Nutritional Knowledge And Practices Among Expectant Mothers.

ABSTRACT

The interaction between a pregnant mother and her developing baby are numerous and varied ranging from the food she eats to the kicks of the baby that she feels. What the developing baby feeds on goes a long way in determining its state of health at birth. For a pregnant mother to eat healthfully, she needs to have adequate knowledge of the different component of food. But if the knowledge is not put in practice, it becomes meaningless.

The major objective of this study therefore was to examine the nutritional knowledge and practice of the pregnant women in Onitsha North and South Local Government Areas of Anambra State. Because of the large number involved, and the fact that most of the hospital had no maternity, only two hundred and fifty expectant mothers were used. Eight specific objectives and corresponding research questions and six hypotheses were stated and used for the study.

The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire which had three sections. The personal data of the respondents, fourteen questions each on nutritional knowledge and practice respectively. The questionnaire responses on knowledge were two-point scale of Yes and No while that of practices were in three-point scale of “Practice Always”. “Do not practice” and “Practice Rarely”. Data were analyzed using correlation analysis, percentage, ANOVA and multiple t-test of paired comparison. The results showed that all the hypothesis of the study were rejected. The mean (x) percentage of the subjects who indicated knowledge of what constituted good nutrition was greater than those who indicated regular practice. Some correlation existed between the subject’s knowledge of nutrition and their nutritional practice. Education, age and parity influenced their knowledge and practices of nutrition. Based on these results some recommendations were made such as:- (a) Health educators and nutritionists should be invited to give health talks to pregnant women during antenatal clinic. (b) The age, educational level

and parity levels of these expectant mothers should be considered during the lessons.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page

Approval Page

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Table of content

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

Background of the Study

Statement of the Problem

Purpose of the Study

Significance of the Study

Scope of the Study

Research Questions

Research Hypothesis

CHAPTER TWO

Review of Related Literature

Concept of Nutrition

Concept of Pregnancy (Expectant)

Nutritional Needs and Knowledge in pregnancy

Nutritional practices in pregnancy

Empirical Studies on the Relationship Between and Pregnancy

Empirical Studies on the Role of Nutrition

Supplements in pregnancy

Effects of weight gain in pregnancy

Consideration in Determining Nutritional Needs in Pregnancy

Summary of the Literature Review

CHAPTER THREE

Methodology

Research Design

Design of the Study

Area of Study

Population of the Study

Sample and Sampling Techniques

Instrument for Data collection

Validity of the instrument

Reliability

Method of Data collection

Method of Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

Presentation and Analysis of Data

Summary of Major Findings

CHAPTER FIVE

Discussion ,  Conclusion , Recommendation

Discussion

Conclusion

Recommendation

Implication of the Study

Limitations of the Study

Suggestions for Further Studies

References

Questionnaire

Appendix

9

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of Study

Eating is one activity most of us take for granted (Donatelle & Davis 1989). At times, according to Donatelle and Davis we are concerned about eating sufficient food that would get us though the day and less attention is given on their nutritional contents. The trend towards a healthful lifestyle calls for healthy eating yet in the effort to eat nut