Early pregnancy nausea and vomiting in a high-altitude Andean population

We examined the prevalence, risk factors, and maternal-neonatal consequences of early pregnancy nausea and vomiting (NVP) in a high altitude Ecuadorian Andean population.

Subjects were 1000 low-income urban primigravidas who delivered full-term pregnancies.

NVP prevalence was 67%. Decreased NVP risk was associated with higher altitude and increased risk with less education, common law marriage, and white collar/professional occupation. Lifestyle changes associated with NVP included decreased likelihood of drinking and outside employment but increased probability of prenatal care, supportive living arrangements, and dietary disturbances. NVP had no apparent long-term effect on maternal nutritional status but was associated with increased fetal subcutaneous fat reserves.

NVP prevalence and timing was similar to developed populations although some of the identified risk factors were unique to the group. NVP did not appear to have a significant impact on prenatal nutrition at term but was linked with increased fetal fat accumulation.