Regional Overview on Maternal Nutrition and Examples of Health System Programme and Policy Responses: Asia and the Pacific

Abstract

Background: The double burden of malnutrition in Asia and the Pacific is driving a renewed focus on maternal malnutrition. Summary: Though adverse consequences of maternal malnutrition have been long recognized, there is slow progress in addressing nutritional problems of women/adolescent girls. Coverage and quality of current maternal nutrition interventions, mostly delivered through antenatal care programmes vary across countries, and are often sub-optimum. Further, despite a marked increase in overweight and obesity in women of reproductive age, at present, most programmes are focused on under-nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Key Messages: The recent antenatal care recommendations released by World Health Organization provide a benchmark for countries to evaluate their programmes and identify gaps and challenges to improving maternal nutrition. Asian and Pacific countries need to address all forms of maternal malnutrition. For countries that historically focused on maternal under-nutrition, expanding their programmes to incorporate interventions to address overweight and obesity will be challenging. Innovative methods for nutrition counselling, both in terms of content and using novel channels of communication, are needed. Protocols and guidance on managing excessive weight gain as well as determining appropriate pregnancy weight gains are needed, while managing micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in settings where inherited disorders of red blood cells exist.