A review of the dietary diversity and micronutrient adequacy among the women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries.

The dietary quality of women of reproductive age (WRA) is particularly important during preconception, conception, and pregnancy for themselves and their offspring. Poorly diversified diets resulting in inadequate micronutrient consumption may have adverse effects on their health. This narrative review summarizes the findings of studies reporting on dietary diversity and micronutrient intake by WRA in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Studies on WRA aged 15-49 years in LMICs, with a sample size of more than 150, report dietary diversity and multiple micronutrient intake based on 24-h dietary recall/food weighed record/food frequency questionnaire, and published between January 2011 and June 2021 were included. The results were compared to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommended cut-off for dietary diversity and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommended age- and sex-specific estimated average requirements (EARs) for micronutrient intake. This review includes 35 articles, of which 21 focused on dietary diversity and 14 on micronutrient intake. The results showed that WRA in LMICs had inadequate dietary diversity, with mean food group consumption of only 3.0-4.84, and around 42.3%-90% of women consumed inadequately diversified diets (<5 food groups). Additionally, most studies found that WRA did not consume adequate amounts of essential micronutrients, particularly calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, and vitamin B12. However, the intake of vitamin C, niacin, and vitamin B6 was above the required levels. In conclusion, this review highlights the common inadequacy of dietary diversity and multiple micronutrient intake among WRA in most LMICs. Effective measures involving improving dietary diversity, food fortification with micronutrients, and supplementation programs could help improve the dietary quality and intake of optimal micronutrients by women in LMICs.

Maternal Pregnancy Intention and Antenatal Care Seeking Behaviors in Bangladesh: Evidence From Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2018.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between pregnancy intention and antenatal care (ANC)-seeking behaviors among women in Bangladesh. Methods: ANC-related data of 5,012 women, from the 2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), who had a live birth within 3 years preceding the survey were analyzed in the study. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association of pregnancy intention with ANC utilization. Results: Approximately one-fifth (20.9%) of the women had unintended pregnancy. Among all the women, 40.4% received their first ANC visit within the first three months of pregnancies, 47% had at least four ANC visits, 26.1% received all the components of ANC services, and 22.2% received an adequate dosage of supplementary iron-folic acid tablets/syrup. Women with unintended pregnancy were less likely to receive their first ANC visit within the first 3 months, four or more ANC visits, and all ANC services than those with intended pregnancy. Conclusion: Unintended pregnancy was inversely associated with the proper utilization of ANC among women in Bangladesh. Appropriate measures to reduce unintended pregnancy might foster the utilization of optimum antenatal care.