Effect of Prenatal Dietary Pattern on Maternal Anemia and Low Birth Weight in Rural Areas of Kanpur

Background: In India, the dietary pattern of women from low socioeconomic status are almost same during pre-pregnant, pregnant and lactating periods. Additional foods are required to improve weight gain in pregnancy and birth weight of infants. Aim & Objective: To identify the impact of prenatal dietary pattern on maternal anemia and low birth weight in rural areas of Kanpur Nagar. Methods: This study was a cross sectional study conducted amongst mothers who recently delivered (RDW) in rural blocks of District Kanpur Nagar. Data was collected by interviewing study subjects using a semi-structured interview schedule after applying multistage random sampling technique. Results: Out of 102 women studied, 39.2% women had consumed >90 IFA tablets, 49.1% of mothers had practiced MMF and 47.1% of women practiced MDD during their prenatal period and 40.1% babies of current pregnancy were born as LBW. IFA consumption during pregnancy was significantly associated with maternal anemia. MMF during pregnancy was significantly associated with LBW. Conclusions: In our study it was found that IFA consumption, MMF and MDD during antenatal is a key preventive measure to reduce anemia status in pregnant females and birth weight of baby during prenatal period.