Food Supplementation during Pregnancy, Maternal Anthropometry and Birth Weight in a Guatemalan Rural Population

Abstract

The relationship between food supplementation during pregnancy maternal nutrition - as estimated by anthropometrical measurements - and birth weight in a chronically malnourished population was examined in 4 rural villages of Guatemala. The data were drawn from a long-term prospective study dealing with the effects of chronic malnutrition on physical growth and mental development. The findings showed that calorie supplementation was positively associated with maternal monthly weight gain during pregnancy after controlling for maternal home diet height head circumference gestational age parity birth interval morbidity socioeconomic status and type of supplement (protein-caloric and caloric). The proportion of mothers with a monthly weight gain equal to or less than 0.5 kg was 15% in the low-supplemental group and 2.4% in the high supplemented group. Direct associations between birth weight and all maternal measurements of mass and length (weight at 1st 2nd and 3rd trimester weight gain during pregnancy height and sitting height) with all the perimeters (head arm leg thigh and chest) and the 2 osseous diameters measured (biestyloid and bicondylar) were also observed. Associations between birth weight and skinfolds (subscapular bicipital tricipital midaxilar lateral and anterior thigh and leg) were less consistent. The results support the hypothesis that food supplementation improves both birth weight and maternal nutritional status.