Abstract:
Dietary inadequacy and malnutrition among pregnant women has a direct impact on
pregnancy outcome. The causes of maternal malnutrition include inadequate food intake,
poor nutritional quality of diets, frequent infections and short inter-pregnancy intervals.
Tanzania is faced with high maternal malnutrition especially in the rural areas. The aim of
this study was to assess the dietary intake and determine the nutritional status of pregnant
women in rural Tanzania. Although pregnancy problems continue to exist among women
in rural settings, less has been documented about their dietary adequacy and nutritional
status.
Pregnant women in Magubike village in Kilosa District, Morogoro Region
participated in the study. A total of sixty two pregnant women were randomly selected and
recruited for the study. Socio-demographic data were collected through interviews using a
structured questionnaire. Dietary intake was assessed using the food frequency
questionnaire (FFQ) method. Foods consumed by pregnant women in the study area were
analysed to determine the nutrient content and composition.. Standard procedures of the
Association of Official Analytical Chemists were used to determine the moisture content,
fat, protein (N x 6.25), ash, and fibre content. Energy value was calculated using the
Atwater’s conversion factors. Minerals (iron, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc and calcium)
were determined by the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. To assess the nutritional
status of pregnant women anthropometric measurements were taken. These included
assessing weight gain of the pregnant women. Weight gain was determined using weight
gain recommendations from reexamining guidelines of weight gain during pregnancy.
Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 12.5 for
windows. Pregnant women in Magubike had low nutrient intake i.e. they consumed 54
grams of protein in their daily diet which is less compared to the actual required amount of
60 g per day. They also consumed 27 grams of fat in their daily diet which also falls shortiii
of the actual required amount of 43 gms (18% kcal). Total energy intake was 1231.3 kcal
per day compared to the recommended energy intake (2500-2700 kcal/day). On average
mineral consumption was also insufficient. Zinc consumption was 1.9 mg/day; Calcium
between 0.002 mg/day; and iron intake was 7.8 mg/day.
The nutritional status of the
pregnant women in Magubike village was poor i.e. weight gain per week in the second and
third trimesters, was decreased due to poor dietary intake. Therefore, nutritional
inadequacies exist among pregnant women in Magubike village. The study recommends
that a combination of locally available foods should be made available to get a balanced
nutrient meal that can be consumed by pregnant women to provide adequate amounts of
iron, zinc and calcium.
