A weight gain chart for pregnant women designed in Chile.

Full Abstract

The weight gain chart for pregnant women, developed by Rosso and Mardones (RM chart, 1997), is analysed and compared with other charts in terms of its usefulness for targeting nutritional interventions aimed at preventing low or high birth weights. The RM chart defines categories of maternal nutritional status in early gestation based on weight/height, expressed either as percentage of standard weight (PSW) or body mass index (BMI), and desirable gestational weight gains for each of these categories. Weight gain recommendations of the RM chart are proportional to maternal height. For underweight women the weight recommendation was derived from actual data, while for overweight and obese women it is based on data extrapolations. Since 1987 the Chilean National Health Service has used the RM chart as a standard in prenatal care in all its clinics, covering approximately 70% of the country's population, mostly middle and low income women. During the 1987-2001 period the proportion of underweight pregnant women and infants with birth weight < 3000 g decreased significantly and proportionally. Nevertheless, the proportion of obese pregnant women and infants with birth weight > or = 4000 g increased during this period. Multifactorial social changes including a decade of substantial economic growth in the country with improved family income, precludes the possibility of determining the efficacy of the RM chart in this group. However, the widespread use of the RM chart indicates that it is a helpful and easy-to-use instrument in the field. Further, by its clear graphical presentation of maternal nutritional status it helps draw the attention of health personnel to women who need special nutritional advice and support.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Mardones, Francisco (F); Rosso, Pedro (P);

Affiliation: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Marcoleta 434, Santiago, Chile. mardones(-atsign-)med.puc.cl

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Maternal & child nutrition (Matern Child Nutr), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Apr; vol 1 (issue 2) : pp 77-90

Dates: Created 2006/08/02; Completed 2006/08/28; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 16881883, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - physiology
Nutrition Disorders - diagnosis; prevention & control
Nutritional Requirements
Nutritional Status
Obesity - epidemiology
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications - prevention & control
Pregnancy Outcome
Weight Gain - physiology

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.