Addressing Barriers to Maternal Nutrition in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

The authors conducted a literature review to identify barriers to food choice and consumption during pregnancy and lactation, and to examine how these countries have addressed maternal nutrition in their programs. The review highlights cultural beliefs, food aversions, economic constraints, and household food availability as drivers of food choice, and notes that counseling on maternal diet and weight gain during pregnancy is often lacking. The authors conclude that tailored, culturally resonant nutrition education and counseling are needed to support healthy maternal diet and gestational weight gain during pregnancy.