Nutrition intervention of pregnant adolescents: a systematic review

Purpose This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition interventions conducted in pregnant adolescents and their implications for future research. Design/methodology/approach The papers in this systematic study were searched through PubMed, PMC, the Cochrane Library (Trial), ScienceDirect and Google Scholar that were published from 2000 to 2019. An experimental study using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) or non-RCT among pregnant adolescents aged 10-19 years were inclusion criteria for this study. While exclusion criteria were studies published before 2000, non-experimental study and non-English-language studies. Findings A total of 14 studies were identified in this review. Six studies provided interventions in the form of nutrition and health education and seven studies provided interventions in the form of nutritional supplementation (calcium, vitamin D, iron-folate, lipid-based nutrient supplements and multi-micronutrient powder. One study provided dietary intervention. The interventions in pregnant adolescents in the form of education and nutritional supplementation effectively increased the knowledge and nutrition of pregnant adolescents and decreased low birth weight (LBW) and premature birth. The impact on birth outcomes was still quite diverse. Some of the studies in this review were conducted without a comparison group, a small sample size and conducted in health-care facilities. Conclusion This systematic review implies a future nutrition intervention for pregnant adolescents is needed to improve nutritional status of pregnant adolescents and birth outcome. Future research using double blind RCT method with bigger sample size and various nutritional outcome are wide open to be developed. Originality/value Interventions in pregnant adolescents effectively increased the knowledge and nutrition of pregnant adolescents and decreased LBW and premature birth. The program implementation in the community needs to be improved so that the effectiveness of the program remains optimal as in healthcare facilities.