Prenatal Diet Adequacy Among Rural Alabama Blacks

Proper nutrition during pregnancy has a major effect on a mother's health, as well as that of her baby. This paper examines the adequacy of diet among low‐income, black, pregnant women residing in rural areas of west central Alabama. The factors associated with diet adequacy in this population are also examined. Data for this study were collected from 186 women who provided 24‐hour dietary recalls. The data indicate that these women have major deficiencies in their diets, particularly in terms of milk and milk products. Most women are receiving only about 60 percent of the number of servings of the four basic food groups recommended for a pregnant woman. Women younger than 20, unmarried or not heading their own household, receiving no post‐high school education, unemployed, experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, and not having a home visitor had less adequate diets than their counterparts. Diet adequacy had a low (r = .16) but statistically significant correlation with birthweight.