Abstract:
The study was designed to have both survey and biochemical components. Three communities were selected randomly from twelve communities in Obio-Akpor local government area. The sample size was calculated using the maternal mortality ratio for pregnant women in Nigeria which was 30%. Two hundred pregnant women were purposively selected from health care centers, public and private clinics providing ante-natal care and from traditional birth attendants and local delivery homes. The survey component assessed the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the respondents using a structured questionnaire to collect information on mothers’ age, pregnancy age, number of deliveries, education, occupation, food frequency consumption, weighed food intake and clinical signs of malnutrition. Biochemical assessment was carried out using standard procedures in assessing iron, selenium and zinc status of pregnant women and zinc content of selected traditional foods consumed in Obio-Akpor LGA. Serum iron, selenium, and zinc were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry model number Buck 210/11. The analytical procedures of the Association of the Official Analytical Chemists were used for proximate composition, and mineral composition of the traditional foods. The questionnaire were coded and entered into computer using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Chi-square analysis and Pearson’s correlation were used to identify variables that had a significant role in influencing micronutrient (iron, selenium and zinc) status. The study showed that 40% of the pregnant women were iron deficient and 97.3% were zinc deficient. No case of selenium deficiency was identified in the present study. Occupation of women, pregnancy age and ‘‘who receives best portion of food” had a significant (P<0.05) association with the iron and zinc status of the pregnant women. There was a significant (P<0.05) association between iron status and signs and symptoms of iron deficiency namely weakness and reduced physical activity. There was a significant (c2 = 39.304; P= 0.05) association between education and occupation. Educational status significantly (c2 =44.475; P=0.05) differed with age at marriage. Educational status and number of children was equally highly significant (c2 =32.024; P=0.05). There was a positive association between income and availability of money to purchase food (c2 =17.240; P= 0.05). Occupation and availability of money to purchase food also had a positive relationship (c2 =16.808; P=0.05). There was a positive association between weakness and fatigue (r=0.355; P< 0.05); weakness and reduced physical activity (r=0.351; P< 0.05) in relation to iron: loss of appetite and diarrhoea (r=0.157; P<0.05) in relation to zinc. The mineral composition of zinc in the foods ranged from figures 4.37mg/100g (shark fish) to 55.55mg/100g (oysters). The iron contents of the foods ranged from shark fish (2.91mg/100g) to sardine fish (14.93mg/100g). When compared with FAO/WHO requirement values, the pregnant women had lower dietary intakes of nutrients crucial in pregnancy such as zinc (72.9%), niacin (74.11%), thiamin (78.567%), riboflavin (87.85%) and calcium (96.99%). There were differences in food consumption pattern among the pregnant women, indicating that the foods consumed were determined by availability, affordability and seasonality.
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