The Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics ISSN: 0022-3174; eISSN: 2348-621X www.ijndonline.org
Maternal Food Consumption Patterns and Risk of Low Birth Weight in Rural Maharashtra Swati Raje1 and Shobha Rao2 (1. Dept. of Community Medicine, MIMER Medical College, Talegaon Dabhade, Maharashtra 2. Biometry & Nutrition Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune - 411 004) e-mail:
[email protected] (Received 3rd December, 2014 )
Abstract Inadequate nutritional intakes, both in quality and quantity, during gestation have strong impact on birth outcome. Therefore, maternal consumption of specific food(s), besides total nutrient intake may influence birth weight. But the experimental evidence is scarce. The study was conducted on 354 full term mothers from rural Maharashtra for socioeconomic, demographic and anthropometric (maternal and neonatal) measures. Dietary consumption pattern was assessed using semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Mothers were thin (weight 46.1±7.2 kg), short (height 151.1±5.8 cm) and 25.2 % were undernourished (BMI