Assess Knowledge of pregnant women regarding nutritional requirements

Abstract

Background:
Proper maternal nutrition is essential during pregnancy as it affects the health of both the mother and the fetus. Nutritional needs increase significantly during pregnancy, requiring a balanced diet that supports fetal growth and maternal health. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pregnant women regarding maternal nutrition and to identify factors influencing these aspects.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 380 pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics. The study utilized an interview-based questionnaire to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history, and maternal nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Descriptive statistics, bi-variable analysis, and multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the data.
Results:
The majority of participants (75%) were aged between 20 and 35 years, with 89.7% being housewives. A large proportion (82.9%) demonstrated adequate knowledge about maternal nutrition, while 58.9% had positive attitudes, and 58.7% practiced good nutrition. A moderate positive correlation was found between knowledge and attitude scores (r=0.544, p<0.001), and between knowledge and practice scores (r=0.693, p<0.001). Most participants (90%) consumed fresh fruits and vegetables regularly, and 91.1% took iron supplements correctly. However, only 18.7% followed a specific dietary regimen.
This study highlights the importance of knowledge in shaping attitudes and practices related to maternal nutrition during pregnancy. The findings suggest that although many women possess