Food consumption pattern and obstetric outcome of pregnant women in industrial areas of Bathinda

Sixty pregnant women (30 each in industrial and non-industrial areas i. e. group I and II) in the age group of 20–28 years belonging to low income group of Bathinda city were selected during 7^th month of pregnancy to study the impact of industrialization on the outcome of pregnancy. Inadequate food intake and poor pre-pregnancy weight resulted into low weight gain during pregnancy by the subjects in both the groups and environmental pollution was the additional factor in group I. The average weight gain was 4.21±1.99 and 6.1±1.34 kg in the subjects of group I and II, respectively. The values of Anthropometric Index, Weight-Height Ratio Index (WHRI) and Weight-Height Product Index (WHPI) were within the normal range in both the groups. It was observed that the gestational age was 34.2±3.7 and 38.3±2.9 weeks among the subjects of group I and II. The incidence of pre-maturity was higher in group I (33.33%) as compared to group II (10%) because of high exposure to the environmental pollutants in group I. Low birth weight was as high as 100 and 76.67 per cent in group I and II, respectively. The values of anthropometry of the newborns were also lower in both the groups but the condition worsened in group I when compared to group II. Poor purchasing power, lack of knowledge and environmental pollution appeared to be the key factors of poor obstetric outcome. Thus, besides the remedial techniques, environmental education and awareness programme should be implemented for the masses because “unless the environment is healthy, the individual cannot be healthy”.