Nutrient intake and iron status of urban poor and rural poor without access to rice fields are affected by the emerging economic crisis: the case of pregnant Indonesian women.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the adequacy of nutrient intake in comparison with the Indonesian Estimated Average Requirement (EARs) among pregnant Indonesian women and explain the short-term effect of economic crisis on nutrient intake and iron status. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Purworejo District, Central Java, located 60 km west of Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia. SUBJECTS: During the period from 1996 to 1998, up to six 24 h recalls were performed during the second trimester of pregnancy among 450 women. Nutrient intake and iron status was evaluated in relation to date of data collection relative to the economic crisis that emerged in August 1997. A computer program (Inafood) was developed to calculate nutrient intake. RESULTS: : Forty percent of the pregnant women were at risk of inadequate intake of energy and protein, and 70% were at risk of inadequate intake of vitamin A, calcium and iron even before the crisis. Our results also demonstrate an effect of short-term economic crisis on nutrient intake and iron status. When the crisis emerged, urban poor experienced a decrease in intake of most nutrients. During the crisis, rich women experienced a significant decrease in fat (P<0.05). Negative changes in fat density during crisis were experienced by the rich and the rural, poor, and access to rice field subgroups (P<0.01). A significant increase in carbohydrate densities was seen for the rich and rural, poor, and access to rice fields groups (P<0.05). Urban poor experienced decreased serum ferritin concentration (P<0.05), whereas rich women experienced a significant increase (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Urban poor and rural poor landless women were most directly affected by the emerging economic crisis.

Energy intake during economic crisis depends on initial wealth and access to rice fields: the case of pregnant Indonesian women.

Starting in August 1997, Indonesia experienced a radical and rapid deterioration in its economy. Between 1996 and 1998, dietary intake during the second trimester was measured in 450 pregnant women in Purworejo, Central Java, Indonesia. Using six 24 h recalls we describe the consequences of the economic crisis on the energy intake of pregnant Indonesian women. Depending on the date of data collection, women were grouped into 'before crisis', 'transition' and 'during crisis'. Mean energy intake among groups was compared using ANOVA and Student's t-test. All groups of pregnant women already had a mean energy intake before the emerging crisis that was lower than the Indonesian recommended dietary allowances (RDA). Nevertheless, energy intake differed significantly among women with different education levels (P = 0.00) and from different socio-economic groups (P = 0.00). 'During transition', a significant decrease in energy intake was experienced by urban poor women (P = 0.01). Poor women with access to rice fields had a higher rice consumption than other groups throughout the period. Our results most likely reflect the effect of higher rice price on income and welfare. 'During crisis', energy intake improved among vulnerable groups, perhaps reflecting government intervention.