Machakos project studies No. XXIV. Anthropometric changes during pregnancy in rural African women.

Anthropometric data of 1739 pregnant women followed in the period 1 May 1978 - 31 December 1980 are presented. Mean height was 157.1 +/- 5.5 cm. Weight gain between 3 months and term was 5.8 kg. Significant changes in the course of pregnancy were observed in upper arm circumference, triceps and subscapular skinfolds. Women started pregnancy with a higher mean weight-for-height ratio than the reference; in the course of pregnancy the ratio decreased from 107.0% to 95.7%.