Women First: Preconception Maternal Nutrition

Women First: Preconception Maternal Nutrition

Multi-country three-arm, individually randomized, non-masked, controlled trial to ascertain the benefits of ensuring optimal maternal nutrition before conception and providing an evidence base for programmatic priority directed to minimizing the risk of malnutrition in all females of reproductive age.

The objective is to determine the benefits to the offspring of women in poor, food-insecure environments of commencing a daily comprehensive maternal nutrition supplement (with additional balanced calorie/protein supplement for underweight participants) ≥ 3 months prior to conception versus the benefits of commencing the same supplement at 12 weeks gestation and also to compare offspring outcomes with those of a control group which receives no supplement.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 16-35 years of age;
• expectation to have first or further pregnancy without intent to utilize contraception
• Hb >8 g/dL

Exclusion Criteria:

• Nulliparous women who do not agree to hospital delivery (equipped for caesarian section) or/and do not have ready access to such a facility.