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Maternal micronutrient status and decreased growth of Zambian infants born during and after the maize price increases resulting from the southern African drought of 2001–2002

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

R Gitau ,
M Makasa ,
L Kasonka ,
M Sinkala ,
C Chintu ,
A Tomkins  and
S Filteau
R Gitau
Affiliation:
Institute of Child Health, London, UK
M Makasa
Affiliation:
Lusaka District Health Management Team, Lusaka, Zambia
L Kasonka
Affiliation:
University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
M Sinkala
Affiliation:
Lusaka District Health Management Team, Lusaka, Zambia
C Chintu
Affiliation:
University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
A Tomkins
Affiliation:
Institute of Child Health, London, UK
S Filteau*
Affiliation:
Institute of Child Health, London, UK Nutrition and Public Health Interventions Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Email [email protected]
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Abstract

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Objective

To investigate the effects on maternal micronutrient status and infant growth of the increased maize prices that resulted from the southern African drought of 2001–2002.

Design

Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting

A maternal and child health clinic in Lusaka, Zambia.

Subjects

Maternal and infant health and nutrition data and maternal plasma were being collected for a study of breast-feeding and postpartum health. Samples and data were analysed according to whether they were collected before (June to December 2001), during (January 2002 to April 2003) or after (May 2003 to January 2004) the period of increased maize price. Season and maternal HIV status were controlled for in analyses.

Results

Maize price increases were associated with decreased maternal plasma vitamin A during pregnancy (P = 0.028) and vitamin E postpartum (P = 0.042), with the lowest values among samples collected after May 2003 (vitamin A: 0.96 μmol l−1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84–1.09, n = 38; vitamin E: 30.8 μmol mmol−1 triglycerides, 95% CI 27.2–34.8, n = 64) compared with before January 2002 (vitamin A: 1.03 μmol l−1, 95% CI 0.93–1.12, n = 104; vitamin E: 38.9 μmol mmol−1 triglycerides, 95% CI 34.5–43.8, n = 47). There were no significant effects of sampling date on maternal weight, haemoglobin or acute-phase proteins and only marginal effects on infant weight. Infant length at 6 and 16 weeks of age decreased progressively throughout the study (P-values for time of data collection were 0.51 at birth, 0.051 at 6 weeks and 0.026 at 16 weeks).

Conclusions

The results show modest effects of the maize price increases on maternal micronutrient status. The most serious consequence of the price increases is likely to be the increased stunting among infants whose mothers experienced high maize prices while pregnant. During periods of food shortages it might be advisable to provide micronutrient supplements even to those who are less food-insecure.

Keywords

FamineMicronutrientsPregnancyStunting
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 8 , Issue 7 , October 2005 , pp. 837 - 843
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2005

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