Maternal nutritional status in pastoral versus farming communities of West Pokot, Kenya: Differences in iron and vitamin A status and body composition

摘要: BACKGROUND: Underweight and micronutrient deficiencies are sequelae of the prevailing harsh living economic conditions women in sub-Saharan Africa. There few data describing maternal nutritional status these resource-poor settings. Provision more effective modes intervention requires that public health nutrition policy at both national multisectoral levels be based on community-specific behavioral practices. OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study investigated two remote, semiarid, rural communities ethnically similar but have distinctly different pastoral farming lifestyles. We looked differences iron stores, vitamin A levels, body composition third trimester pregnancy again 4 months postpartum. METHODS: Complete were collected from 113 110 Pokot women. Anthropometric measurements taken, serum ferritin retinol measured. Infants weighed within 7 days birth. RESULTS: Women community had significantly (p < .05) lower hemoglobin concentrations than during pregnancy. Pastoral higher <.05) no significant between percentage with 0.70 micromol/L (27.9% [34/113] 24.2% [31/110], respectively) postpartum (29.2% [33/113] 30.9% [34/110]) In community, mean infant birthweight was <. 01) a proportion newborns less 2.5 kg. At postpartum, fat CONCLUSIONS: West Pokot, Kenya, stores community. addition, weight their newborn infants is These findings may associated conditions, which usually harsher communities. AD - Department Epidemiology Nutrition, School Public Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya. gaettyang@yahoo.com