AWARENESS AND PRACTICES OF ADEQUATE DIET AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTE NATAL CLINIC
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Abstract
This study attempts to examine the awareness and practices of adequate diet among pregnant women attending ante natal clinic in central hospital in Benin city. Four research questions were formulated and questionnaires were administered to one hundred and thirty three (133) respondents in order to gather data for the research. Results showed that the pregnant women are aware of the importance of good nutrition to a child bearing mother. It was discovered that the level of education among child bearing age mother does affect their level of food intake in the area of study. The result also revealed that poor food intake can lead to malformation of the unborn child. Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that pregnant women had low level of nutritional knowledge level in the study area. Some recommendations were made by the researcher which includes the following: Health workers should embark on a proper sensitization of pregnant women on the importance of good nutrition during pregnancy. Seminars and workshops should be organized regularly for the pregnant women to educate them on the importance of good nutrition during pregnancy. Pregnant mothers should be encouraged to eat food rich in vitamins by the health workers/officials.
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
- Background to the study
- Statement of problem
- Purpose of the study
- Research Questions
- Significance of the study
- Scope/Delimitation of the study
- Limitation to the study
- Definition of terms
CHAPTER TWO
- Literature Review
CHAPTER THREE
Methodology
- Research Design
- Population of study
- Sample and sampling techniques
- Research instrument
- Validity of the instrument
- Administration of the instrument
- Method of data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
- Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Presentation of Data
- Analysis of data
CHAPTER FIVE
- Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
- Summary
- Conclusion
- Recommendation
REFERENCES
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Pregnancy is the most vital time for having a proper nutrition plan. The high demand for nutrients is to deposit energy in to the new and developing tissues, the growth of maternal mother tissues including the breast and the uterus, and the increased energy necessities for tissue synthesis make pregnant women more susceptible to the dangers of malnutrition (Daba, 2011). In line with finding of (Daba, 2011), Pregnant women more at risk of malnutrition. In 2010, maternal and child malnutrition was accountable for 1.5 million deaths worldwide. All human beings need a balanced amount of nutrients for proper functioning of the body system. Nutrition is a fundamental pillar of human life, health and development throughout the entire life span (World Bank, 2016).
Proper food and good nutrition are essential for survival, physical growth, mental development, performance and productivity, health and wellbeing. However, the nutrition requirement varies with respect to age, gender and during physiological changes such as pregnancy. Pregnancy is such a critical phase in a woman’s life, when the expecting mother needs optimal nutrients of superior qualities to support the developing fetus. Naturally, the urge to eat more is experienced by nearly all pregnant women.
Pregnancy is considered to be a delightful experience for the expectant mother. Evidences manifested that adequate intake of nutrition is a key component for individual’s health and well-being, particularly during pregnancy. Maternal nutrition continues to gin populaity in many part of the world (Ojo, 2010). this may be attributed to the reality that pregnancy is associated with growth in physiological, metabolic and nutritional necessities imparted to the women by her growing infant (Arkkola, 2008). throughout pregnancy, the body’s energy requirements, protein and minerals increase by 13%, 54% and 50% respectively (Hoffmann, 2013). Therefore, the pregnancy period becomes a vital point to meet those needs for macro and micronutrients.
Proper eating at some point in pregnancy assist prevent complications of pregnancy, facilitate postpartum recovery, assist breastfeeding, and additionally prevent the onset of disease in adulthood. However, if nutrients isn’t always maintained throughout pregnancy, malnutrition ensues. It has being established by Saha (2007) that Socio economic and demographic status is one of the most critical factors related to pregnancy outcome and dietary desposition of expectant mothers. When Socio economic and demographic status is low, medical care will consequently be insufficient which can further lead to other unfavourable outcomes (kruger 2012).
During pregnancy women with low socio-economic and demographic status which is often described as financial hardship, can increase the danger of detrimental pregnancy outcome. Several studies have discovered that low Socio economic status is also associated with pregnancy complications such as abortion, preeclampsia, preterm delivery and eclampsia (kings, 2013; Obasi, 2015; Demin, 2016). Women with low Socio economic don’t often have the means to acquire enough prenatal care and this may affect their dietary decision, leading to insufficient consumption of precise nutrients at some during pregnancy.
