Maternal Fertility and Nutrition in Relation to Early Chidhood Survival

Abstract

An attempt was made to gather some of the evidence on maternal factors influencing pregnancy and its outcome and early childhood survival and to relate these to some nutritional and other variables that affect the early development of a child. The age at menarch has been decreasing with improvement in nutritional and general health status. The same improvement is responsible for delayed menopause. Consequently, the total fertile period of a woman is increased. In the less developed countries there is strong evidence that those under the age of 18 and particularly those under age 16 are unlikely to have finished their own growth. If they get pregnant, the chances are that their own growth is stunted or that this incomplete growth will have a greater influence on the child. In developing countries, where births are often close together, the blood nutrient levels and general physical resources of the mother are not restored adequately before they give birth to the next child. This makes these mothers a serious risk group and their children are more likely to have early childhood complications and difficulties than children who are spaced at intervals beyond 2 years. Mothers who are very young have more of their children dying in both the neonatal and post-neonatal periods than mothers aged between 20 and 26 years. In countries where the nutritional status is marginal, a pregnancy may tilt the balance and precipitate the woman into an overt state of malnutrition. Early maternal nutrition is also very important, since many studies have shown a positive correlation between low maternal stature and low birth weight. Specific nutrient deficiencies in pregnancy and lactation include calorie deficiency in pregnancy, and iodine and iron deficiencies. There is strong evidence suggesting that maternal malnutrition during pregnancy and before has a negative effect on brain development. Evidence is conflicting regarding the importance of maternal malnutrition to the quantity and quality of milk produced.