title: Nutrition profiles of African [corrected] American women in the third trimester.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a profile of common nutritional patterns among pregnant African American women that will assist healthcare providers in identifying areas for improvement and change.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was part of a larger NIH-funded (R03NR008548-01) study that examined risk factors associated with preterm labor and birth in high- and low-risk African American women. Data were collected on high-risk mothers (women experiencing preterm labor) before 34 weeks gestation and every 4 weeks until birth. Data were also collected on the low-risk mothers beginning at 28 weeks and then every 4 weeks until birth. For this study, high- and low-risk groups were collapsed to examine food choices over time in all participants (n = 58).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nutrition intake was examined by conducting one 24-hour diet recall at each time point. Food models and portion size pictures were used to improve accuracy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, dietary intake was suboptimal, and micro- and macronutrient intake during the third trimester did not vary. Energy (caloric) intake was inadequate with the time-averaged probability of having inadequate caloric intake 64.4%. Protein intake was the most likely nutritional factor to be inadequate with a time-averaged estimated probability of inadequate intake 25.1%. Micronutrient intake from food was also inadequate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The persistence of suboptimal nutritional intake during the third trimester supports the importance of continually assessing nutritional status throughout pregnancy, with a focus on caloric requirements and protein intake.
authors.affiliation: Boston College, William F. Connell School of Nursing, USA. susan.gennaro@bc.edu
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gennaro
authors.forename: Babette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biesecker
authors.forename: Heidi Collins
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Fantasia
authors.forename: Minh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009511:New England; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena