Dietary intake of pregnant women and its effect on the birth weight of newborns in rural area of Uttar Pradesh, India

Authors

  • Krishna Kumar Sahu Shrinivas Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Mukka, Surathkhal
  • MZ Idris Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, K.G. Medical University, UP, Lucknow
  • Monika Agarwal Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, K.G. Medical University, UP, Lucknow
  • SK Singh Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, K.G. Medical University, UP, Lucknow
  • MK Manar Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, K.G. Medical University, UP, Lucknow

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i1.9473

Keywords:

pregnant women, third trimester, dietary intake, birth weight, rural, India

Abstract

Background: Nutritional deficiency during pregnancy in rural India is common. The nutritional requirements during pregnancy are increased and on the other hand the dietary intake decreases because of symptoms related to pregnancy. This adversely affects the weight of newborn. In developing countries low birth weight is major problem. So this study concern to determine the nutritional status of pregnant women and its effect on birth weight of newborn.

Methods: A cross section descriptive study was conducted from Oct 2011 to May 2012 at Sarojni Nagar PHC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh over 323 pregnant women. They were interviewed regarding their dietary intake (on the basis of 24 hours recall method) during pregnancy. Of these 323 pregnant women, 291 could be followed up and amongst these 287 pregnant women delivered a live baby. The birth weight was measured immediate after birth.

Results: In this study mean energy, protein, iron and calcium intake during pregnancy were 2013.3 ± 327.6 cal/day, 57.8 ± 11.4 gm/day, 30.15 ± 5.57 mg/day and 910.7 ± 210.4 mg/day respectively, whereas the mean intake of vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C and folic acid were 608.4±161.2 μg, 1.2±0.2mg, 1.6±0.2mg, 11.9±2.1mg, 113.3 ±2.1mg and 196.2±38.4μg respectively. Nutritional deficiency during pregnancy was positively related with low birth weight.

Conclusion: In the rural setup of India majority of the pregnant women were having inadequate dietary intake. Hence, policies related to maternal nutrition should be made so as to decrease the prevalence of low birth weight.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i1.9473

Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(1) 2015 67-70

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Author Biography

Krishna Kumar Sahu, Shrinivas Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Mukka, Surathkhal

Department of Community Medicine

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Published

2014-07-25

How to Cite

Sahu, K. K., Idris, M., Agarwal, M., Singh, S., & Manar, M. (2014). Dietary intake of pregnant women and its effect on the birth weight of newborns in rural area of Uttar Pradesh, India. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, 6(1), 67–70. https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i1.9473

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2015)

Section

Original Articles

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