Dietary patterns and nutrition in pregnancy in Jamaica

During a study of nutrition in pregnancy, the diets of 108 Jamaican pregnant women were assessed by single 24-hour recalls. The women were 16-45 years old, of mixed parity (0-9), attended private (23 per cent) and public (77 per cent) antenatal clinics and differed in stage of pregnancy at interview. Mean energy intake (2110 +/- 739 kcal/d) was low, 83 per cent of the average Recommended Dietary Allowance for the Caribbean (CFNI 1976). Most (76 per cent) women had low energy and dietary iron (75 per cent) intakes. Fewer women had low riboflavin (42 per cent) or protein intakes (29 per cent). Maternal age, parity, obstetric performance, and unusual cravings influenced maternal nutrition to some extent. Dietary assessments overestimated the risk of maternal malnutrition.