ANTHROPOMETRY AND BLOOD HAEMOGLOBIN STATUS OF WOMEN IN MAKWANPUR DISTRICT, NEPAL

Abstract

Background
The nutritional situation of women in Nepal remains precarious. Low energy, protein and
micronutrient intakes contribute to high levels of stunting and anaemia throughout the
life cycle. This suboptimal nutritional status contributes to high prevalences of low birth
weight and death in early infancy. As background information for an ongoing study of
perinatal health interventions in 24 Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Makwanpur
District, a descriptive study of nutritional status and anaemia in a sample of women was
carried out.
Objectives
To measure weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and blood haemoglobin
in non-pregnant married women of reproductive age.
Methods
Participants aged between 15 and 49 years were recruited at 12 sites in five VDCs. Personal
details were collected in each case, after which height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference
(MUAC) and blood haemoglobin level were measured.
Results
Results are available for 500 women. Mean height was 149.9 cm (95% confidence interval
for mean 149.5 – 150.4 cm); mean weight was 45.5 kg (95% CI 44.9 - 46.1 kg); mean Body
Mass Index (BMI) was 20.2 kg/m2(95% CI 20.0 – 20.4 kg/m
2); mean MUAC was 23.47 cm
(95% CI 23.2 – 23.7 cm). Overall, 27.8% (95% CI 24.1 – 32.2%) of women showed evidence
of Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) on the basis of BMI, and 51.5% (95% CI 47.0 –
56.0%) on the basis of MUAC. There were no significant differences in BMI or MUAC
between either ethnic or age groups. 35.3% of women were anaemic (95% CI 31.1 – 39.7%),
one percent severely so. There were no significant differences in prevalence between ethnic
groups, but there was some evidence of an increase in anaemia prevalence with age.
Conclusions
CED and anaemia appear common in Makwanpur District. As part of a package to improve
newborn infant outcome, access to and uptake of haematinics during pregnancy should be
beneficial. Community level intervention needs to attempt to address the issue of food
intake in young girls and women before improvements in nutritional status are possible

Key Words: Anaemia, anthropometry, nutritional status, Nepal.