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  • Original Article
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Vitamin–mineral supplement use by low-income Brazilian pregnant adolescents and non-adolescents and the predictors for non-use

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 1108–1114 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives:

To determine (1) the intake of vitamin–mineral supplements by 855 low-income Brazilian pregnant adolescents and non-adolescents in three interviews (gestational ages ⩽16, 20–26 and 30–36 weeks), (2) the relationship between vitamin–mineral supplementation and toxic exposure, and nutritional, psychological, socio-economic, demographic and obstetric characteristics of the women.

Design:

Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting:

Jundiaí city, São Paulo, Brazil.

Subjects:

A total of 855 pregnant adolescents and non-adolescents who attended antenatal care from September 1997 to August 2000.

Methods:

A general questionnaire was utilized three times in pregnancy (gestational ages ⩽16, 20–26 and 30–36 weeks) to investigate the vitamin–mineral supplements ingested by the women, their smoking habit and alcohol intake, anthropometric measurements (pre-pregnancy and actual weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference) and psychological (anxiety, stress and distress), socio-economic (per capita income), demographic (education, age, marital status) and obstetric (gravidity) characteristics. The associations between vitamin–mineral supplementation and maternal characteristics were assessed in 12 multiple logistic regression models, stratifying the women by age and per capita income.

Results:

Iron and vitamin C were the most ingested supplements by adolescents and non-adolescents, in the three interviews. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the maternal predictors for non-use of vitamin–mineral supplementation were acute anxiety and alcohol intake for adolescents, and low education, single without partner, distress (anxiety, depression, etc.) and stress for non-adolescents.

Conclusions:

These are important data to identify groups of low-income pregnant women in need of supplementation guidance and nutrition education. Stress/distress was a predictor for non-use of vitamin–mineral supplements for both adolescents and non-adolescents pregnant women.

Sponsorship:

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo-FAPESP (grant no. 1998/00321-0) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico-CNPq (grant no. 520/242/97-1), Brazil.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the staff from Hospital Maternidade de Jundiaí, Hospital de Caridade São Vicente de Paulo, Hospital Dr Paulo Sacramento, Hospital Santa Rita de Cássia, Casa de Saúde Dr Domingos Anastácio and Centro Médico Pitangueiras, for giving us the privilege to carry out our study in these services. We thank Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo-FAPESP (grant no. 1998/00321-0) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico-CNPq (grant no. 520/242/97-1) for supporting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    P H C Rondó, C M Fukushima & F Moraes

Authors
  1. P H C Rondó
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  2. C M Fukushima
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  3. F Moraes
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Correspondence to P H C Rondó.

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Guarantor: PHC Rondó.

Contributors: PHCR designed the study protocol, secured funding, facilitated data collection, participated in the statistical analysis, interpreted data and did the main writing of the paper. CMF and FM performed statistical data analysis and participated in the interpretation of the results and writing of the paper.

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Rondó, P., Fukushima, C. & Moraes, F. Vitamin–mineral supplement use by low-income Brazilian pregnant adolescents and non-adolescents and the predictors for non-use. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 1108–1114 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602425

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