BACKGROUND

Maternal undernutrition during pregnancy is currently estimated at 23.5% in Africa, which is worrying given the negative impacts of malnutrition on maternal and fetal birth outcomes. The current study aimed at characterizing the associations of maternal dietary intake and nutritional status with fetal growth at 14-26 weeks gestation. It was hypothesized that maternal dietary intake was positively associated with maternal nutritional status and fetal growth both in early and late pregnancy.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional survey of 870 pregnant women in mid-western Uganda conducted in August 2013. Data were collected on women's dietary intake (indicated by women's dietary diversity and the diet quality score) and nutritional status (indicated by hemoglobin level and mid-upper arm circumference) at 14-26 weeks gestation. Fetal growth was determined by symphysis-fundal height Z-scores processed using the INTERGROWTH-21st calculator. Associations between maternal dietary intake and nutritional status with fetal growth were determined using correlations and chi-square tests.

RESULTS

Overall, only 25% had adequate dietary diversity and the most utilized food groups were White tubers, roots and starchy vegetables; Pulses, nuts and seeds; Cereals and grains, Dark green leafy vegetables, and Fats and oils. A larger proportion of younger women (15-29 y) were classified as anemic (20.4% versus 4.4%) and underweight (23.7% versus 5.0%) compared to older women (30-43 y). Additionally, women aged 15 to 24 years had significantly lower mean SFH-for-gestation age Z-scores than women 36-43 years (F = 3.129; p = 0.014). Consumption of legumes nuts and seeds was associated with reduced risk of anemia while consumption of dairy products (mostly milk) was positively associated with better fetal growth. Surprisingly, low Hb level was positively associated with normal fetal growth (r = -0.133; p = 0.016) after 20 weeks gestation, possibly indicating normal fetal growth paralleled with physiologically necessary hemodilution.

CONCLUSIONS

Sub-optimal dietary patterns, characterized by limited dietary diversity and low protein intake, are likely to compromise maternal nutrition and fetal growth in limited resource settings. Improving pregnant women's access to cheaper but nutrient-dense protein sources such as pulses, nuts and dairy products (mostly milk) has potential to improve women's nutritional status and enhance fetal growth.