title: Nutrition, genital tract infection, hematologic values, and premature rupture of membranes among African American Women.
abstract: Using a prospective comparative design, African American gravidae with and without genital tract infection were assessed with respect to dietary intakes, serum nutrient values, hematologic values, and pregnancy outcomes. Intakes of ascorbic acid, vitamin A, protein, and iron were the dietary variables while levels of ascorbic acid, protein, albumin, globulin, and ferritin were the variables measured in serum. The hematologic variables included hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red and white blood cell counts. Pregnancy outcome was defined on the basis of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), and infant birth weight, birth length, gestational age, and head circumference. The sample consisted of 335 nulliparous women who were between 16-35 years of age, 96 of whom had genital tract infection based on laboratory reports. Findings indicated no significant differences between the mean dietary intakes as well as serum values of the infected and non-infected women, and no difference in the incidence of PROM. However, non-infected women had a better mean hematologic profile than the infected gravidae during pregnancy. Also, for the non-infected group, there were significant relationships between head circumference and protein consumption (P = .015) and serum ferritin (P = .05). For the infected women, the relationship between the hemoglobin and hematocrit measurements obtained at the first prenatal visit and infant birth weight, birth length and head circumference were statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development, School of Education, Howard University, Washington, D.C. 20059.
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Westney
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Westney
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: U J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Oyemade
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Laryea
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spurlock
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Hiza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D004219:District of Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000208:ethnology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000208:ethnology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A; D007501:Iron; D001205:Ascorbic Acid