Family Medicine & Medical Science Research
Open Access

Abstract

A Scoping Literature Review of the Nutrition Status Among Canadian First Nations Women During Pregnancy: What Does the Evidence Reveal?

Olena Kloss, Karlee Dyck, Heather Giesbrecht, Rachel Eni, Michael N A Eskin, Albert E Chudley and Miyoung Suh*

Background: Indigenous women residing in remote communities experience a disproportionately higher prevalence of nutrition-related chronic diseases. The development of evidence-based programs and policies to minimize these health disparities necessitates a comprehensive understanding of Indigenous women’s nutrition status and dietary intake patterns. However, a knowledge gap exists with respect to baseline maternal nutrition status and dietary intake information among First Nations women living on reserves. Objective: We aimed to systematically synthesize existing literature on maternal dietary information in Indigenous women residing on reserve lands and remote communities. Methodology: The articles that reported a singular nutrient status, multiple nutrients status, meal consumption pattern, and/ nutrition-related biomarkers in First Nations women during childbearing years, pregnancy, and lactation were synthesized for this review. Results: Major nutrient deficiencies identified were fiber, folate, vitamin A, D, and E, calcium, potassium, and magnesium; low consumption of vegetable and fruit, grain, and milk and alternative food groups was observed. A lack of information on maternal nutrient status in maternal, First Nations, on-reserve population obstructed nutrition status evidence appraisal. Conclusion: We recommend that a greater emphasis be placed on improved maternal nutrition surveillance systems, which are designed in partnership with the Indigenous organizations. Development of a sustainable community nutrition monitoring system will allow for the construction of the nutrition information capacity.

Published Date: 2021-07-26; Received Date: 2021-05-18