Adolescent pregnancy and nutrition: a subgroup analysis from the Mamachiponde study in Malawi. Issue 1 (16th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Friebert, Alyssa; Callaghan‐Gillespie, Meghan; Papathakis, Peggy C.; Manary, Mark J.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Volume 1416:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 140
• Page End: 146
• Publication Date: 2017-10-16
• Subjects: adolescent pregnancy -- maternal malnutrition -- pregnancy -- Malawi -- dietary supplementation -- RUSF; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13465
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0077-8923

Abstract

Abstract: Young age at childbearing (≤19 years) is common and associated with poor birth outcomes. A trial among Malawian pregnant women with moderate malnutrition was used to determine outcomes of young adolescents (≤18 years), older adolescents (18–20 years), and adults (>20 years). Women received one of three supplementary foods that provided ∼900 kcal/day and 33–36 g protein/day and returned every 2 weeks. Newborn/maternal measurements were taken at delivery and after 6 and 12 weeks. Upon enrollment, adolescents had greater body mass index than adults (19.9 ± 1.3 versus 19.5 ± 1.4 kg/m 2, P < 0.001). Young adolescents received more rations of food and enrolled and delivered with a lower fundal height than adults (21.7 ± 5.2 versus 23.0 ± 5.6, P = 0.00 enrollment; 30.2 ± 3.1 versus 31.0 ± 2.8, P < 0.001 delivery). Among newborns, length for age was lowest in young adolescents, greater in older adolescents, and greatest in adults (Z‐scores –1.7 ± 1.2, –1.4 ± 1.2, and –1.1 ± 1.1, respectively; P < 0.001). These differences persisted in length for age at 6 and 12 weeks of age for infants. Adolescents enrolled earlier in pregnancy and appeared more nutritionally adequate than adults; adolescent outcomes were inferior to those of adults, suggesting that they were subject to more physiologic stressors and/or different nutritional needs.