According to Nagiebs (2003) opined that eating well during pregnancy means do more than simply increase how much the mother eats. The mother must also consider what she eats. The ability of mother to provide nutrients and oxygen for her baby is a critical factor for fetal health and its survival. Failure in supplying the adequate amount of nutrients to meet fetal demand can lead to fetal malnutrition. The fetus responds and adapts to under nutrition but by doing so it permanently alters the structure and function of the body. Maternal over nutrition also has long-lasting and detrimental effects on the health of the offspring.
Naomi M (2010) Malnutrition is one of the most serious health problems affecting children and their mothers in Nigeria. Undernourished mothers face greater risks during pregnancy and childbirth, and their children set off on a weaker developmental path, both physically and mentally. Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Those who survive may be locked into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth, often with irreversible damage to their cognitive and social development. Malnutrition prevents individuals and even the whole country from achieving full potential, and is closely related with survival, poverty and development. The incidence of dietary inadequacies as a result of dietary habits and patterns in pregnancy is higher during pregnancy than at any other stage of the life cycle. It was shown that, nutrition knowledge was predictive of change in dietary habits and health advices encouraged expectant women to advance their food intake positively.
The importance of maternal nutrition during pregnancy has long been recognized. The National Academy of Science in America issued a report that reviewed studies of reproductive experience concluded that adequate prenatal nutrition was one of the most important environmental factors affecting the health of pregnant women and their babies. (Villar J, Merialdi M, Abalos E, Carroli G, et al., 2003).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
According to UNICEF (2009), each year, more than half a million women die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Nearly 4 million newborns die within 28 days of birth. Many of the 200 million women who become pregnant each year, most of them in developing countries, suffer from ongoing nutritional deficiencies repeated infections and the long term cumulative consequences of under nutrition during their own childhood years. Many women suffer from a combination of chronic energy deficiency, poor weight gain in pregnancy, anemia, and other micronutrient deficiencies, as well as infections like HIV and malaria. Poor nutrition diminishes a woman’s productivity, causing repercussions for herself, her family, her community, and the broader society. Maternal malnutrition is influenced not only by lack of adequate nutrition but also influenced by factors like socio demographic factors, nutritional knowledge of mothers during pregnancies. It is on this ground that this research work investigate into the awareness of good nutrition during pregnancy among women of child bearing age.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The primary aim of this study is to examine the awareness and practices of adequate diet among pregnant women attending ante natal clinic in central hospital in Benin City. The specific objectives are:
1. To assess the awareness of pregnant mothers attending ante natal clinic with regard to nutrition during pregnancy.
2. To investigate how good nutrition enhances pregnancy of expectant mothers in central hospital in Benin City.
3. To find out if poor nutrition affects the unborn child and the mother central hospital in Benin City.
4. To determine if lack of awareness of good nutrition by the mother have any effect on the feotus.
5. To identify the strategies to ensure good nutrition during pregnancy.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions were formulated by the researcher to guide the research study.
1. Are child bearing age mothers aware of the necessary food intake during pregnancy?
2. How does good nutrition enhance pregnancy among mothers of child bearing age women?
3. Does poor nutrition among child bearing age women affect the proper development of the unborn child?
4. Does lack of awareness of good nutrition by a child bearing age mother have any effect on her and the feotus?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The benefits that could be derived from the outcome of this research work are as follows:
1. It will serve as a source of information and awareness to pregnant women on the type of food they should eat during pregnancy.
2. It will provide useful information for midwives and health care provider on how to educate the women on the type of food they should consume during pregnancy.
3. The result of the research work will also be important to health officials, ministry of health and the general public on how to take balance diet during pregnancy by a pregnant woman.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study is based on the awareness of good nutrition during pregnancy among women of child bearing age in Benin City, Edo State. The scope covers pregnant women in Edo State using Oredo Local Government Area as a case study.
1.7 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
Awareness: this is knowledge and understanding that one has gained on nutrition during pregnancy through learning and practice and pregnant women was considered to be knowledgeable if she correctly answered greater than or equal to 70% of the total knowledge assessing questions.
Maternal nutrition: refers to the nutritional needs of women during the antenatal and postnatal period (i.e., when they are pregnant and breastfeeding) and also may refer to the pre-conceptual period (i.e., adolescence).
Pregnancy: is state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body from a period of fertilization to delivery.
Ante natal: this is relating to the medical care given to pregnant women before their babies are born
Clinic: A clinic is a building where people go to receive medical advice or treatment. It is the part of a hospital designed for the treatment of patients, people with health problems who visit the hospital for diagnosis or treatment, but do not at this time require a bed or to be admitted for overnight care.
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