Socio Economic Status, Dietary Pattern and Nutritional Status of Teenage Pregnant Girls Belonging to Rural Areas of Vellore and Dharmapuri Districts

Abstract

A community based descriptive and cross sectional study was designed to assess the socio economic status, dietary pattern and nutritional status of teenage pregnant girls. This study was conducted in rural areas of Vellore and Dharmapuri districts in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Convenient sampling method was used to select 139 subjects in their third trimester of pregnancy. Subjects who had registered in Primary Health Centers, Government Hospitals and private hospitals in these areas were selected. Information pertaining to general aspects, anthropometric measurements, nutrient intake, food taboos, special foods consumed during pregnancy was collected by direct interview method using the proforma. The data so collected was statistically analyzed. The findings suggest that most of the participants belonged to low socio economic status. Nutrient intake and anthropometric measurements of the subjects were very low when compared with standards. These results indicate low potential birth outcomes in relation to maternal nutrition.