Original Article
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006) 60, 1108–1114. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602425; published online 15 March 2006
Vitamin–mineral supplement use by low-income Brazilian pregnant adolescents and non-adolescents and the predictors for non-use
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.
P H C Rondó1, C M Fukushima1 and F Moraes1
1Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Correspondence: Dr PHC Rondó, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr Arnaldo 715, Cerqueira Cesar São Paulo CEP-01246-904, Brazil. E-mail: phcrondo@usp.br
Received 11 July 2005; Revised 21 December 2005; Accepted 23 January 2006; Published online 15 March 2006.
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.
Keywords:
pregnant adolescents, vitamin–mineral supplementation, stress, distress, low-income
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