scholarly journals Micronutrient Status and Dietary Diversity of Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Pakistan

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3407
Author(s):  
Anna K. M. Brazier ◽  
Nicola M. Lowe ◽  
Mukhtiar Zaman ◽  
Babar Shahzad ◽  
Heather Ohly ◽  
...  

Consuming a diverse diet is essential to ensure an adequate intake of micronutrients. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status and dietary diversity of women of reproductive age (WRA) living in a marginalized community in rural Pakistan. Forty-seven WRA (35 ± 7 years old) who were not pregnant or lactating at enrollment, were recruited to participate in the study. Twenty-four-hour dietary recall interviews were conducted by the study nutritionist, and the data collected were used to create a minimum dietary diversity for women score (MDD-W) on five occasions during the monsoon and winter seasons (October to February). Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometry and biochemical markers of micronutrient status. Height and weight were used to determine body mass index (BMI), and mid-upper-arm circumference was measured. Plasma zinc, iron, and selenium concentrations were measured using inductively coupled mass spectrometry, and iron status was assessed using serum ferritin and blood hemoglobin concentrations. The mean (±SD) food group diversity score was 4 ± 1 with between 26% and 41% of participants achieving an MDD-W of 5. BMI was 27.2 ± 5.5 kg/m2 with 28% obese, 34% overweight, and 6% underweight. The prevalence of zinc deficiency, based on plasma zinc concentration, was 29.8%; 17% of the participants had low plasma selenium levels; 8.5% were iron deficient; and 2% were suffering from iron deficiency anemia. The findings indicate that the women living in this community consume a diet that has a low diversity, consistent with a diet low in micronutrients, and that zinc deficiency is prevalent. Public health interventions aimed at increasing the dietary diversity of WRA are needed to improve the micronutrient intake, particularly of zinc, in this population.

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-40
Author(s):  
Razia Sultana ◽  
Syeda Rumana Hoque ◽  
Umme Jamila Akter Manni ◽  
Md Motlabur Rahman ◽  
Pankaj Kanti Datta ◽  
...  

Background/context: Dietary diversity (DD) is universally recognized as a key component of healthy diets. Healthy diet is one of the most important determinants that can influence nutritional status of women of reproductive age. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Shitpara village of Sreepur Upazila under Gazipur district during February to June 2013 to assess the dietary diversity and nutritional status of women of reproductive age. Convenient sampling technique was adopted to select 181 women. Interview schedule & checklist used as research instrument. Results: The mean(+/-s.d.)age of the respondents was 27.45+/-9.38 years, 133(80%) of them were married and 176(97.2%) are literate. Mean family size was 5.34+/- 2.386 persons and mean family income was 9611.05 Taka per month. Among 133 married women, 68(51%) have 2 or less than two children. Their mean(+/-s.d.) dietary diversity score was 5.13+/- 1.19 and majority 149(82%) of them having medium dietary diversity tercile (4-6). All of them ate carbohydrate types of food, 174(96.1%) protein rich foods & 83(45.9%) vit.A rich vegetables & fruits. Their mean BMI was 22.35 +/- 3.71 kg/ m2. Majority 118 (65%) of them having normal BMI and 22(12%) are under weight. Only 6(3%) of them are obese. Thoughdietary diversity was medium (4-6); relationship between dietary diversity and nutritional status could not be established. Conclusion:The qualitative measurement of dietary diversity is not sufficient enough to identify women at risk of under- or over nutrition. J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 27, No.1, April, 2018, Page 36-40


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 699-699
Author(s):  
Lorraine Yeung ◽  
Mona Duggal ◽  
Reena Das ◽  
Jorge Rosenthal ◽  
Swati Bhardwaj ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Anemia is a public health problem in women of reproductive age in many low- and medium-income countries including India. Maternal anemia can cause low birth weight, impaired fetal growth, and preterm birth. We assessed the baseline prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency (ID), iron deficiency anemia (IDA), and inflammation using c-reactive protein (CRP) among non-pregnant, non-lactating women of reproductive age living in the Ambala District, Haryana, India prior to the start of a wheat flour fortification program. Methods We conducted a multistage cluster probability household and biomarker survey and analyzed venous blood samples from non-pregnant, non-lactating women aged 18–49 years residing in rural areas of two subdistricts in the Ambala District. Factors of interest were: anemia, hemoglobin < 12.0 g/dL; ID, serum ferritin < 15μg/L;  IDA,  presence of both anemia and iron deficiency; inflammation, CRP > 5 mg/L. We used the BRINDA regression adjustment for ferritin to account for inflammation. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for anemia, ID, IDA, and CRP were estimated. Results Among 775 non-pregnant, non-lactating women of reproductive age, 54.3% (95% CI; 50.7, 58.0) had anemia, 86.9% (95% CI; 84.3, 89.2) were iron deficient, and 15.1% (95% CI; 12.5, 18.1) had inflammation. Among those with anemia, 58.2% (95 CI; 54.3, 62.0) had iron deficiency anemia. Conclusions Anemia, iron deficiency, and iron deficiency anemia among non-pregnant, non-lactating women of reproductive age in Haryana are significant public health concerns. The findings from the survey helped quantify the burden of inadequate iron intake and informed the Haryana government's prevention strategy aimed at reducing micronutrient deficiencies through a wheat flour fortification program. Funding Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


