Nutritional Status and Dietary Diversity among Fertility Impaired Women in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Excess weight gain and poor dietary intake pose adverse effects on health and productivity of women of reproductive age.
Objective: The study assessed association between nutritional status, dietary diversity and fertility.
Methods: Study design was cross sectional, carried out among 210 fertility-impaired women who attended gynaecological clinics of University College Hospital and Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. A semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire and adapted Dietary diversity Questionnaire was developed to determine respondents' socio-demographic characteristics and dietary diversification respectively. Height (m), weight (kg) and body fat (%) were measured. Data collected were analysed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Association of variables was determined by chi-square having p<0.05.
Results: More than half (53.3%) of respondents were within 30-39 years. Monthly average income was ₦30,000 ($187.5). Prevalence of overweight, obesity, secondary infertility, primary infertility and sexually transmitted infections (STI) was 40.5%, 32.8%, 55.5%, 44.5% and 28.5% respectively. Only 38.6% had experienced infertility beyond five years. Highly diverse diets were consumed by only 51.0% of respondents. Fruits and vegetable, organ meat, eggs, milk and milk products, meat and fish were not poorly consumed. Infertility was associated with increased Body Mass Index (p꞊0.042), Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) (p꞊0.000), age (p꞊0.000), religion (p꞊0.020), occupation (p꞊0.003) and monthly income (p꞊0.036) were significantly associated with infertility.
Conclusion: Majority of infertile women in this study were overweight, obese, and physically inactive, experienced abdominal adiposity and secondary infertility