Diet quality of pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in Nakuru, Kenya.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine diet quality and common food sources of various nutrients of pregnant Kenyan women.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of 716 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at the Provincial General Hospital, Nakuru, Kenya. Nutrient intake was estimated using the 24-hour dietary recall method.

RESULTS

Inadequate nutrient intake was found for energy, total folic acid, calcium, iron and zinc. Adequate intake was found for protein, fat, PUFA, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, vitamins A and C. Diet quality was poor as evidenced from the food sources of various nutrients. Maize flour was the most common source of the following nutrients: energy, protein, total folic acid, iron and zinc. Young women and those of low socio-economic status were at risk of inadequate intake of some of the nutrients.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate poor-quality diets of pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic, low in multiple micronutrients. Nutrient education for dietary diversification and nutrient supplementation should be explored as interventions for improving nutrient intake among pregnant women.