2017 ◽  
Vol 147 (12) ◽  
pp. 2297-2308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Wenger ◽  
Laura E Murray-Kolb ◽  
Julie EH Nevins ◽  
Sudha Venkatramanan ◽  
Gregory A Reinhart ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia have been shown to have negative effects on aspects of perception, attention, and memory. Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to assess the extent to which increases in dietary iron consumption are related to improvements in behavioral measures of perceptual, attentional, and mnemonic function. Methods: Women were selected from a randomized, double-blind, controlled food-fortification trial involving ad libitum consumption of either a double-fortified salt (DFS) containing 47 mg potassium iodate/kg and 3.3 mg microencapsulated ferrous fumarate/g (1.1 mg elemental Fe/g) or a control iodized salt. Participants' blood iron status (primary outcomes) and cognitive functioning (secondary outcomes) were assessed at baseline and after 10 mo at endline. The study was performed on a tea plantation in the Darjeeling district of India. Participants (n = 126; 66% iron deficient and 49% anemic at baseline) were otherwise healthy women of reproductive age, 18–55 y. Results: Significant improvements were documented for iron status and for perceptual, attentional, and mnemonic function in the DFS group (percentage of variance accounted for: 16.5%) compared with the control group. In addition, the amount of change in perceptual and cognitive performance was significantly (P < 0.05) related to the amount of change in blood iron markers (mean percentage of variance accounted for: 16.0%) and baseline concentrations of blood iron markers (mean percentage of variance accounted for: 25.0%). Overall, there was evidence that the strongest effects of change in iron status were obtained for perceptual and low-level attentional function. Conclusion: DFS produced measurable and significant improvements in the perceptual, attentional, and mnemonic performance of Indian female tea pickers of reproductive age. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01032005.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2822
Author(s):  
Sameera A. Talegawkar ◽  
Yichen Jin ◽  
Erica Sedlander ◽  
Rohini Ganjoo ◽  
Satyaranjan Behera ◽  
...  

Diet diversity has an important role in the prevention and treatment of anemia. Based on formative research in the community and the theory of normative social behavior, we designed an intervention to improve diet diversity among women of reproductive age. Our study, the Reduction in Anemia through Normative Innovations (RANI) Project, investigated the effect of a social norms-based intervention on diet diversity among women of reproductive age. We randomized villages in Odisha, India, into treatment or control arms, with a minimum of one village buffer between them. We assessed exposure to the intervention by frequency of self-reported images seen from the participatory learning modules, videos watched, and number of hemoglobin tests administered. We assessed diet diversity with the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) questionnaire. We used multiple logistic regression to examine the associations between intervention and diet diversity, adjusting for covariates. Compared with baseline, diet diversity score increased in both treatment and control groups. The odds of having a diverse diet was 47% higher in the treatment group. Higher level of exposure to the RANI intervention was associated with a better diet diversity score, indicating that the intervention was effective in improving diet quality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1249-1252
Author(s):  
R. Mukhtar ◽  
A. U.- Rehman ◽  
A. Ilyas ◽  
M. J. Khan ◽  
R. Liaqat ◽  
...  

