Author : Borja Judith Rafaelita B.

Summary : This study was designed to generate baseline information on the primiparous adolescent mother from Metro Cebu. The main concern was to determine how the simultaneous nutrient demands imposed by pregnancy and her own physical growth affect maternal nutritional status. The study covered the duration of pregnancy to one year postpartum. Characteristics of the adolescent mothers were compared with older primiparous mothers aged 20-25 years old. Maternal characteristics at pregnancy were analyzed for possible influences on maternal nutritional status at pregnancy outcome. Likewise, the influences of maternal characteristics, nutritional status at pregnancy, and infant feeding practice on postpartum nutritional status were determined. Findings revealed that although the adolescent mothers were less educated, less conscientious with their health during pregnancy, had lower energy adequacy ratios, and were gynecologically immature compared with the adult mother, no significant difference in nutritional status was found between both groups. There was no indication of stunting nor wasting among the adolescent mothers for the entire study period. Regression analysis showed that at pregnancy, variations in gynecological age and school consumption account for the variability in percentage standard weight-for-height (R (superscript 2)= .03, p <0.05)) and arm muscle area (R (superscript 2)= .04, p < 0.01)) at pregnancy. Number of years in school accounted for the variability in arm fat area (R (superscript 2) = .02, p <0.05). In terms Although infants of adolescent mothers weighed significantly lower than those of the adult mothers mean birth weights were still above the low birth weight cut-off point of 2,500 g. Despite their marginal energy intakes, the young mothers seemed to have sustained their growth as well as that of the fetus. After delivery, the adolescent mothers continued to have optimal nutritional status even among those who fully breastfed their infants for the first six months.