Investigation on nutritional status of pregnant women in Hebei Province

Objective To evaluate the nutrition of pregnant women in Hebei province by analyzing from four aspects: region, age,gestational period and education level and to provide scientific basis for nutritional health care during pregnancy.Methods A crosssectional study was conducted. Four urban and four rural survey sites were selected. First and second trimester pregnant women who visited outpatient clinics were selected as the subjects and their food intake within one week were collected. The intake of various nutrients was calculated and evaluated according to the reference intake of dietary nutrients for Chinese residents. At the same time,the hemoglobin value was measured.Results There is an imbalance in nutrient intake in both urban and rural areas. What was more prominent was that the intake of minerals and vitamin C was insufficient, and the intake of protein and fat was excessive. The proportion of excess protein, carbohydrate, fat and energy intake in rural women was significantly higher than that in urban women,while the proportion of insufficient calcium and vitamin C intake was significantly higher than that in urban women. The proportion of insufficient intake of selenium and vitamin C in the age group ≤34 years old were significantly higher than that in the age group ≥35 years old. However, the proportion of insufficient intake of calcium, selenium, magnesium, vitamin C and excessive intake of carbohydrate and energy in junior high school and below education group were higher than those in the other two education groups. The proportion of excess intake of protein, carbohydrate, fat, energy and insufficient intake of calcium, selenium, magnesium, vitamin C in the second trimester pregnant women was significantly higher that in the first trimester. About 8.71% of pregnant women developed anaemia And all of them were mild anemia. The prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women in the ≥35 years old group was significantly higher than that in the ≤ 34 years old group. The incidence of anemia in the second trimester was higher than that in the first trimester.Conclusion There is imbalance in the nutrient intake among pregnant women. Nutrient intake varies by region, age,gestational period and education. It suggests that in the process of nutrition and health care during pregnancy, targeted guidanceshould given according to the different region, age,gestational period and educational level.