Food Security and Dietary Intake in Pregnant Women from Urban Low Income Group

Abstract

In the 1970s poverty leading to low dietary intake prior to and during pregnancy was the major factor responsible for maternal under-nutrition and low birth weight. Over the last four decades there has been reduction in poverty and household food insecurity; concurrently there has been a steep decline in physical activity and some decline in energy intake. As a result of all these changes currently both under-nutrition and over-nutrition are major public health problems in women. A study was undertaken to assess food security status of the family and dietary intake of pregnant women from urban low income families using 24 hour dietary recall. Dietary intakes of pregnant women were compared with intakes of Non-Pregnant Non-Lactating women (NPNL) from the same family. Dietary intakes of both NPNL and pregnant women were compared with Estimated Average Requirement (EAR). Computation of energy intake/CU/day from the diet survey showed that these families were food secure. Both in NPNL and in pregnant women, intakes of cereal and roots and tubers were adequate; pulse, leafy vegetables and other vegetables and milk consumption was below EAR; fat consumption was above EAR. Mean energy intake was higher than EAR in NPNL women. There was a small increase in energy intake during pregnancy and intakes met EAR in pregnant women. Dietary intake of iron was below EAR in pregnant women. In urban sedentary women from food secure families, a small but sustained higher than EAR energy intake over years appears to contribute to progressive increase in over-nutrition with increasing age.