ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH STATUS OF PREGNANT WOMEN IN SURJER HASHI CLINIC AND MARIE STOPES CLINIC OF DINAJPUR SADAR UPAZILA

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the nutritional and health status of 122 pregnant women of Dinajpur district. The study mainly covered ‗Surjer Hashi Clinic‘ and ‗Marie Stopes Clinic‘ of Dinajpur Sadar Upazila. A pre-tested general assessment questionnaire, validated food frequency questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were used to collect data from the pregnant women. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected by interviewing and from their record file. Nutritional status was determined using Body Mass Index (BMI), and hemoglobin levels. Nutrient intake data were compared with Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for pregnancy. In this study, age of the respondents were in the range of 18-35 years and most of the respondents were housewives. The study showed that 32.8% and 22.1 % respondents had completed Primary School Certificate (PSC) and Junior School Certificate (JSC) level of education. 23.8% respondents had studied up to secondary level and 11.5% had studied up to higher secondary level. Among the respondents 4.9% and 2.5% had completed graduation and higher level of education. 2.5% had no formal education. It was observed that there exists highly significant association between monthly household food expenditure and category of Body Mass Index (BMI). More than half of the respondent‘s energy intake were below RDA value and a few percentage of the respondent‘s energy intake were higher than RDA value. From the respondents 8.2% were under weight and 36.1% respondents were overweight. From the respondents the percentages of severe, moderate and mild anemia were 2.5%, 33.6%, 62.3%. 1.6% respondents had normal level of hemoglobin. However, the result also showed that most of the respondents had hypotension and less percentage had hypertension. 34.4% respondents had diabetes and 65.6% respondents had no diabetic symptoms. The study concluded that underweight, overweight and low nutrient intake were main contributing factors for nutritional problems in the study sample.