Determinants Of Micronutrients Deficiencies in Pregnant Adolescents In Accra

ABSTRACT

Background: Adolescent pregnancies have been shown to have poorer outcomes compared to pregnancies in adult women. Nutritional status may play an important role in improving the health of pregnant adolescents. However, little is known about micronutrient status and the factors that influence the adequacy of the diets of the Ghanaian population particularly among pregnant adolescents. Aim: To identify the determinants of micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant adolescents. Method: A cross-sectional design was used in this study. Eighty three (83) pregnant adolescent girls were recruited from three (3) health facilities; Ussher Polyclinic, La General Hospital and Mamprobi Polyclinic. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain the sociodemographic data. Participants’ dietary micronutrient intakes and food consumption pattern were assessed using the 24-hour dietary recall and the food frequency questionnaire method respectively. Participants’ haemoglobin status were also obtained from their maternal records books. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20.0 was used to analyse data obtained. A one sample t-test was used to compare mean nutrient intake to the EAR/RDA. Pearson Chi square tests was used to determine the relationships between socio- demographic variables and dietary intakes of micronutrients and socio-demographic variables and haemoglobin status. ANOVA was used to compare the mean dietary intakes of the girls between trimesters of pregnancy. Statistical significance was set at p