The caffeine consumption among Turkish pregnant women

Caffeine consumption during pregnancy has effect on newborn anthropometry therefore the amount of maternal caffeine consumption is important.

This study aims to determine caffeine consumption during pregnancy and related factors.

This study was carried out in a maternity hospital located in Eastern Turkey from September 2018 to June 2019 with 300 healthy primiparous women and babies. Data were collected by the researchers with a socio-demographic questionnaire and caffeine consumption frequency semi-quantitative questionnaire using the face-to-face interview technique. Postpartum weight and height of the women and length, weight, and head circumference of the newborns were measured. Evaluation of the data was carried out with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test and binary logistic regression analysis was used for relationship analysis.

The mean daily caffeine intake of the pregnant women was determined as 344.9 ± 181.4 mg/day and 4.9 ± 2.6 mg/kg/day. The babies' mean birth weight was 2943.1 ± 407.4 g, mean length was 50.1 ± 2.2 cm, and mean head circumference was 32.3 ± 1.6 cm. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between caffeine consumption of pregnant women and newborn birth weight and length (P = 0.049; P = 0.007, respectively). After age, economic and educational status, and pre- and post-pregnancy BMI were corrected according to weight increase during pregnancy and after binary logistic regression analysis was performed, it was determined that caffeine consumption did not have an effect on low birth weight (Total caffeine consumption (mg/day), P = 0.669 OR = 1.00, 95% Cl = 0.997-1.002; caffeine consumption (mg/kg), P = 0.549 OR = 0.956, 95% Cl = 0.824-1.109).

Caffeine consumption of pregnant women is higher than the recommended levels. Therefore, pregnant women should be informed about caffeine sources and consumption amounts.