title: Prepregnancy and pregnancy nutrition and its impact on women's health.
abstract: The overall nutrition status of females remains deficient. Among female school children 13-18 years of age, calorie consumption ranged from 65-90% of the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance), protein consumption from 60-71% of RDA, and vitamin A intake was 50% of RDA. Prevalence of anemia ranged from 72-98% and that of intestinal parasitic infection ranged from 17-62%. Gender bias may adversely affect the nutrition of the female child. An adolescent is likely to begin pregnancy with a negative nutrition balance. In a multicentric study, 93,356 married women, aged 15-45 years, were interviewed at home in a community-based survey from 23 districts in India. Forty to eighty percent were married before 18 years of age, and the incidence of teenage pregnancy was 66%. The magnitude of the problem and the adverse effects malnutrition may have in later life requires well-designed studies in order to find solutions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry, India.
authors.forename: Asha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oumachigui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011287:Prejudice; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards; D012621:Seasons; D016387:Women's Health