Effect of Dietary Counseling During Pregnancy on Infant Birthweight in Mangochi , Malawi

The dietary counseling will be delivered to mothers through group sessions (will include cooking demonstration) and home visits by lay health workers. The counseling will promote foods that are nutritious and locally available and general better food preparation practices. The choices of the foods to be promoted will be based on linear programming results from a preceding survey on dietary intake of pregnant women in the area as well as results of analysis of foods associated with infant birth size (same data). The goal in the linear programming was to find a model of food combinations among the most frequently consumed foods which better meets required intakes during pregnancy. Additionally, adherence to pregnancy iron supplements will also be promoted.

The antenatal counselling will focus on preparations for neonatal care and encouragement for facility based delivery.