Background: Widespread maternal undernutrition is considered the major cause behind the persistently
high prevalence of intra-uterine growth restriction and low birthweight in Bangladesh. Pre-pregnancy
undernutrition and inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) both contribute to impaired foetal growth.
In addition to poverty, several maternal factors are believed to impede development towards adequate
nutrition among Bangladeshi women. Methods: Through the use of data from a currently running
pregnancy cohort study (the PreSSMat study), we reviewed early pregnancy anthropometry, the level of
GWG and GWG adequacy (using guidelines from the American Institute of Medicine – IOM) among 208
women in Matlab, rural Bangladesh. We also analysed the association between anthropometry and
different maternal factors, i.e. age, parity and level of education.