Hypocalcaemia and its contributing factors among first trimester pregnant women in an urban area in Malaysia
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of hypocalcaemia among first-trimester pregnant women and its contributing factors.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional study was carried out among first-trimester pregnant women who were recruited during their first antenatal visit. A total of 396 respondents of age 18-40 years completed the self-administered questionnaire (socio-demographic, socio-economic, obstetric information), validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for calcium (FFQ-calcium), anthropometric measurements (weight and height) and blood test for serum calcium during their first trimester.
Findings
The prevalence of hypocalcaemia based on serum calcium level of less than 2.11 mmol/L was 26.0 per cent (n = 103). The median serum calcium level was 2.2 mmol/L (IQR, 25th and 75th percentile – 2.1 and 2.3, respectively). Milk intake of less than two glasses per day during pregnancy showed a twofold increase in developing hypocalcaemia (OR, 2.231; 95 per cent CI, 1.399, 3.588). Other than that, underweight (aOR, 2.038; 95 per cent SK, 1.088, 3.820) and obese before pregnancy (aOR, 1.954; 95 per cent SK, 1.007, 3.790) are also predictors of hypocalcaemia.
Originality/value
The prevalence of hypocalcaemia among first-trimester pregnant women in this study was 26.0 per cent. Intake of two or more glasses of milk per day can help prevent hypocalcaemia at this stage of pregnancy.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Citation
Yeop, N.S.H., Md Isa, Z., Shamsuddin, K., Lin, K.G., Abdullah Mahdy, Z., Hassan, H. and Ghazi, H. (2018), "Hypocalcaemia and its contributing factors among first trimester pregnant women in an urban area in Malaysia", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 48 No. 1, pp. 165-176. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-04-2017-0078
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited