Abstract

Background: Appropriate nutrition during pregnancy is not only crucial for maternal health but also determines fetal development and the child’s health from birth through adulthood. Nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy can increase the risks of obstetric complications, preterm birth, and low birth weight.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 505 pregnant women aged 18 years or older who delivered at the Department of Obstetrics, Kon Tum Provincial General Hospital. Nutritional status was assessed by the scale developed by the Ho Chi Minh City Nutrition Center in collaboration with UNICEF in Viet Nam. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with nutritional risk among the study subjects.

Results: The prevalence of pregnant women at risk of nutritional disorders, as defined by the scale, was 27.9%. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that a history of hypertension (OR = 4.86; 95% CI: 1.60–14.78; p = 0.005) and poor maternal nutrition knowledge (OR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.02–2.40; p = 0.042) were significantly associated with increased nutritional risk.

Conclusions: The screening tool of the Ho Chi Minh City Nutrition Center is useful for early detection of nutritional risk in pregnant women. Its incorporation in antenatal care may contribute to improved maternal nutrition. Early application of this scale and reinforced nutritional education - particularly for women with a history of hypertension -  are recommended to optimize pregnancy outcomes.