ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to assess the
perception of pregnant women towards the nutrition education approaches and
messages delivered during antenatal clinics in health centres and hospitals in
rural (Isikwuato) and urban (Ohafia) locations in Abia State. A cross sectional
study, population comprised ofpregnant women attending antenatal services/care
in the various antenatal clinics in health centres and hospitals in the study
areas, minimum sample size of297 respondents, a multi-stage sampling technique
were adopted for this study while a wellstructured and validated questionnaire
was Used for the data collection and'analyzed using descriptive statistics,
regression and Pearson correlation and significance wasjudged atp<0.05 using
the Statistical Package for Socials Sciences SPSS version 20. The result of the
study revealed that among the respondents, 40.7% were within the age range
ofless than 18 years as well as 36 and above respectively, majority (82.2%)
ofthe respondents were married whereas very few (8.4%) were single, some
(44.1%) of the women had secondary education whereas very few (2.4° o) had no
formal education, less than half(43.1 %) had tertiary education whereas 8.1%
ofthe women had primary school. Most respondents (92.9%) ofthe pregnant women
had children between the age range of 1 - 4, while 57.9% ofthe women in the
study were in their first trimester, 37% and 16.8% were in their second and
third trimesters respectively. Few of the respondents (25%) employed only
lectures on their dietary intake education of pregnant women, while 12.5%
stated the use of pamphlets/posters alone. Majority of the respondents (71.7%)
received messages on dietary intake of pregnant women, 13.1% were given
messages on breastfeeding practices, 7.4% on complementary feeding practices,
3.7% on family planning while 1.3% received on preventing COVID 19; Physical
activity; and all of the messages respectively, 64.6% reported that lectures
were the approach used by the health professionals in delivering their messages.
Also 13.8%, 9.8%, 4.0%, 2.4%, 2.0%, 2.0% ofthe pregnant women opined that
pamphlets/posters, practical and demonstrations, SMS messages and email,
computer presentation, role plays/songs and writing on the wall/board
respectively were used by the health professionals in delivering their
messages. Most respondents (48.8%) had the perception that it w'as better to
present nutrition messages using computer because it is clearer and more
interesting. Few (22.25%) respondents had average score of 40-69% while
a,larger portion (77.8%) of the population had poor knowledge of the diets for
pregnant women; few (14.8%) had good knowdedge score (70 and above), 21.2% had
average (40.0 to 69.9) while more than half of the women had poor grade (less
than 39.9) on the knowledge of how to properly breast feeding those infants, a
high prevalence (73.4%) of poor knowledge score on complementary' feeding
practice of the pregnant women was witnessed, (8.1%) had good knowledge score
while 18.5% had average knowledge of complementary feeding practices. The
findings showed that there were poor dietary knowledge amongst the women as its
relates td dietary practices for pregnant women and nursing mothers
(breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices). Nutritional status of every
women preconception and during conception is a great determinant.for her
pregnancy outcomfe. Poof breastfeeding practices can also lead td infant
morbidity and mortality among mother with poor breastfeeding practices toward
their infants.
UGOCHI, A (2024). Perception Of Pregnant Women Towards The Nutrition Educations Approaches And Messages Delivered During Antenatal Clinics In Health Centre And Hospitals In Rural And Urban Locations In Abia State:- Ugwu, Ugochi A. Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Nov 10, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/perception-of-pregnant-women-towards-the-nutrition-educations-approaches-and-messages-delivered-during-antenatal-clinics-in-health-centre-and-hospitals-in-rural-and-urban-locations-in-abia-state-ugwu-ugochi-a-7-2
AMAH, UGOCHI. "Perception Of Pregnant Women Towards The Nutrition Educations Approaches And Messages Delivered During Antenatal Clinics In Health Centre And Hospitals In Rural And Urban Locations In Abia State:- Ugwu, Ugochi A" Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 03 Oct. 2024, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/perception-of-pregnant-women-towards-the-nutrition-educations-approaches-and-messages-delivered-during-antenatal-clinics-in-health-centre-and-hospitals-in-rural-and-urban-locations-in-abia-state-ugwu-ugochi-a-7-2. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
AMAH, UGOCHI. "Perception Of Pregnant Women Towards The Nutrition Educations Approaches And Messages Delivered During Antenatal Clinics In Health Centre And Hospitals In Rural And Urban Locations In Abia State:- Ugwu, Ugochi A". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 03 Oct. 2024. Web. 10 Nov. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/perception-of-pregnant-women-towards-the-nutrition-educations-approaches-and-messages-delivered-during-antenatal-clinics-in-health-centre-and-hospitals-in-rural-and-urban-locations-in-abia-state-ugwu-ugochi-a-7-2 >.
AMAH, UGOCHI. "Perception Of Pregnant Women Towards The Nutrition Educations Approaches And Messages Delivered During Antenatal Clinics In Health Centre And Hospitals In Rural And Urban Locations In Abia State:- Ugwu, Ugochi A" Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2024). Accessed 10 Nov. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/perception-of-pregnant-women-towards-the-nutrition-educations-approaches-and-messages-delivered-during-antenatal-clinics-in-health-centre-and-hospitals-in-rural-and-urban-locations-in-abia-state-ugwu-ugochi-a-7-2