Nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy usually lead to intrauterine growth retardation, which is one of the main causes of foetal and infant undernutrition in developing countries. Every year, 30 million newborns, or 23% of 126 million births per year, are affected by intrauterine growth retardation; by contrast, in developed countries the rate is only about 2% (World Health Organization 2000a). A significant proportion of infant mortality, in particular within the first month of life, is also attributable to poor maternal health and nutrition during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period (United Nations Children’s Fund 1999). .
