Telangana comprehensive maternal nutrition and well being package: Gestational weight anaemia and mental health in antenatal care

Maternal nutrition and well-being, encompassing physical and emotional health during and after pregnancy, is crucial. In Telangana, recent data shows that 19 per cent of women are underweight, while 30 per cent are overweight or obese, posing risks to pregnancy and long-term health for mother and infant. The state also faces a high prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women (53 per cent), one of the major causes of maternal deaths. Mental health during pregnancy affects nutrition, birth complications and postnatal mental wellness for both mother and child. Mothers with mental illness may struggle with parenting, leading to inadequate childcare, feeding and poor child growth and development. To improve overall maternal nutrition and wellness outcomes the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Telangana, integrated weight tracking, nutrition counselling, anaemia prevention, and mental health screening into routine antenatal check-ups. Materials on the comprehensive antenatal programme in Telangana are available in the resources section curated just for you! We firmly believe that these resources will ignite your passion and inspire efforts for better maternal nutrition and health outcomes.