Nutrition and health-seeking practices during pregnancy and lactation and potential strategies to increase micronutrient intakes among women in northern Lao PDR.

ABSTRACT: Access to and utilisation of antenatal care (ANC) is important for optimising health and nutrition during pregnancy. This study aimed to assess adherence to and factors associated with ANC and antenatal supplement use among Laotian women, and consider culturally appropriate strategies to increase micronutrient intakes. Mother-child (aged 21 d to <18 months) dyads (n 699) enrolled in a hospital-based prospective cohort study with the community comparison group in Luang Prabang province were interviewed about their antenatal history, supplement use, household sociodemographic and dietary practices, including postpartum food avoidances. Ninety percent of women (mean age 24⋅7 ± 6⋅3 years) reported receiving ANC during their pregnancy, with the majority reporting four to seven contacts,

SUBMITTER: Smith TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9641509 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature