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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
immunology and microbiology
Seasonal changes in activity, birth weight and lactational performance in rural Gambian women
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Volume 76, No. 5, Year 1982
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Description
The activity of 81 pregnant, lactating and non-pregnant, non-lactating women in the rural subsistence farming village of Keneba, The Gambia, was measured for 12 months using a combination of 24-hour activity recall and activity diaries. During the course of pregnancy women became gradually less active and in the month before giving birth were 25% less active than non-pregnant, non-lactating women and lactating women when women in the month after birth were excluded. There were striking seasonal changes in activity. During the dry season, from January to April, lactating women were active 55% of the 15-hour working day. At the start of the farming season in June and July this figure increased to 92%. Similar changes were observed in the pregnant women whose activity increased from a mean 50% in April to 83% in June. The period of intense activity coincided with a general shortage of food and increased incidence of disease. The intense activity of pregnant women in the farming season coupled with the low food intakes are most probably the main factors responsible for the striking fall in birth weights observed at this time of the year. Reduced lactational performance was apparent in relation to high activity when it necessitated the mother regularly spending much of the day away from her child. FAO/WHO-recommended energy intakes during pregnancy and lactation are inappropriate for this community. © 1982 Oxford University Press.
Authors & Co-Authors
Roberts, Susan Boseman
United Kingdom, London
Medical Research Council
South Africa
Keneba
Paul, Alison A.
United Kingdom, London
Medical Research Council
Cole, T. J.
United Kingdom, London
Medical Research Council
Whitehead, Roger G.
United Kingdom, London
Medical Research Council
Paul, A. A.
South Africa
Keneba
Cole, T. J.
South Africa
Keneba
Whitehead, Roger G.
South Africa
Keneba
Statistics
Citations: 107
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/0035-9203(82)90239-5
ISSN:
00359203
e-ISSN:
18783503
Research Areas
Food Security
Maternal And Child Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Design
Cohort Study
Study Locations
Gambia
Participants Gender
Female