![]() ![]() Furthermore, a healthy diet during pregnancy, which is characterised by adequate intakes of essential nutrients, reduces the risk of pregnancy complications (Saronga et al. ( 2020) confirm that various micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy have a link with increased risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. ![]() In Lesotho, only 77.8% of women receive iron and folic acid supplements during pregnacy despite the rate of 35.5% prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (Ministry of Health Lesotho and ICF International 20). Iron and folate deficiencies are the most common causes of anaemia in pregnant women across sub-Saharan Africa, leading to preterm labour, low birth weight (LBW) and infant mortality (Balarajan et al. However, despite its importance, women of reproductive age, pregnant women, and children remain among the two billion people lacking essential nutrients globally (Hanson et al. The importance of nutrition in the context of health is also highlighted in the recent evidence on the effects of maternal nutrition health and existing recommendations (Stephenson et al. The World Health Organization ( 2016a) argues that nutrition plays a vital role in preconception, pregnancy and the post-partum period, and has a major impact on the quality of health of the woman and pregnancy outcomes. Good nutrition is fundamental for good health and remains a priority in global public health agendas, following the adoption of sustainable development goals and the United Nations’ proclamation of a decade of action on nutrition 2016–2025 (Haddad et al. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |