Objectives: The overall objective of this thesis was to study the effect of the economic crisis on food habits, dietary intake and nutritional status among pregnant women in Purworejo District, Central Java, Indonesia.

Subjects and methods: Since 1994, the Community Health and Nutrition Research Laboratories (CHN-RL), Gadjah Mada University, Jogjakarta, Indonesia have operated a surveillance system in Purworejo District, Central Java, Indonesia. Between 1996 and 1998, a monthly monitoring of new pregnancies took place within the surveillance system. This project included a detailed evaluation of dietary intake during pregnancy. Each trimester six repeated 24-hour recalls were conducted on 450 pregnant women. Weight and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were measured monthly, height and serum ferritin concentration was measured once. Here, the dietary intake and nutritional status of the women during the second trimester are evaluated in relation to the emergence of the economic crisis, that started in 1997. Women were classified into four socio-economic groups. A computer program (Inafood) was developed to calculate nutrient intake. To support the quantitative results, a qualitative study was carried out between January and June 1999. Focus group discussions were held with four groups of women, in-depth interviews with 16 women, three traditional birth attendants and four midwives, and observations were carried out with four women. Here, food habits and coping strategies in relation to the economic crisis were explored.