Abstract

SANCHEZ JAEGER, Armando; PENA PERDOMO, Evelyn; SOLANO RODRIGUEZ, Liseti  and  GARCIA, Amarilys. Riesgo de déficit nutricional antropométrico en el primer trimestre del embarazo. An Venez Nutr [online]. 2002, vol.15, n.1, pp.25-30. ISSN 0798-0752.

To assess nutritional anthropometric risk for low weight during the first trimester of pregnancy, 389 women (11.9±2.7 weeks of gestation), between 13 and 41 years of age, living in poverty in Valencia, Venezuela 1998 were studied. Pre-gestational weight (PGW), actual weight, height, mid arm circumference (MAC), and triceps skinfold were determined. Arm Fat Area (AFA), Arm Muscle Area (AMA) and Pre-gestational Body Mass Index (PBMI) were calculated. The cutoff points for MAC, AFA, and AMA were established between the 15th percentile ("Below the Norm") and the 85th ("Above the Norm"). Women with PBMI<19.8 kg/m2, were considered "Low Weight". 145 subjects were found at nutritional risk for low weight: The "Risk 1" group included women with PBMI and MAC below the norm (17.7%), "Risk 2" group was characterized by PBMI, MAC, and FA below the norm (13.3%), and "Risk 3" group by PBMI, MAC, FA and AMA below the norm (6.1%). From a multivariate cluster analysis three clusters emerged: "Cluster A" grouped subjects with "normal" PBMI and MAC, "Cluster B" grouped PBMI and MAC considered "deficient", and Cluster C grouped PBMI, MAC, and FA "in excess" or above the cutoff points. 90 women at risk were identified by Cluster B: 61% of group "Risk 1", 60% of group "Risk 2", and 71% of group "Risk 3". From these results we concluded that: according to PBMI, there is a high nutritional risk and that two or more anthropometric variables are needed to identify potential groups for nutritional interventions.

Keywords : Anthropometry; nutritional risk; pregnant women; mid arm circumference; pregestational body mass index.