title: Dietary habits of pregnant women in Ireland.
abstract: This analysis of the Lifeways Cohort study mothers during pregnancy (n = 1124), utilises information from a standard food frequency questionnaire completed at baseline recruitment during early pregnancy. We demonstrate that 76% of women achieved recommended intakes of 5 plus portions of fruit and vegetables daily, though this is strongly socially patterned, inversely associated with age and positively associated with level of education. Achievement of the other recommended shelf intakes of the Food Pyramid is much lower, ranging from 12% achieving the recommended sparing intake of foods high in fat, salt or sugar, to 45% consuming the recommended 3 portions per day of meat and poultry. General medical services eligible respondents are generally less likely to achieve recommended intakes. While 61% of women under 25 years old stopped drinking during pregnancy, this dropped to 38% of expectant mothers over 35 years. Less than half (45%) of those (n = 860) who responded specifically to the question reported peri-conceptual folate supplement intake, again strongly socially patterned. These findings both provide important prevalence data and highlight the need for more concerted and supportive health promotion interventions during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Population Science, University College Dublin. celine.murrin@ucd.ie
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murrin
authors.forename: U B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Fallon
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hannon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Mahony
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crowley
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bury
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kelleher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires