Anthropometric measurements as predictors of nutritional status in black South African women during pregnancy

Background

Nutritional risk assessment is an essential component of primary health care screening, especially for pregnant women. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between maternal body mass index (BMI) and maternal anthropometric measurements in black South African pregnant women, both with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional observational study design was used. Two hundred black South African pregnant women were recruited of which 90 were HIV-infected and 110 were HIV-uninfected. The anthropometric measurements assessed included mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), tricep skinfold (TSF), subscapular skinfold (SSF), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), wrist circumference (WC), frame size, and BMI.

Results

Maternal age was significantly associated with changes in maternal anthropometric measurements. Maternal BMI was significantly correlated with other maternal anthropometric measurements including MUAC, TSF, SSF, MAMC, WC, and frame size. The anthropometric measurements that were found to be accurate for assessing obesity in pregnancy included TSF (≥20.75 mm), SSF (≥21.75 mm), MAMC (≥25.23 cm), and WC (≥16.25 cm). Additionally, SSF (≥15.75 mm) and MAMC (≥23.35 cm) could be used to assess for overweight nutritional status. Lastly, frame size could be used to assess for underweight (≥10.05) and normal (≥9.95) nutritional status. No significant anthropometric differences were observed between the HIV-infected pregnant women and the HIV-uninfected pregnant women in this study.

Conclusion

Surrogate anthropometric measurements offer a simple solution for assessing nutritional status in pregnant women. MUAC was the most accurate method for identifying overweight and obesity. Furthermore, maternal HIV status did not affect the anthropometric measurements.