Health Nutrition and Population Programme, BRAC, BRAC Centre, 75 Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
Nutrients. 2022 Nov 5;14(21):4687. doi: 10.3390/nu14214687.
Low birth weight (LBW) is a global public health problem with the highest prevalence in South Asia. It is strongly associated with maternal undernutrition. In South Asia, intra-household food distribution is inequitable, with lower dietary adequacy in women. Evidence that nutrition education improves diet during pregnancy and reduces LBW is weak. We assessed the impact of nutrition education for pregnant women on birth weight in rural Bangladesh. We conducted a parallel, two-arm, cluster-randomised controlled trial, with 36 clusters allocated equally to intervention ( = 445) or standard care ( = 448). From their first trimester until delivery, intervention participants received education about eating balanced meals to meet daily dietary requirements with diverse food groups. The primary outcome of mean birth weight was 127.5 g higher in the intervention compared to control women, and the intervention reduced the risk of LBW by 57%. Post hoc analyses showed a significantly higher birth weight and a greater reduction in LBW amongst adolescent mothers. The mean number of food groups consumed was significantly higher in the intervention from the third month of pregnancy than in the control. A community-based balanced plate nutrition education intervention effectively increased mean birth weight and reduced LBW, and improved dietary diversity in rural Bangladeshi women.
低出生体重（LBW）是一个全球性的公共卫生问题，在南亚的流行率最高。它与母亲营养不良密切相关。在南亚，家庭内部的食物分配不公平，妇女的饮食充足度较低。有证据表明，营养教育可以改善孕妇的饮食，降低 LBW 的发生率，但这种证据很薄弱。我们评估了对孟加拉国农村地区孕妇进行营养教育对出生体重的影响。我们进行了一项平行、双臂、集群随机对照试验，将 36 个集群平均分配到干预组（=445）或标准护理组（=448）。从妊娠早期到分娩，干预组的参与者接受了关于均衡饮食的教育，以满足日常饮食需求并摄入各种食物组。主要结局是干预组的平均出生体重比对照组高 127.5 克，干预组降低 LBW 的风险降低了 57%。事后分析显示，青少年母亲的出生体重更高，LBW 的降低幅度更大。从妊娠第三个月开始，干预组摄入的食物种类明显多于对照组。社区为基础的均衡餐盘营养教育干预有效地提高了平均出生体重，降低了 LBW，并改善了孟加拉国农村妇女的饮食多样性。
