Double Burden of Malnutrition Among Pregnant Women in Rural Jharkhand: Evidence From a Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: The nutritional status of pregnant women is a very important aspect of maternal and antenatal care, as malnutrition is detrimental to both the mother and the foetus. This study tries to assess the scale of the double burden of malnutrition in a rural setting in India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 337 pregnant women to assess the nutritional status of pregnant women using Body Mass Index and dietary intake.

Results: Overall, 21.4% of women were underweight, 14.8% were overweight, 0.9% were obese, and 62.9% of women were in the normal weight range based on Body Mass Index. Family type, dietary habits, and community practices were found to be significant determinants of nutritional status among pregnant women.

Conclusion: Nearly a third of the pregnant women were found to be malnourished, indicating the significant impact of the double burden of malnutrition. Lifestyle changes such as dietary improvement need to be emphasised to enhance maternal nutritional status during antenatal care.