ABSTRACT
Among pregnant women in Avon, south-west England, those who stated that they had the greatest difficulty affording basic items, such as food, cloth ing, housing, and heating, had the worst diets.33 This finding is consistent with other UK studies that have shown very low intakes of many nutrients especially iron, vitamins A and C, and folic acid among low income pregnant women.34 35
At a societal level, food availability, cost and differential distribution influ ence individual nutritional status. Societies with higher numbers of low income families resulting from greater income inequality are likely to have higher numbers of children experiencing poor nutrition in early childhood leading to stunting and higher numbers of women with low intakes of essential nutrients during pregnancy. Levels of child and maternity benefit and food entitlements during childhood and pregnancy are likely to be important in offsetting some of the adverse effects of poor nutritional status. Thus, food availability, cost, and distribution themselves influenced by income distribution and benefit levels are included in the extended model (see Figure 7.3, p. 162).
