Effect of supplementary feeding of pregnant women on birth weight of the new born.

A supplementary food mix was prepared from roasted peanut, chickpea and sugar. The effect of this food mix on birth weight was tested on a group of rural women of low socioeconomic group in few villages in Peshawar District of NWFP. A 100 g supplementary food mix providing 16.7 g protein and 520 K.Cal of energy was given daily to a group of mothers in their third trimester, until the time of delivery. Another group of pregnant women acted as control. The results indicaed a high maternal weight gain in the supplemented group. Moreover the birth weight, length, head and chest circumference of the new born in the supplemented group was also significantly higher as compared to control group.