Preconceptional and prenatal multivitamin-mineral supplement use in the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey.

Abstract

This paper examines the prevalence of multivitamin-mineral supplement use before and during pregnancy, as well as predictors of nonuse, in 9953 women who delivered live infants in the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey. Ninety-seven percent of the women were advised to take multivitamin-mineral supplements in prenatal care. Sixty-seven percent of Black mothers took supplements during pregnancy, as compared with 84% of White mothers. Multivariate analysis revealed that Black mothers; mothers who are less educated, younger, unmarried, and non-smokers; and mothers who participate in Women, Infants, and Children programs are at elevated risk for nonuse. These data help identify groups in need of supplementation guidance.

Prevalence of iron deficiency and anemia among healthy women of reproductive age in Bhaktapur, Nepal

“…In the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey of a nationally representative sample of U.S. women who delivered a child in that year, 83% of respondents reported that they took supplements with multiple vitamins and minerals ≥3 days/week for 3 months after they found out they were pregnant (64 ). Significantly smaller percentages of black women; Eskimo, Aleut, or American Indian women; women aged <20 years; and women having less than a high school education reported taking these supplements.…”

Correlates of intake of folic acid–containing supplements among pregnant women

“…11,12,15,16,[20][21][22] Women who had fertility treatments were much more likely to take FA supplements around the time of conception than women who did not have any treatments. Women who had a previous live birth, especially women with 2 or more live births, had an increased risk of no intake.…”

“…4,[11][12][13][14] Intake during early pregnancy is critical because most birth defects occur during the first few weeks of pregnancy. For example, neural tube closure is completed by day 28 after conception, or 6 weeks after the last menstrual period.…”

“…Few studies have examined correlates of supplement intake during pregnancy in relatively large and diverse study populations and included multivariable analysis. 11,15,16 We are aware of only 1 study that examined whether predictors of supplement intake varied as pregnancy progressed, and its data are from births that occurred in 1988, before the issuance of major public health recommendations regarding FA. 11 This study describes the pattern of intake of FA supplements among pregnant women and examines correlates of FA supplement intake, comparing correlates of intake during the periconceptional period and later during pregnancy, using recent data from a large, multistate, population-based, case-control study.…”

Role of maternal vitamins in programming health and chronic disease

“…The National Maternal and Infant Health Survey from 1988 reported that, of the 97% of mothers who had been advised to consume a prenatal vitamin supplement, 83% reported adherence to recommendations during pregnancy. 54 In 2000, a survey based on the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System further found that up to 41% of women in 19 states consumed a multivitamin supplement more than 4 times per week. 55 More recently, data from NHANES 1999-2006 showed an average of 74% of pregnant women consume a multivitamin or multimineral supplement containing folic acid.…”