scholarly journals Improving maternal nutrition for better pregnancy outcomes

2015 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 454-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. M. Nnam
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Health Clinics ◽  
Mother And Child Health ◽  
Mother And Child ◽  
Uterine Growth ◽  
Reproductive Life ◽  
Intra Uterine Growth Retardation

Much has been learned during the past several decades about the role of maternal nutrition in the outcome of pregnancy. While the bulk of the data is derived from animal models, human observations are gradually accumulating. There is need to improve maternal nutrition because of the high neonatal mortality rate especially in developing countries. The author used a conceptual framework which took both primary and secondary factors into account when interpreting study findings. Nutrition plays a vital role in reducing some of the health risks associated with pregnancy such as risk of fetal and infant mortality, intra-uterine growth retardation, low birth weight and premature births, decreased birth defects, cretinism, poor brain development and risk of infection. Adequate nutrition is essential for a woman throughout her life cycle to ensure proper development and prepare the reproductive life of the woman. Pregnant women require varied diets and increased nutrient intake to cope with the extra needs during pregnancy. Use of dietary supplements and fortified foods should be encouraged for pregnant women to ensure adequate supply of nutrients for both mother and foetus. The author concludes that nutrition education should be a core component of Mother and Child Health Clinics and every opportunity should be utilised to give nutrition education on appropriate diets for pregnant women.

scholarly journals Impact of Dietary Pattern on Nutritional Status of Pregnant Women in Low and High Strata between the Age Group of 30-39 Years in Mumbai

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Vaibhavi P. Tailor ◽  
Rupali Sengupta
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Food Group ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Green Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Uterine Growth ◽  
Socioeconomic Strata ◽  
Intra Uterine Growth Retardation

Background: Maternal Nutrition plays an important role in shaping the mother’s and fetal health. Therefore intake of high salt, high fat, high sugar in the diet might lead to over nutrition among pregnant women due to varied food choices of the since most of the subjects consumed outside food, Sugar Sweetened Beverages such as (Cola, Pepsi, Thumps Up, Soda, Sherbet etc), Processed Food such as (Ready to eat food, Mayonnaise, Cheese spread etc) which consist of increase amount of preservative which might affect the mother and foetal’s health. Since there was increase intake of above food groups and decrease intake of macro and micronutrients in the diet through food group such as Fruits, Nuts and Oilseed, Green Leafy Vegetables etc. Therefore there might be increased risk of Over nutrition among women which might lead to GDM (Gestational Diabetes Mellitus), IUGR (Intra Uterine Growth Retardation), Low Birth weight etc. Aim: To study the impact of dietary pattern on Nutritional of pregnant women in Low and High Strata. Method: A purposive random sampling was done among pregnant women because only 2nd trimester pregnant women were selected for the study. The 50 subjects were divided into LSES (Lower Socioeconomic Strata) &HSES (Higher Socioeconomic Strata) on the basis of Kuppuswamy Index. The dietary pattern of the subjects was assessed through FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire) & 3 Day Diet Recall. Result: There was increase consumption of High Fat, High Salt, High Sugar in the diet through consumption if food group such as Outside Food, Processed Food, Sugar Sweetened Beverages etc and in comparison the consumption of Macro and Micronutrient rich food group was lower which included Fruits, Green Leafy Vegetables, Nuts and oilseed etc. In Lower Strata the consumption of above food group was low because they were financially not stable therefore they were given additional services where the company paid their ration balance so that they could consume selective food group which were costing comparatively more. Since the RDA(Recommended Dietary Allowances) requirements were not met therefore the women were prescribed Iron, Calcium and Folic Acid supplements in the diet to decrease the risk of Maternal and fetal complication such as GDM(Gestational Diabetes Mellitus), NTD(Neural Tube Defect), IUGR(Intra Uterine Growth Retardation) etc. Conclusion: Therefore to decrease the risk of Maternal and Fetal Complications intake of Macro and Micro nutritions in the diet is imperative and it is important to organize Nutrition Intervention programmes and counsel the pregnant women about Maternal Nutrition and how decrease intake of Nutrients in the diet might lead to Maternal Under nutrition and over nutrition and its related risk.

