Ž . International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics 69 2000 921 Article Early pregnancy nausea and vomiting in a high-altitude Andean population M.M. Weigel a,b,  , M.E. Caiza b,c , Y. Lascano d , G. Barreno d , L. Mosquera e a Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnical Institute and Uni  ersity, Virgina, USA b College of the Health Sciences, Uni  ersidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador c Department of Pediatrics, Hospital GinecoObstetrico Isidro Ayora, Quito, Ecuador d Ministry of Public Health, Quito, Ecuador e Ecuadorian Armed Forces Medical Corps, Quito, Ecuador Received 17 May 1999; received in revised form 28 October 1999; accepted 4 November 1999 Abstract Objecti  es: We examined the prevalence, risk factors, and maternal-neonatal consequences of early pregnancy Ž . nausea and vomiting NVP in a high altitude Ecuadorian Andean population. Methods: Subjects were 1000 low-income urban primigravidas who delivered full-term pregnancies. Results: NVP prevalence was 67%. Decreased NVP risk was associated with higher altitude and increased risk with less education, common law marriage, and white collarprofessional occupation. Lifestyle changes associated with NVP included decreased likelihood of drinking and outside employment but increased probability of prenatal care, supportive living arrangements, and dietary distur- bances. NVP had no apparent long-term effect on maternal nutritional status but was associated with increased fetal subcutaneous fat reserves. Conclusions: NVP prevalence and timing was similar to developed populations although some of the identified risk factors were unique to the group. NVP did not appear to have a significant impact on prenatal nutrition at term but was linked with increased fetal fat accumulation.  2000 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Keywords: Morning sickness; Nutritional status; Intrauterine growth; Pregnancy outcome; High altitude; Ecuador  Corresponding author. Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, College of Human Resources and Education, Virginia Polytechnical Institute and University, Blacksburg Virginia 24061, USA. 0020-729200$20.00  2000 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Ž . PII: S 0 0 2 0 - 7 2 9 2 99 00208-8