Michael O Mireku1,2, Leslie L Davidson3, Romeo Zoumenou4, Achille Massougbodji4, Michel Cot2,5, Florence Bodeau-Livinec6,7. 1. School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK. 2. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Mère et Enfant Face aux Infections Tropicales, Paris, France. 3. Mailman School of Public Health and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. 4. Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin. 5. PRES Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France. 6. Département Méthodes Quantitatives en Santé Publique, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Rennes, France. 7. Inserm UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team, Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in Pregnancy, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between prenatal geophagy, maternal prenatal haematological indices, malaria, helminth infections and cognitive and motor development among offspring. METHODS: At least a year after delivery, 552 of 863 HIV-negative mothers with singleton births who completed a clinical trial comparing the efficacy of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and mefloquine during pregnancy in Allada, Benin, responded to a nutrition questionnaire including their geophagous habits during pregnancy. During the clinical trial, helminth infection, malaria, haemoglobin and ferritin concentrations were assessed at 1st and 2nd antenatal care visits (ANV) and at delivery. After the first ANV, women were administered daily iron and folic acid supplements until three what? post-delivery. Singleton children were assessed for cognitive function at age 1 year using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. RESULTS: The prevalence of geophagy during pregnancy was 31.9%. Pregnant women reporting geophagy were more likely to be anaemic (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI [1.1, 3.4]) at their first ANV if they reported geophagy at the first trimester. Overall, prenatal geophagy was not associated with maternal haematological indices, malaria or helminth infections, but geophagy during the third trimester and throughout pregnancy was associated with poor motor function (AOR = -3.8, 95% CI [-6.9, -0.6]) and increased odds of geophagous behaviour in early childhood, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal geophagy is not associated with haematological indices in the presence of micronutrient supplementation. However, it may be associated with poor child motor function and infant geophagy. Geophagy should be screened early in pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between prenatal geophagy, maternal prenatal haematological indices, malaria, helminth infections and cognitive and motor development among offspring. METHODS: At least a year after delivery, 552 of 863 HIV-negative mothers with singleton births who completed a clinical trial comparing the efficacy of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and mefloquine during pregnancy in Allada, Benin, responded to a nutrition questionnaire including their geophagous habits during pregnancy. During the clinical trial, helminth infection, malaria, haemoglobin and ferritin concentrations were assessed at 1st and 2nd antenatal care visits (ANV) and at delivery. After the first ANV, women were administered daily iron and folic acid supplements until three what? post-delivery. Singleton children were assessed for cognitive function at age 1 year using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. RESULTS: The prevalence of geophagy during pregnancy was 31.9%. Pregnant women reporting geophagy were more likely to be anaemic (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI [1.1, 3.4]) at their first ANV if they reported geophagy at the first trimester. Overall, prenatal geophagy was not associated with maternal haematological indices, malaria or helminth infections, but geophagy during the third trimester and throughout pregnancy was associated with poor motor function (AOR = -3.8, 95% CI [-6.9, -0.6]) and increased odds of geophagous behaviour in early childhood, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal geophagy is not associated with haematological indices in the presence of micronutrient supplementation. However, it may be associated with poor child motor function and infant geophagy. Geophagy should be screened early in pregnancy.
Keywords:
anaemia; anémie; carence en fer; child development; développement de l'enfant; geophagy; grossesse; géophagie; iron deficiency; pica; pregnancy
Authors: Alfred I Luoba; P Wenzel Geissler; Benson Estambale; John H Ouma; Dorcas Alusala; Rosemary Ayah; David Mwaniki; Pascal Magnussen; Henrik Friis Journal: Trop Med Int Health Date: 2005-03 Impact factor: 2.622