Early pregnancy nausea and vomiting in a high-altitude Andean population

Objectives: We examined the prevalence, risk factors, and maternal-neonatal consequences of early pregnancy nausea and vomiting (NVP) in a high altitu de Ecuadorian Andean population. Methods: Subjects were 1000 low-income urb an primigravidas who delivered full-term pregnancies. Results: NVP prevalen ce was 67%. Decreased NVP risk was associated with higher altitude and incr eased risk with less education, common law marriage, and white collar/profe ssional occupation. Lifestyle changes associated with NVP included decrease d likelihood of drinking and outside employment but increased probability o f prenatal care, supportive living arrangements, and dietary disturbances. NVP had no apparent long-term effect on maternal nutritional status but was associated with increased fetal subcutaneous fat reserves. Conclusions: NV P prevalence and timing was similar to developed populations although some of the identified risk factors were unique to the group. NVP did not appear to have a significant impact on prenatal nutrition at term but was linked with increased fetal fat accumulation. (C) 2000 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.