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Assessment Of Nutritional Knowledge, Beliefs And Practices In Pregnant Women
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Poor nutrition
in pregnant women creates a self-perpetuating cycle. Infants born with
low birth weight or presenting with retarded growth are at risk for
higher-than-average rate of morbidity and mortality during infancy and
childhood (Betty, 1999). The need for balance diet during pregnancy to
meet the nutritional needs foetus and mother (Betty, 1999).
On the
other hand reported that various types of nutrients needed during
pregnancy for physical and mental wellbeing of pregnant women, the
developing foetus and the placenta includes protein, carbohydrate, fats
vitamins, minerals, roughages or fibers and water(Zinger 1999). Krause
laid an emphasis on the body condition resulting from the utilization of
essential nutrients available to the body as body nutritional status
(Krause, 2001).
The pregnant woman during the last trimester needs
small but frequent needs rather than several large ones at a time, she
needs high energy diet for labour and lactation, the requirements for
food differs from those of non-pregnant women (Krause, 2001).
During
this period also, all dietary essentials must be increased
proportionally in order to supply the additional demands of the mother
and the developing foetus. When there is nutritional inadequacy, the
mother immune system reduces, thereby exposing her to various illnesses,
intrauterine death may occur, pregnancy may be threatened and the woman
may loose her life. Poor nutrition during this period may result in
foetal abnormalities plus brain damages and low birth weight (Osareren,
1996).
Nutritional status of the pregnant woman must be maintained
prior to conception, especially the adolescent girl. Health education of
the mother at antenatal, postnatal and child welfare clinic should be
emphasized according to (Nzeribe, 2003). Demonstration with local food
should be used by midwives to highlight on the preparation, quantity and
combinations required to get a balance diet. This will help prevent and
reduce complications due to malnutrition.
1.2Background of the Study
This
study was carried out on the assessment of nutritional knowledge
beliefs and practices of pregnant women and their effect on their
nutritional status. The study focused on pregnant women. The subjects
were made up of women of various ages with different social- culture and
economic levels. Energy given food items (starches) were considered
good most often, while easily available protective (vegetable and
fruits) and body building food items (proteins) were infrequently
mentioned or avoided for cultural, religious and health reasons. Nearly
three quarter of the women did not gain enough to meet the commended
weekly weight gain 24.6% lost weight (Nwosu, 1990).
Traditional
beliefs rather than the more frequently cited reasons of poverty and
non-availability of foods are seen as major factors limiting the quality
of diet among respondents (Osondu, 1994).
The importance of
nutrition, its knowledge and practices by a pregnant mothers cannot be
overemphasized. This is because, the awareness of diet, the belief in it
and the practices of eating well during pregnancy help a pregnant woman
not only to deliver a healthy baby, but to be healthy herself (Uzor,
2000).
A woman eats during pregnancy greatly affects both herself and
her growing child. According to them, the fetus depends on the mother
for an adequate prenatal diet, since so much demands are made on the
woman’s system, there is the need for her to be well nourished (Bhatia,
Katiya and Agarwaal, 1990). Researchers have carried out a study on the
effect of knowledge of nutrition and its practices on health vitality of
the unborn child (Mundi, Allport and Allport, 1991). Their finding
showed that good diet is helpful for the formation, growth and
development of the fetus. Not only that, the knowledge and practices of
nutrition, the belief in eating the correct diet by pregnant mothers to
delivery of babies who are not only healthy, but weigh normally.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This study was carried out to examine the effect of nutritional knowledge on nutritional practice and belief among pregnant women in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State. The study focused on women attending the ante-natal clinic at five Health Centres in Lagos State. The subjects were made of women of various ages with different socio-cultural and economic levels. The descriptive research survey design was used to assess the opinions of selected respondents from five health centres ... Continue reading---
