Incian Joumal of Community Medicine Vol. XXV, No.3, Jul-Sept, 2000, NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF RURAL PREGNANT WOMEN Vartika Saxena, V.K. Srivastava, M.Z. Idris, U. Mohan, V. Bhushan ‘Upgraded dept. of Social and Preventive Medicine, K.G’s Medical College, Lucknow-226003. Abstract: Research questions: |. What isthe prevalence of undernourishment among rural pregnant women? 2. What isthe overall nutritional status of rural pregnant women? Objectives: 1, To asess the mutsitional status of pregnant wornen. 2 To assess the prevalence of different grades of anaemia among 3. To estimate the average weight gain during the course of pregni Study design: Longitudinal desripive study m™% ¥ tending rural antenatal clinic, ‘ral pregnant woman atfencing the antenatal clinic ney, Setting: Stody was performed at 3 rural antenaal clinics ip Sarojni Nagar Block of Lucknow district. Partcipants: 400 pregnant women registered snd followed up at Study variables: Body mass inde, vitamin and mineral diene Siatstcal analysis: Percentages, Reals: Overall 23.3% women were havi {ain daring pregnancy was recorded to be 6 ‘6 Kg. 29.5% women ove mentioned clinics for tie study js, weight gain, caloric intake, hemoglobin level. BMI 25.0 Mean BMI No.(%) Nos) No.(%) si2 13 58.5) 8661.5) (0) 198 13-16 5 2462.0) 50(66.7) 143) 209 17.20 116 28(24.1) 85(73.3) 32.6) 218 21-24 101 19(18.8) 75(74.3) 16.9) 25 25.28 95 17079) 7275.8) 6(6.3) 23.7 Total 400 930233) 290(72.5) 114.3) 205 Overall 23.3% women were having BMI <18.5 Kg/m?. Majority of women (72.5%) were having BMI in the range of 18.5-25.0 Kg/m’. ‘Table III: Trimester-wise distribution of pregnant women and their haemoglobin level at the time of registration. “Trimester No. of preg. women Haemoglobin level (gm/dl) <65 65-80 on > First 13 00.0) 10.2) 4030.8) _8(61.5) Second 292 12.4) 3110.6) 71(24.3)—_183(62.7) Third (upto 28 weeks only) 95 88.4) 14147) 1616.8) $7(60.0) Total 400 153.7) 4611.5) 91228) 248(62.0) Figures in parentheses are percentages [Nuttional satus of rural prognant women 105 Saxena V otalIn the present study 38% women were found to be suffering from anaemia, Out of which 3.7% women were severely anaemic (Hb <6.5 gm/dl), 22.8% and 11.5% Indian Joumal of Communty Madicine Vol. XXV, No.3, Jul-Sept, 2000 women were suffering from mild and moderate degree of anaemia respectively. ‘Table TV: Average weight gain of pregnant women throughout the pregnancy (n=400). Gestational age Number of women “Average weight “Ave. weight (in weeks) (Kg)8D sain/month (Ks) Newly registered Followed-up Total 58 2 o 2 440816 - 92 u ° u a4se13 os 1316 15 ° 5 44.809 08 17220 116 3 159 45.4817 La 21-24 101 2” 198 46.0813 20 25.28 95 6 158 46.7423 27 v2 0 132 132 475430 35 33.36 ° 137 137 4826 3 y7-40 ° B n 49.4819 34 40-42 0 " u 50.682.3 66 ‘Average weight gain among those delivering upto 40 weeks and beyond was 5.4 Kg and 6.6 Kg respectively. Table V: Distribution of pregnant women according to their status of dietary intake. Status Calories(KCal) Protein(gm) Iron(mg) No%) oS) No) Adequate 282(70.5) 302(75.5)256(64.0) RDA+10% Deficient 118(29.5) 98(24.5) 144(36.0) 10% of RDA Toa -400(100.0) 400(100.0) 400(100.0) Overall 29.5% women were not taking adequate calories, Discussio The present study was performed in community development block Sarojini Nagar which is the field practice area of Upgraded Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, K.G. Medical College, Lucknow regularly visited by teachers, residents, interns and undergraduate students, which resulted into marked ‘Nuttiona status of rural pregnant wornen 106 improvement in health status of the area. 38.5% women registered during first trimester were having BMI <18.5 kg/m this could be compared with pre-pregnancy BMI as ‘eight gain during first trimester is negligible, Mean BMI of the women registered from 13 to 28 week should be imerpreted as attainment of BMI during subsequent course ‘of pregnancy. NNMB (1998) reported 48.2% and IASDS (1995) reported 29.7% women to be in the category of BMI <18.5 ky/m® (LASDS, 1999)". The stunted women were ‘more in the study (28.5%) in comparison to 17% reported by IASDS, UP (1995)* This could be because of our failure to change attitude of rural people over women’s nutrition since her childhood period. Although average weight gain of 6.6 Kg was recorded up to 42 weeks of pregnancy, but majority of women gained weight in the range of 5-6 kg. As maternal fat deposition has been found to be much more responsible to weight gain fluctuation than birth weight (Dwinen 1987)", Thus if very little weight is gained by mother, ess maternal fat is deposited and foetal weight is relatively protected. While this may benefit birth weight in the short term, it may not be sufficient to avoid poor growth and development of infant because the infant may still suffer later, if lactation capacity is compromised by such a lack of maternal fat deposition (Allen, LH. 1992)". In poor ‘Saxona V eta!socio-economic condition of rural women inadequate weight gain may also lead to maternal depletion syndrome, if further pregnancies are not checked in time. So lot of emphasis is needed for adequate weight gain. Present study reported 38% anaemic women (Hb <11 gmvél which is certainly better than the reported national figure of 40-80% by different authors", perhaps showing the impact of iron and folic acid tablets provided to them. In the present study 29.5% women were taking less calories than recommended, because of many socio-economic reasons as illiteracy. poverty and wrong belief that less dietary intake will ease the delivery, requiring sincere efforts for improving overall quality of life of these rural Conclusion and Recommendations: ‘Thus itcan be concluded that area needs a community based strategy for the improvement of maternal nutritional status. Moreover, nutritional needs of women should be taken care of since her childhood and masses should be ‘educated to remove gender bias so that women can hold human right of adequate nutrition forall References: 1. UNICEF, Nutrition Series 97-002 improving, adolescent and maternal nutrition, An overview of benefits and options, 1997. 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