NUTRITION, GENITAL-TRACT INFECTION, HEMATOLOGIC VALUES, AND PREMATURERUPTURE OF MEMBRANES AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN

Using a prospective comparative design, African American gravidae with and without genital tract infection were assessed with respect to die tary intakes, serum nutrient values, hematologic values, and pregnancy outcomes. Intakes of ascorbic acid, vitamin A, protein, and iron were the dietary variables while levels of ascorbic acid, protein, albumin , globulin, and ferritin were the variables measured in serum. The hem atologic variables included hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red and white blood cell counts. Pregnancy outcome was defined on the basis of prema ture rupture of the membranes (FROM), and infant birth weight, birth l ength, gestational age, and head circumference. The sample consisted o f 335 nulliparous women who were between 16-35 years of age, 96 of who m had genital tract infection based on laboratory reports. Findings in dicated no significant differences between the mean dietary intakes as well as serum values of the infected and non-infected women, and no d ifference in the incidence of FROM. However, non-infected women had a better mean hematologic profile than the infected gravidae during preg nancy. Also, for the non-infected group, there were significant relati onships between head circumference and protein consumption (P = .015) and serum ferritin (P = .02). For the infected women, the relationship between the hemoglobin and hematocrit measurements obtained at the fi rst prenatal visit and infant birth weight, birth length and head circ umference were statistically significant.