| Abstract: | ![]()
Objectives.?To assess the nutritional intake and gestational weight gain of pregnant women and the relationship between nutritional intake, gestational weight gain, and neonatal birth weight.Methods.?A prospective cohort study was carried out in three districts of Songkhla Province in southern Thailand. Nutritional intakes were calculated based on a 24-h food record and a food frequency checklist. The women were followed until delivery and the neonatal birth weight recorded.Results.?Two hundred and thirty-six pregnant women with a mean age of 27.2 ± 6.2 years were recruited. The average daily energy intake was 1806 ± 482 kcal. The average gestational weight gain was 12.2 ± 4.6 kg and the average neonatal birth weight was 3054 ± 474 g. Micronutrient intakes were overall inadequate averaging only 50–80% of recommended levels. Neonatal birth weight was significantly positively correlated with gestational weight gain (r = 0.17, p = 0.01), but was not correlated with maternal nutritional intakes.Conclusions.?Pregnant women in rural areas of Songkhla Province consume adequate macronutrients with appropriate gestational weight gain, but generally consume inadequate micronutrients. A nutritional education program explaining the importance of micronutrients should be a focus of a public education program. |