scholarly journals Maternal Nutrition Education Provided by Midwives: A Qualitative Study in an Antenatal Clinic, Uganda

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce Nankumbi ◽  
Tom Dennis Ngabirano ◽  
Gorrette Nalwadda
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Mode Of Delivery ◽  
Antenatal Clinic ◽  
Organization Mode ◽  
Healthy Habits ◽  
Service Training ◽  
Special Circumstances ◽  
Depth Interviews

Maternalnutrition during pregnancy affects the health of the mother and baby. The objective of this paper is to describe the maternal nutrition education offered by midwives to women attending an antenatal clinic. The study also examined the resources, support, and the needs of the midwives in offering the nutrition education. Six in-depth interviews with the midwives, six direct structured observations of the group education, and 12 one-on-one interactions of midwife and pregnant women observations were completed. The interviews and field observation notes were typed and analyzed using the latent content analysis. The emerging themes were the maternal nutrition education and the education needs of the midwives. The content and presentation of maternal nutrition were inadequate in scope and depth. The maternal nutrition education was offered to only pregnant women attending the first antenatal care visit. The routine antenatal education session lasted 45 minutes to 1 hour, covering a variety of topics, but the nutritional component was allotted minimal time (5–15 minutes). The organization, mode of delivery, guidelines, resources, and service environment were extremely deficient. The relevance of appropriate weight gain during pregnancy, guidelines for healthy habits, avoidance of substance abuse, and nutrition precautions in special circumstances was missing in the nutrition presentation. Information, maternal nutrition education resources, infrastructure, and health system gaps were identified. There was an inefficient nutrition education offered to the pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic. As means of promoting effective nutrition education, appropriate in-service training, mentorship, and support for the midwives are needed, as well as infrastructural and resource provision.

scholarly journals Food Taboos and Cultural Beliefs Influence Food Choice and Dietary Preferences among Pregnant Women in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gamuchirai Chakona ◽  
Charlie Shackleton
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Meat Products ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
Food Taboos

A well-nourished and healthy population is a central tenet of sustainable development. In South Africa, cultural beliefs and food taboos followed by some pregnant women influence their food consumption, which impacts the health of mothers and children during pregnancy and immediately afterwards. We documented food taboos and beliefs amongst pregnant isiXhosa women from five communities in the Kat River Valley, South Africa. A mixed-methods approach was used, which was comprised of questionnaire interviews with 224 women and nine focus group discussions with 94 participants. Overall, 37% of the women reported one or more food practices shaped by local cultural taboos or beliefs. The most commonly avoided foods were meat products, fish, potatoes, fruits, beans, eggs, butternut and pumpkin, which are rich in essential micronutrients, protein and carbohydrates. Most foods were avoided for reasons associated with pregnancy outcome, labour and to avoid an undesirable body form for the baby. Some pregnant women consumed herbal decoctions for strengthening pregnancy, facilitating labour and overall health of both themselves and the foetus. Most learnt of the taboos and practices from their own mother or grandmother, but there was also knowledge transmission in social groups. Some pregnant women in the study may be considered nutritionally vulnerable due to the likelihood of decreased intake of nutrient-rich foods resulting from cultural beliefs and food taboos against some nutritious foods. Encouraging such women to adopt a healthy diet with more protein-rich foods, vegetables and fruits would significantly improve maternal nutrition and children’s nutrition. Adhering to culturally appropriate nutrition education may be an important care practice for many pregnant women in the Kat River Valley.

scholarly journals Risk Factors of Delivery by Caesarean Section in Cameroon (2003-2004): A Regional Hospital Report

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Tebeu ◽  
E. Mboudou ◽  
G. Halle ◽  
E. Kongnyuy ◽  
E. Nkwabong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Caesarean Section ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Maternal Characteristic ◽  
Mother And Child Health ◽  
Mother And Child ◽  
Reproductive Life ◽  
Child Health Programs ◽  
The Relationship

