Nutritional status and the impact of socioeconomic factors on pregnant women in Kamrup district of Assam.
Pregnancy is a critical time in the course of life, having both health and social impacts for individuals, family, and society. The prevalence of undernutrition among pregnant women in a rural area of Assam, India, was examined using anthropometric and biochemical assessments. Key socioeconomic factors that affect nutritional status were examined. A cross-sectional study with a sample of 285 women from all three trimesters was done. The results found that 48% of the women were below normal for Body Mass Index (BMI), indicating a high level of undernutrition. The age of the mother and husband's occupation showed a strong positive correlation with BMI, while family size and income level showed a negative correlation. The results of the biochemical analysis showed that 62% of the women were anemic, and copper and zinc levels were 29% and 12% below normal levels, respectively. The study findings indicate that undernutrition is far higher than national and global standards.
Mathematical Sciences Division, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India. lipimahanta@yahoo.co.in
Lipi B
LB
Mahanta
Tanusree Deb
TD
Roy
Rongmili Gogoi
RG
Dutta
Arundhuti
A
Devi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009790:Occupations; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency
D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc