High Deficit in Nutrient Intakes Was Associated with Poor Nutritional Status of Pregnant Women: A Study from Eastern Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Nutrient intakes of pregnant women are essential for their health and the health of their fetus. This study aims to assess the nutrient intakes of pregnant women, residing in a rural eastern Indonesia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in two sub districts of Timor Tengah Selatan (TTS) district, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia in 2012. A total of 155 pregnant women, at all age of pregnancy, residing at least one year prior to this study in 14 villages of two sub districts KIE and Amanuban Barat involved in this study. Anthropometric data including BMI and MUAC of pregnant women were collected by trained enumerators from the department of nutrition, Health Polytechnic of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. A validated Semi Quantitative-Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQFFQ) was used to collect the dietary intake of the last 3 months of pregnant women. Nutrisurvey was used to compute and analyze nutrient intakes of the study subjects. Statistical Analysis was performed using STATA version 15.1 MP. Results The average of energy and protein intakes in pregnant women were 1178.4 ± 449.6 kcal/day and 38.4 ± 18.7 gr/day respectively, representing to only 54.7% and 57.4% of the Indonesian nutrient requirement of energy and protein intakes for pregnant women. The average of vitamin C and iron intakes in pregnant women were 59.9 ± 40.1 mg/day and 7.7 ± 6.2 mg/day, representing to only 70.5% and 29.5% of the Indonesian nutrient requirement of vitamin C and iron intakes for pregnant women. The average energy and protein intakes among underweight pregnant women were 211.1 kcal/day (95% CI: 17.3 kcal/day - 404.9 kcal/day) lower and 8.2 gr/day (95% CI: 0.07 gr/day -16.3 gr/day) lower than among non underweight pregnant women adjusting for age of pregnant women, gestational age, and monthly household expenditure, education level, and race. Conclusions The present study suggests that pregnant women in rural Indonesian community experienced high deficit in energy, protein, vitamin C and iron intakes lead to poor nutritional status during pregnancy. Funding Sources The United Nation World Food Program and The University of Alma Ata.