Dietary Patterns, Nutrient Intake, and Sociodemographic Characteristics in HIV-Infected Tanzanian Pregnant Women

Abstract

Routinely collected dietary intakes were available for 925 HIV-infected pregnant women participating in a longitudinal clinical trial of vitamin supplementation in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Information on sociodemographic and economic characteristics was recorded. Dietary macronutrient intakes were computed and analyzed using the Tanzania Food Composition Tables. Women's age, parity, education level, and economic independence were positively related to diet intake. Women younger than 25 years were at highest risk of inadequate food and nutrient intake. By World Health Organization recommendations, almost two-thirds of the participants were energy deficient, and nearly half were protein deficient.

Keywords:

• diet
• HIV
• pregnancy
• sociodemographic characteristics

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Notes

¹BMI was calculated using the formula, weight kg/height²(m).

²The method used to determine the average portion size of foods commonly consumed by adults is discussed in detail in Tanzania Food Composition Tables (Lukmanji et al. 2008).

³The compilation of Tanzania Food Composition Tables was initiated as part of this study and now is a recognized national document which can be downloaded from the MUHAS Web site.

⁴Source: Average monthly climate indicators at http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/tanzania/fahrenheit/dar-es-salaam-arpt.htm.