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Nutrition in Colombian pregnant women.
Authors:	Sarmiento OL, Ramirez A, Kutschbach BS, Pinzón PL, García S, Olarte AC, Mosquera T, Atalah E, Ojeda G, Forero Y.
Source:	Public Health Nutrition, 2012 Jan 5:1-9. [Epub ahead of print]
Topic(s):	Body Mass Index (BMI) Maternal health Nutrition
Country:	Latin American/Caribbean Colombia
Published:	JAN 2012
Abstract:	Abstract OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of pregnant women in Colombia and the associations between gestational BMI and sociodemographic and gestational characteristics. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. A secondary analysis was made of data from the 2005 Demographic and Health Survey of Colombia. SETTING: Bogotá, Colombia. SUBJECTS: Pregnant adolescents aged 13-19 years (n 430) and pregnant women aged 20-49 years (n 1272). RESULTS: The gestational BMI and sociodemographic characteristics of the adolescents differed from those of the pregnant adult women. Thirty-one per cent of the adolescents were underweight for gestational age, compared with 14•5 % of the adult women. Eighteen per cent of adolescents were overweight for gestational age, in contrast to 37•3 % of adult women. The overall prevalence of anaemia was 44•7 % and the prevalence of low serum ferritin was 38•8 %. Women within the high quintiles of the wealth index (prevalence odds ratio (POR) = 0•56; 95 % CI 0•34, 0•91, P < 0•02) had lower odds of being underweight. Women who received prenatal care (POR = 2•17; 95 % CI 1•48, 3•09, P < 0•001) and were multiparous (POR = 2•10; 95 % CI 1•43, 3•15, P < 0•0 0 1) had higher odds of being overweight. Women in extended families (POR = 0•63; 95 % CI 0•50, 0•95, P < 0•025) had lower odds of being overweight. CONCLUSIONS: Underweight in pregnant adolescents and overweight in adult women coexist as a double burden in Colombia. Factors associated with malnutrition among pregnant women and adolescents should be considered for future interventions in countries experiencing nutritional transition.