The Relationship between Malnutrition Markers and Nutritional Status among Pregnant and Lactating Qashqa'i Nomad Mothers in Fars-Iran Running Title: Malnutrition Markers And Nutritional Status In Qashqa'i Nomad Mothers

Today, malnutrition among the suburban and a large number of rural populations is a controversial issue in science and health conferences. We examined the correlation between malnutrition markers and nutritional status in pregnant and lactating Qashqa'i nomad mothers in Iran. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 930 pregnant and lactating Qashqa'i mothers by random sampling method. These women who had less than eight pregnancies (pregnant for three months or lactating after three months of birth) were assessed with anthropometric methods (Body Mass Index), nutritional intake assessment and biochemical tests (Serum Albumin, Hemoglobin, Protein). The data were analyzed by SPSS software, using ANOVA and regression tests. The average age of mothers was 24.3 ± 5.3. In %21 of these mothers, BMI was less than 18.5 kg/m2. The total serum protein in 3.4 % of them was less than 6 g/dl, in 19.3 % of them serum albumin was less than 3.6 g/dl, and in %19.3 of them mean hemoglobin concentration was less than 11 g/dl. 26 % of them had low energy intake, 11 % of protein intake, and 24 % of ferrous. There was a significant correlation between protein intake and total serum protein (r = 0.89, p = 0.015) and serum albumin (r = 0.93, p = 0.005). The data suggest that high intakes of protein is associated with higher levels of serum protein and serum albumin and through an optimized diet consisting of available food resources in nomadic lifestyle, malnutrition specially protein deficiency can be minimized with the least cost