Understanding women’s values and preferences associated with calcium supplementation prior to and during pregnancy

Summary In this project, a student will conduct a systematic review aimed at identifying available qualitative evidence on women’s perspectives and experiences around calcium supplementation during pregnancy.

Project Details

Globally, many women do not receive a sufficient amount of calcium during pregnancy, particularly in low -and middle-income countries where dietary calcium intake is low. WHO currently recommends that in populations with low dietary calcium intake, pregnant women take daily calcium supplementation to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia. A recent trial has demonstrated that there may also be some benefits in calcium supplementation prior to pregnancy for women who have experienced pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy.

However, high-dose calcium supplementation is unpalatable to many women, as tablets can be large, have a powdery texture, and require taking three tablets a day (in addition to other supplements). These factors have implications for women’s acceptability of calcium supplementation, and can inhibit the success of programs to promote good nutrition in pregnancy.

In this project, a student will conduct a systematic review aimed at identifying available qualitative evidence on women’s perspectives and experiences around calcium supplementation during pregnancy. The student will work with the Global Women’s and Newborn’s Health Group at the Burnet Institute in Melbourne (primarily desk-based research). This project will allow the student to gain experience in global maternal and perinatal health, systematic review methodologies, with view to a scientific publication.