Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutrición (Jun 2003)
Perfil de riesgo nutricional en la adolescente embarazada
Abstract
RESUMEN. Con el objeto de examinar los componentes antropométricos, hematológicos y dietéticos para identificar el perfil de riesgo nutricional en embarazadas adolescentes de bajo nivel socioeconómico, se estudiaron 215 jóvenes (16,9 ± 0,7 años), (rango 13 -18 años) en su primer trimestre de gestación, en la Maternidad del Sur de Valencia, Venezuela. Se obtuvieron datos socioeconómicos, antropométricos: peso pregestacional, peso actual, talla actual, circunferencia de brazo (CB), pliegue tricipital (PT), área grasa (AG), área muscular (AM) e índice de masa corporal pregestacional (IMCP); bioquímicos: hemoglobina y ferritina; y dietéticos (2 recordatorios de 24 horas). Según la edad se clasificaron en 2 grupos: grupo 1 (13 a 15) y grupo 2 (16 a 18 años). Para evaluar el perfíl de riesgo nutricional se consideró: Edad ginecológica SUMMARY. Nutritional risk in pregnant adolescents. A sample of 215 adolescents (16.9± 0.7 y; 13-18 y) from a low socioeconomic level of Valencia, Venezuela, at their first trimester of pregnancy were studied in order to identify nutritional risk. Socioeconomic, anthropometrical, hematological and dietary characteristic were assessed. Pregestational weight, actual weight, height, arm circumference (AC), triceps skin fold (TS), fat and muscle area (FA/MA) and pregestational body mass index (PBMI) were determined. Hemoglobin (Hb) and ferritin were measured by colorimetric and ELISA methods. Two 24 hour recalls were obtained. According to age, two groups were created. Pregnant adolescents were grouped by age: Group 1, 13 to15 years old and Group 2, 16 to 18 years old. Nutritional risk was defined as: Gynecological age lower than 4 years since menarche, PBMI < 19.8 kg/m², height below 10th Percentile of reference, Hb below 11 g/dL and ferritin < 12 mu g/L. Almost all the adolescents (96.3%) were in poverty. 83.3% were single, 83.3% were at elementary school before pregnancy but 84.1% were attending house chores at the time of exam. There were significant differences (p<0.001) for gynecological age and menarche age , but not for anthropometrical, hematological and dietary variables when Group 1 was compared to group 2. 35.3% of the adolescents had a gynecological age lower than 4 years, 23.3% were below 10th percentile for height, 36,3% had a PBMI lower than 19.8 kg/m², 26.5% were below 10th percentile for arm circunference, anemia was present in 13.7% and low levels of ferritin in 18.4% of the adolescents. Calorie intake was below recommendation in 87,3% and adequacy for vitamin A and C, calcium and zinc were below 2/3 of recommendation in 36.3%, 25.9%, 88.7% and 73.5% of the adolescents respectively. Studied adolescents had a high prevalence of risk factors for nutritional deficiencies (short age, poverty, low weight, anemia and deficient intake). Early assessment of this conditions allows to identify the risk, to establish interventions and to monitor pregnancy evolution.
