The relationship between socioeconomic status and nutritional knowledge in women during pregnancy

Michelle Lane, Technological University Dublin
Ellen Barrett, Technological University Dublin
Amy C. O'Higgins, University College Dublin
Laura E. Mullaney, Technological University Dublin
Michael J. Turner, University College Dublin
Daniel McCartney, Technological University Dublin

Document Type Article

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society in 2013, Volume 72 OCE3.

Abstract

Obesity occurs at high frequency among Irish obstetric populations(1). As obesity increases the risk of adverse outcomes for both mother and infant, this is a major concern(2).This study investigated the relationship between markers of material and social deprivation and maternal body mass index (BMI) status in the first trimester of pregnancy. One hundred and sixteen women aged 16–41years (mean age = 29.5years) were recruited at their booking visit (9–16 weeks gestation) to a large Dublin maternity hospital. The sample included both public and semi-private patients. Bodyweight was measured using a TANITA MC-180 body composition analyzer (Pharmed Ltd., Mount Auburn, Millmount Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland). Height was recorded by nursing staff with a SECA digital height measure (Seca Ltd., 40 Barn St., Birmingham B5 5QB, UK.) using standardised procedures(3). The socioeconomic status of the participants was assessed by means of formal education and material deprivation status. Participants were classified into four educational categories: no formal or primary education, lower secondary education, upper secondary education and third level education. Material deprivation status was assessed by determining the number of basic necessities(4) which respondents had had to forego in the previous year due to lack of money, with participants categorized into two groupings – non-deprived (0 indicators) and deprived (P1 indicator). Forty seven percent of participants (n = 54) were of ideal BMI (20–24.9 kg/m2), while 27.6% of the sample (n = 32) fell into the overweight category (25–29.9 kg/m2) and 16.4% (n = 19) were classified as obese (BMIP30 kg/m2). Independent samples t-test was used to compare BMI between women who were materially deprived and those who were not. BMI was greater in those who were deprived (27.0 kg/m2) than those who were non-deprived (24.6 kg/m2) (p = 0.008). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare BMI with educational status. There was no difference in BMI according to educational status (p = 0.256). These findings suggest that markers of material disadvantage such as deprivation may be more important predictors of overweight and obesity in than sociological markers such as educational status among pregnant women in Ireland.