Effect of dietary intakes on pregnancy outcomes: a comparative study among HIV-infected and uninfected women at Nyanza Provincial General Hospital, Kenya
Mala, J.; Tuitoek, P.; Odhiambo, R.
African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development 12(54): 6776-6793
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 1684-5374 Document Number: 564943
The effect of maternal dietary intakes on pregnancy outcomes was assessed in a descriptive , cross -sectional survey among women attending the Prevention of Mother - to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV program at Nyanza Provincial General Hospital (NPGH) , Kenya. A Purposive sampling procedure was employed to select pregnant women (n=107) who had been tested for HIV into the study. Data on socio - demographic characteristics , health factors, dietary intakes and pregnancy outcomes were collected through an interview schedule from HIV -infected (n=48) and uninfected (n=59) pregnant women. Maternal dietary intakes were investigated using 24- Hour Diet Recalls and Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQs) . Pregnancy outcomes were assessed in terms of infants' birth weights, gestational age, birth complications and stillbirths. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS ) was used to analyze data for descriptive and inferential statistics while NutriSurvey computer program analyzed dietary data for nutrient intake levels . The results showed that protein ( p = 0.025) and vitamin B 12 (p = 0.021) intakes had significant correlation with infant 's gestational age among the HIV -infected women while calorie (p = 0.042) , vitamin B 6 ( p = 0.048 ) and vitamin B 12 ( p = 0.015) intakes significantly influenced infant 's gestational age among uninfected women . Magnesium, iron and folate had a significant influence (p < 0.05) on infant 's gestational age in both HIV - infected and uninfected mothers. The results further revealed that HIV -infected women gave birth to infants of low birth weight (2.70 ± 0.3799 kg) compared with those uninfected (3.16 ± 0.5307 kg), while the gestational age of infants born to HIV - infected mothers was shorter ( 34.6 ± 3.24 weeks) compared with that of infants born to uninfected mothers ( 39.4 ± 2.21 weeks ). The study concluded that both HIV and dietary intake have significant effects on pregnancy outcomes . It is imperative , therefore, that appropriate nutrition intervention be put in place to improve mater nal health during HIV infection to ensure favourable pregnancy outcomes.