We conducted this retrospective case-control study to identify possible risk factors of delivery through caesarean section in the Far North Region of Cameroon. Data was collected retrospectively from delivery room registers at the Provincial Hospital, Maroua, Cameroon from 01/01/2003 to 31/12/2004. The overall 125 eligible caesarean deliveries were compared with 244 women who delivered vaginally during the study period. The odds ratio as well as the 95% confidence interval was used to measure the relationship between maternal characteristic and risk of delivery by caesarean section. We found that the marital status is similar in the two study populations. Risk factors associated with cesarean section were: maternal age less than 17 years (OR 3.55, 95%CI: 1.46–8.64), maternal age over 39 years (OR 3.55, 95% CI: 1.17–10.75), nulliparity (OR 2.72, 95% CI: 1.59–4.66), grand multiparty (OR 3.43, 95% CI: 1.79–6.57), and macrosomia (OR 4.82, 95% CI: 1.49–16.44). There was a weak association with absent or poor. Caesarean delivery is associated with extreme ages of reproductive life, macrosomia, nulliparous and grand multiparous status. We strongly recommend that these factors be taken into consideration to strengthen the mother and child health programs in Cameroon and countries with similar socioeconomic profiles.

scholarly journals Preconception Care among Pregnant Women in an Urban and a Rural Health Facility in Kenya: A Quantitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 7430
Author(s):  
Joan Okemo ◽  
Marleen Temmerman ◽  
Mukaindo Mwaniki ◽  
Dorothy Kamya
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Rural Health ◽  
Health Facility ◽  
Preconception Care ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mother And Child Health ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mother And Child ◽  
Low Levels

Preconception care (PCC) aims to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes, however, its utilization remains low in developing countries. This pilot study assesses the level and determinants of PCC in an urban and a rural health facility in Kenya. Unselected pregnant women were recruited consecutively at the Mother and Child Health (MCH) clinics in Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH, N-urban) and Maragua Level Four Hospital (MLFH-rural). The utilization of PCC was defined as contact with any health care provider before current pregnancy and addressing pregnancy planning and preparation. A cross-sectional approach was employed and data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. 194 participants were recruited (97 in each setting) of whom, 25.8% received PCC. Age, marital status, education, parity and occupation were significant determinants of PCC uptake. There was also a significant difference in PCC uptake between the rural (16.5%) and urban (35.1%) participants (p < 0.01), OR of 0.3 (0.19–0.72, 95% CI). The low level of PCC in Kenya revealed in this study is consistent with the low levels globally. However, this study was not powered to allow firm conclusions and analyze the true effects of PCC determinants. Therefore, further research in the field is recommended in order to inform strategies for increasing PCC utilization and awareness in Kenya.

The role of proper maternal nutrition during pregnancy for caries prevention in both mother and child. Opinion of the working group of the Polish Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future on dental prophylaxis in pregnant women

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Chałas ◽  
Angelika Kobylińska ◽  
Magdalena Kukurba-Setkowicz ◽  
Anna Szulik ◽  
Elżbieta Pels
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Caries Prevention ◽  
World Health ◽  
Dental Prophylaxis ◽  
Mother And Child ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
In Pregnancy

Introduction. Proper nutrition in pregnancy has effects on the health and well-being of the mother as well as is a key factor responsible for foetal growth and development, which are initiated at conception and last throughout pregnancy. Aim. The aim of the paper was to present relevant data on the role of prenatal maternal nutrition for caries prevention in both mother and child. Material and methods. Pubmed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, guidelines of dental associations and World Health Organization were searched using the following keywords: “diet”, “dentition”, “pregnancy”, “oral health in pregnancy”. Results. The diet of a pregnant woman should be well-balanced and rich in proteins, calcium, phosphorus, fluorine and vitamins (A, C and D). Women should avoid sneaks between meals or at night to avoid dental plaque accumulation and oral pH decrease. Balanced nutrition influences the development of future nutritional habits of the child as taste receptors begin to develop already at month 4 of pregnancy. High maternal consumption of confectionery in this period may in the future increase the child’s tendency to consume sweet food products. Conclusions. There is a need to intensify dental prophylaxis among pregnant women through introduction and promotion of proper nutrition in dental offices, up-dating teaching programs for dental hygienists and education in birth schools.

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