problems. Malnutrition resulting from inadequate dietary intake is associated with growth failure and development of protein-energy malnutrition, especially during the gestation (Kathleen and Drora, 2010). It was recognized that poor growth results from a deficiency of protein and energy and from inadequate intake of micronutrients that are vital during pregnancy. The World Health Organization indicates that, on average, 56% of pregnant women in developing countries is anaemic (Allen, 2000) and it is estimated that 82% of all pregnant women in the world suffers from zinc deficiency (Ma et al, 2004)
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