Nutritional status of rural pregnant women.

ABSTRACT

Pregnancy is a crucial period of woman’s life where socio-demographic factors affect her health as well as determine the health of future generation. A cross-sectional community based study was conducted in pregnant women in the field practice area of RCHTC, Hebbal. Variables considered for the study were Age, religion, Socio-economics status, type of family & house, parity, spacing methods, utilization of health services, height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI). Majority of pregnant woman had inadequate protien & calorie consumption during pregnancy; 23.93%, woman were having BMI<18.5; 66.67%, were anemic (Hb<11 gm%). The overall prevalence of anemia was found to be high among illiterate (98.2%), Hindu (92.31%) and moderately working woman (83.34% ). Anemia was found to be more common whose age at first pregnancy was <20 years (57.28%), age at marriage <20 years (87.17%), in IInd trimester of pregnancy (62.83% ) and in age group of 20-24 years (39.14%). Government hospital services were utilized by 78.63% but only 58.97% received iron & folic acid tablets and 70.94% had taken injection Tetanus Toxoid (TT). Hence, effective intervention should be directed towards young pregnant women <20 years of age to improve maternal nutritional status, literacy level, and health education for utilization of health services.