Aim: To determine the frequency of Bacterial vaginosis by pap smear cytology and find its association with its sociodemographic determinants. Study design: Cross sectional analytical study Place and duration of study: Department of Histopathology, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore from 1st January 2016 to 31st October 2016. Methodology: Two hundred and sixty pap smears of married women of reproductive age group with vaginal discharge who attended Gynecology OPD were included. Proper history regarding age, socioeconomic status, age of marriage, literacy level, smoking, and nutritional status was taken. Results: Disease prevalence was found to be 19.2%(50)in this sample of 260 while 9.1% had Candidiasis, 47%, 17.2% ,3.7%, 4.1% had Mild nonspecific inflammation, Moderate nonspecific inflammation, Moderate to severe nonspecific inflammation, and negative smears respectively. Bacterial vaginosis was associated with age, monthly income, illiteracy, early age at marriage, history of abortion and nutritional status with significant p-value ≤ 0.05. However no association was found between the disease and marital status, smoking and pallor. Conclusion: Low socioeconomic status, literacy, age >35, nutritional status is strongly related to occurrence of bacterial vaginosis in women of reproductive age group with vaginal discharge. Key Words: Bacterial vaginosis, Pap smear, Sociodemographic determinants


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Sedlander ◽  
Chandni Ladwa ◽  
Sameera Talegawkar ◽  
Rohini Ganjoo ◽  
Rajiv Rimal

Abstract Objectives Half of women of reproductive age in India have iron deficiency anemia compared to only 23% of men. Most research focuses on biological reasons for this discrepancy and access to iron-folic acid and iron-rich foods. However, recent research in India shows that inequitable gender norms may affect a woman's ability or desire to take iron supplements and to eat iron-rich food. The objective of this study is to examine how and why gender norms may be affecting high and persistent rates of anemia in India. Methods We conducted 25 key informant interviews and 16 focus group discussions with women of reproductive age, adolescents, husbands and mothers-in-law (n = 148) in Odisha, India. We purposively sampled key informants and randomly sampled focus group participants. We analyzed the data using applied thematic analysis in Nvivo software. Results Our data shows that unequal gender norms impact behaviors that are directly related to high rates of anemia. Women are often serving their husband, children, and in-laws first and “adjusting” to whatever is leftover which may be poor in nutritional qualities and less iron rich. Men are also the main breadwinners but often spend their money on alcohol, money that could be spent on iron-rich food for the household. Women reported that extreme fatigue is a normal part of being a woman and that a woman's plight is to take care of her family at any cost. Given that fatigue, the primary symptom of anemia is normalized; women may be less likely to seek treatment. Women tend to prioritize the health of their family over her own which could affect her ability or desire to go to the health center to get tested for anemia or to obtain iron supplements. Pregnant women are more likely to take iron supplements for the health of the baby, not her own health. While non-pregnant women of reproductive age who were not diagnosed with anemia were not focused on preventive health, only major illnesses and thus, were not taking supplements at all. Conclusions More upstream barriers, like gender norms, may be impinging on a woman's ability to take iron folic acid and to eat iron rich foods. Understanding how gender norms contribute to anemia could change the narrative from a biomedical issue to a social justice issue. Funding Sources The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 660-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thalia M Sparling ◽  
Jillian L Waid ◽  
Amanda S Wendt ◽  
Sabine Gabrysch

AbstractObjective:To quantify the relationship between screening positive for depression and several indicators of the food and nutrition environment in Bangladesh.Design:We used cross-sectional data from the Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM) trial in Bangladesh to examine the association of depression in non-peripartum (NPW) and peripartum women (PW) with food and nutrition security using multivariable logistic regression and dominance analysis.Setting:Rural north-eastern Bangladesh.Participants:Women of reproductive age.Results:Of 2599 women, 40 % were pregnant or up to 1 year postpartum, while 60 % were not peripartum. Overall, 20 % of women screened positive for major depression. In the dominance analysis, indicators of food and nutrition security were among the strongest explanatory factors of depression. Food insecurity (HFIAS) and poor household food consumption (FCS) were associated with more than double the odds of depression (HFIAS: NPW OR = 2·74 and PW OR = 3·22; FCS: NPW OR = 2·38 and PW OR = 2·44). Low dietary diversity (<5 food groups) was associated with approximately double the odds of depression in NPW (OR = 1·80) and PW (OR = 1·99). Consumption of dairy, eggs, fish, vitamin A-rich and vitamin C-rich foods was associated with reduced odds of depression. Anaemia was not associated with depression. Low BMI (<18·5 kg/m2) was also associated with depression (NPW: OR = 1·40).Conclusions:Depression among women in Bangladesh was associated with many aspects of food and nutrition security, also after controlling for socio-economic factors. Further investigation into the direction of causality and interventions to improve diets and reduce depression among women in low- and middle-income countries are urgently needed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document