Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding nutrition among pregnant females visiting the antenatal care outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital, Pune
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20220064Keywords:
Pregnancy, Maternal nutrition, Knowledge, Nutrition education, Dietary guidelines, PracticesAbstract
Background: A balanced and adequate diet is of utmost importance during pregnancy to meet the increased needs of the mother and to prevent nutritional stress. Studies have shown that a majority of pregnant women in India consume food that is deficient in protein, caloric content and other vital nutrients. In Maharashtra, 20.8% women aged 15-49 years are malnourished and 54.2% are anaemic (NFHS 5 {2019-2020} state fact sheet). Poor dietary intake is one of the common cause of micronutrient deficiency. Maternal anaemia contributes to intergenerational cycle of poor growth in the off spring.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in antenatal care outpatient department (ANC-OPD) of BJGMC and SGH, Pune from January 2021 to February 2021. The 94 antenatal mothers were selected randomly. Semi structured and pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data. Percentages and frequency were used to describe continuous and categorical variables. Test of significance chi square was used with p value less than 0.05 as significant. Analysis was done using SPSS version 26.0.
Results: The 91.5% subjects were aware about need of extra amount of food during pregnancy. The 95.7% agreed having extra food during pregnancy is good for health of mother as well as for baby. The 67% actually practiced adding extra food during pregnancy.
Conclusions: Education level of pregnant women and socio-economic status were positively associated with nutrition knowledge. The study shows satisfactory knowledge and attitude toward nutrition and diet during pregnancy but practices toward nutrition is still lacking among the study population. Thus, significant gap is there in translating knowledge attitude in practice.
References
Sanyogita, Singh T, Deepti SS. Knowledge, attitude, practice and determining factors regarding nutrition during pregnancy among females of rural Punjab. Int J Community Med Public Health 2019;6:2874-8.
National Institute of Nutrition. dietary Guidelines for Indians-A Manual. Hyderabad, India: NIN; 2011:22 Available at: http://www.ninindia.org/Dietary GuidelinesforNINwebsite.pdf. Accessed 8 June 2015.
International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and ICF. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), India, 2015-16: Maharashtra. Mumbai: IIPS. 2018.
NFHS-5. Available at: http://www.iipsindia.ac.in /http://www.mohfw.gov.in. Accessed on 20 January, 2021.
Zelalem A, Endeshaw M, Ayenew M, Shiferaw S, Yirgu R. Effect of Nutrition Education on Pregnancy Specific Nutrition Knowledge and Healthy Dietary Practice among Pregnant Women in Addis Ababa. Clin Mother Child Health. 2017;14:265.
Mugyia ASA, Tanya ANK, Njotang PN, Ndombo PK. Knowledge and attitudes of pregnant mothers towards maternal dietary practices at EtougEbe Baptist Hospital Yaounde. Health Sci Dis. 2016;17(2):24-9.
Procter SB, Campbell CG. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: nutrition and lifestyle for a healthy pregnancy outcome. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014;114(7):1099-103.
Ramakrishnan U, Grant F, Goldenberg T, Zongrone A, Martorell R. Effect of women's nutrition before and during early pregnancy on maternal and infant outcomes: a systematic review. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2012;26(1):285-301.
Shankar H, Kumar N, Sandhir R, Singh MP, Mittal S, Adhikari T, Tarique M et al. Association of dietary intake below recommendations and micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy and low birthweight. J Perinat Med. 2019;47(7):724-31.
Healthy Eating during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Booklet for mothers by WHO. Available at: https://www.euro.who.int/_data/assets/pdf_file/0020/120296/E73182.pdf. Accessed on 3 July 2021.
Perumal N, Cole DC, Ouédraogo HZ, Sindi K, Loechl C, Low J et al. Health and nutrition knowledge, attitudes and practices of pregnant women attending and not-attending ANC clinics in Western Kenya: a cross-sectional analysis. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2013:1-12.
Popa AD, Niţă O, Graur Arhire LI, Popescu RM, Botnariu GE, Mihalache L et al. Nutritional knowledge as a determinant of vitamin and mineral supplementation during pregnancy. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:1105.
Dana H, Haidar A, Younes M, Elie BY. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Toward Nutrition and Diet During Pregnancy Among Recently Delivered Women of Syrian Refugees. 2018;1(2):32-7.
Zerfu TA, Biadgilign S. Pregnant mothers have limited knowledge and poor dietary diversity practices, but favorable attitude towards nutritional recommendations in rural Ethiopia: evidence from community-based study. BMC Nutr. 2018;4:43.
Saleem SM, Jan SS. Modified Kuppuswamy socio economic scale updated for the year 2021. Indian J Forensic Community Med. 2021;8(1):1-3.
