title: Postpartum traditions and nutrition practices among urban Lao women and their infants in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the traditional postpartum practices, mother and child nutritional status and associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study in 41 randomly selected villages on the outskirts of Vientiane capital city, Lao PDR (Laos). 300 pairs of infants (< 6 months of age) and their mothers were enrolled. Information was collected about pregnancy, delivery and traditional practices through a standardized questionnaire. Dietary intake and food frequency were estimated using the 24 h recall method, calibrated bowls and FAO food composition tables. Mothers' and infants' anthropometry was assessed and multivariate analysis performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contrasting with a high antenatal care attendance (91%) and delivery under health professional supervision (72%), a high prevalence of traditional practices was found, including exposure to hot beds of embers (97%), use of traditional herb tea as the only beverage (95%) and restricted diets (90%). Twenty-five mothers (8.3%) were underweight. Mothers had insufficient intake of calories (55.6%), lipids (67.4%), iron (92.0%), vitamins A (99.3%) and C (45%), thiamin (96.6%) and calcium (96.6%). Chewed glutinous rice was given to infants as an early (mean 34.6, 95% CI:29.3-39.8 days) complementary food by 53.7% of mothers, and was associated with stunting in 10% children (OR=1.35, 95% CI:1.04-1.75).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of traditional postpartum restricted diets and practices, and inadequate maternal nutritional intake in urban Laos, suggest that antenatal care may be an important opportunity to improve postpartum diets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Institut Francophone pour la Médecine Tropicale, Vientiane, Laos. hubert.barennes@auf.org
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barennes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simmala
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Odermatt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thaybouavone
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vallee
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martinez-Aussel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martinez-Ussel
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strobel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D007812:Laos / Q000453:epidemiology; D009035:Mothers; D011181:Postnatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult