Effects of Post-Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Sanctions on the Nutritional Status and Food Security of Pregnant Women and Their Families (2017-2020)

Abstract Background & Objective: Sanctions against a country could be a shock to the country's economy for a specific period. Iran has been subject to various sanctions for the past 40 years, and these sanctions have been intensified since 2011. Unprecedented sanctions were imposed on Iranians after the United States withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement, and a disastrous economic situation is the outcome of this international issue. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of this situation on the nutritional status and food security of pregnant women and their families.Materials and Methods: Data were collected using questionnaires of SINA electronic health record system (SINAEHR®) for 19 comprehensive health centers in Razavi Khorasan province, Iran. Data were collected using the census method, and 266,182 pregnant women were investigated. Data analysis was performed using Generalized Estimation Equations (GEE). Results: Weight gain during pregnancy (P<0.001) and birth weight of the newborns (P<0.047) significantly decreased during the sanctions. Conclusion: According to the results, there has been a significant reduction in the two variables of weight gain in pregnant women and newborns birth weight, which confirms the debilitative effects of sanctions on the nutritional status and health of pregnant women and infants in Iran.