Abstract

Micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy and breastfeeding affect maternal health, fetal growth, and child development. In Côte d’Ivoire, women are nutritionally vulnerable, yet data on dietary intake in high-risk rural areas are limited. This study assessed dietary intake and nutrient inadequacy among pregnant and breastfeeding women in eight rural villages in the Korhogo region, Northern Côte d’Ivoire. A total of 185 women (45 pregnant, 140 breastfeeding) completed a 32-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The questionnaire was validated against two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls in 103 women, showing reliability for estimating habitual intake. Nutrient intakes were calculated using the West African Food Composition Table. Prevalence of inadequate or excessive intakes was determined using dietary reference values from international organizations. Nutritional imbalances were found in both groups. Inadequate energy intake affected 42% of pregnant and 41% of breastfeeding women; protein inadequacy affected 20% and 9%. Excessive fat intake occurred in 62% of pregnant and 98% of breastfeeding women, while inadequate carbohydrate intake affected 78% and 75%. Pregnant women had high inadequacy for iron (62%), calcium (47%), zinc (22%), folate (33%), and vitamin B12 (11%). Breastfeeding women had inadequate intake of calcium (26%), zinc (19%), and folate (15%). Pregnant and breastfeeding women in rural Northern Côte d’Ivoire face multiple micronutrient inadequacies with excessive fat and insufficient carbohydrate intake. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted nutritional interventions and public health strategies to improve maternal diets and support maternal and child health.

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