Nutritional Status of Pregnant Women in Selected Rural and Urban Area of Bangladesh

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine nutritional status of pregnant women in different areas of Bangladesh by anthropometric and biochemical assessment. Measurement of body weight gain in different stages of pregnancy period was calculated as 20% and 14% severely malnourished, 54% and 30% moderately malnourished, 21% and 43% well nourished and 5% and 13% over malnourished ; hemoglobin (Hb) level was 16% and 19% severely anemic, 38% and 54% moderately anemic, 24% and 42% mildly anemic and 6% and 11% non-anemic; educational levels were 8% and 15% illiterate, 17% and 44% primary, 29% and 25% secondary, 10% and 39% under graduate and 2% and 11% post graduation of rural and urban pregnant women respectively. Monthly expenditure ≤ Tk.3000 to Tk.4000 food for rural and urban pregnant women were found and considered as important causes for nutritional status during pregnancy period. Beside these, early marriage, frequent birth, illiteracy, poverty, misconceptions, and lack of nutritional knowledge were follow up in this study period. The outcome showed that urban pregnant women were well nourished than rural pregnant women comparatively and also obesity was encountered as an indicator in urban pregnant women than rural.