Vitamin-mineral supplement use by low-income Brazilian pregnant adolescents and non-adolescents and the predictors for non-use.
OBJECTIVE
To determine (1) the intake of vitamin-mineral supplements by 855 low-income Brazilian pregnant adolescents and non-adolescents in three interviews (gestational ages < or =16, 20-26 and 30-36 weeks), (2) the relationship between vitamin-mineral supplementation and toxic exposure, and nutritional, psychological, socio-economic, demographic and obstetric characteristics of the women.


METHODS
Longitudinal cohort study.


METHODS
Jundiaí city, São Paulo, Brazil.


METHODS
A total of 855 pregnant adolescents and non-adolescents who attended antenatal care from September 1997 to August 2000.


METHODS
A general questionnaire was utilized three times in pregnancy (gestational ages < or =16, 20-26 and 30-36 weeks) to investigate the vitamin-mineral supplements ingested by the women, their smoking habit and alcohol intake, anthropometric measurements (pre-pregnancy and actual weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference) and psychological (anxiety, stress and distress), socio-economic (per capita income), demographic (education, age, marital status) and obstetric (gravidity) characteristics. The associations between vitamin-mineral supplementation and maternal characteristics were assessed in 12 multiple logistic regression models, stratifying the women by age and per capita income.


RESULTS
Iron and vitamin C were the most ingested supplements by adolescents and non-adolescents, in the three interviews. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the maternal predictors for non-use of vitamin-mineral supplementation were acute anxiety and alcohol intake for adolescents, and low education, single without partner, distress (anxiety, depression, etc.) and stress for non-adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
These are important data to identify groups of low-income pregnant women in need of supplementation guidance and nutrition education. Stress/distress was a predictor for non-use of vitamin-mineral supplements for both adolescents and non-adolescents pregnant women.
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. phcrondo@usp.br
P H C
PH
Rondó
C M
CM
Fukushima
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F
Moraes
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011295:Prenatal Care; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins