Maternal nutritional depletion in a rural area of Papua New Guinea.

Abstract

In the Wosera area of Papua New Guinea, the nutritional status of 899 women of child-bearing age (measured by weight, body mass index, and skinfolds thickness) showed a strong negative correlation with parity, independent of age. This maternal depletion occurred despite a mean birth interval of three years. Average maternal weight gain during pregnancy was about 5 kg, thus the estimated weight gain from fat deposition, blood and extracellular volume expansion was only 650 g. Evidence of increasing fertility in recent years highlights the need for effective family planning to limit the impact on women of child-bearing age.