Vitamin A intake is low among pregnant women in central Java, Indonesia

From 1996-1998, a longitudinal study on nutritional status during pregnancy was carried out in Purworejo District, Central Java, Indonesia. Dietary intake was assessed in each trimester using six 24-hour recalls, and analyzed cross-sectionally among 493 women. The proportion of women below the Indonesian RDI for vitamin A (700 RE) ranged from 83% in the first trimester to 76% in the third. Regardless of total vitamin A intake, plant sources contributed 64-79% in all three trimesters. The contribution from animal and fortified sources was generally lower throughout pregnancy for those with low education compared to those with high education. Significant risk factors for having a low vitamin A intake (< FAO/WHO basal RDI, 370 RE) in the second and third trimesters were fewer than six years of education, low socio-economic status, a low energy intake, and a low vitamin A intake in the previous trimester. Home gardening and chicken-raising were not positively associated with vitamin A intakes. Given the large percentage of women with inadequate vitamin A intakes, further strategies are needed to increase the vitamin A intake of all pregnant women in this area.