Date of Award
2018
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Science
Department
Nutrition and Food Sciences
First Advisor
Maya Vadiveloo
Abstract
Studies examining prenatal diet quality in the US indicate that pregnant women are not currently meeting national dietary recommendations. Though prenatal diet quality is generally poor, certain population sub-groups may be disproportionately impacted, however, few studies have examined diet quality disparities in pregnant women. In order to better understand disparities in prenatal diet quality, this study seeks to characterize the relationship between maternal sociodemographic factors and prenatal diet quality, specifically examining socioeconomic status, race, pre-pregnancy BMI, and gestational weight gain as an exploratory aim. Cross sectional data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II informed this secondary analysis. To explore these relationships, we used generalized linear models to examine the associations between socioeconomic status, race, pre-pregnancy BMI, and gestational weight gain and Alternative Health Eating Index for Pregnancy (a measure of diet quality during pregnancy) total and component scores. Models were adjusted for age, energy intake, and relevant covariates. Post-hoc testing with Tukey adjustment was used to compare scores between groups. Findings indicated that prenatal diet quality disparities were present in women with middle- and low-income, non-Hispanic Black women, and women with overweight and obese pre-pregnancy BMIs.
Recommended Citation
Parker, Haley Wynne, "Maternal Sociodemographic Characteristics and Prenatal Diet Quality" (2018). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 1267.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/1267
Terms of Use
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