Awareness of Good Nutrition During Pregnancy Among Women of Child-Bearing Age in Egor Local Government Area
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
Specific objectives
- To assess the awareness of pregnant mothers about nutrition in pregnancy.
- To investigate how good nutrition enhances pregnancy.
- To find out if poor nutrition affects the unborn child and the mother.
- To determine if the lack of awareness of good nutrition by the mother has any effect on the fetus.
- To identify the strategies to ensure good nutrition during pregnancy.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
According to Aaronson L., and Macnee C. (2009). Nutrition and pregnancy refers to the nutrient intake, and dietary planning that is undertaken before, during and after pregnancy. In a precursory study into the link between nutrition and pregnancy in 1950 women who consumed minimal amounts over the eight-week period had a higher mortality or disorder rate concerning their offspring than women who ate regularly, attributed to the fact that the children born to well-fed mothers had less restriction within the womb. Not only have physical disorders been linked with poor nutrition before and during pregnancy, but neurological disorders and handicaps are a risk that is run by mothers who are malnourished, a condition which can also lead to the child becoming more susceptible to later degenerative disease(s). 23.8% of babies are estimated to be born with lower than optimal weights at birth due to lack of proper nutrition. It is very important that expecting mothers should change their personal habits like smoking, alcohol, caffeine, using certain medications and street drugs as soon as they know they are pregnant or even when they are planning to conceive. All these can affect the development of the organs like brain, which happen in early stages of pregnancy. They can cause irreparable damage to the growing foetus (Abrams B, Hoggatt KJ, Kand MS, Selvin S., 2001).
AWARENESS OF NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS DURING PREGNANCY
Pregnancy is a time of social, psychological, behavioral, and biological change in women’s lives. It is a time of life when women become more aware about health and nutrition and their impact over the body, especially when those are related to the outcomes of pregnancy (Olson C., 2005). Still many parents might lack the knowledge what actually a healthy diet is. The aim of many health and nutrition organizations and different authorities is to give advice and help mothers to achieve the birth of a healthy infant. Therefore they have developed specific recommendations for pregnant women related to nutrient intake of food, the use of vitamin and mineral supplements, proper weight gain during the period, and physical activity (Allen L.H., 2001; Inst Med, 1990).
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
The chapter deals with the method and procedure used while conducting the research. It is discussed under the following heading.
DESIGN OF THE STUDY
This is an investigative design to look into the level of awareness of good nutrition during pregnancy among women of child bearing age in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
The population of the study comprise of child bearing age women in Edo State from age 18-45. These are about one hundred thousand child bearing age mother in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State (NPC, 2008).
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULT AND DATA ANALYSIS
This chapter is concerned with the data analysis which shows responses from the respondents on the different questions. The data was collected from respondents in different area of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The analysis of data will help in knowing the awareness of good nutrition during pregnancy among women of child bearing age.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY
The research work investigated into the awareness of good nutrition during pregnancy among women of child bearing age a case of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.
It was revealed that the pregnant women are aware of the importance of good nutrition to a child bearing mother.
It was revealed that the level of education among child bearing age mother does affect their level of food intake in the area of study.
It revealed that poor food intake can lead to malformation of the unborn child.
It was revealed that miscarriage among child bearing age mothers is due to poor food intake.
It was found that poor nutrition among child bearing age mothers can increase the risk of child delivery in the area of study.
It was discovered that poor nutrition among child bearing age mothers can lead to low blood count in the study area.
It was also discovered that financial constraints is a major problem affecting the food intake among child bearing age mothers in the study area.
CONCLUSION
Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that pregnant women had low-level of nutritional knowledge in the study area. There was positive relation between level of education, monthly income and nutrition information during pregnancy and nutrition knowledge. Hence, nutrition intervention such as nutrition education in different villages, health centers, health posts and women organizations should be given for the community particularly for the pregnant mothers concerning nutrition during pregnancy to increase the nutritional knowledge of mothers in the study area.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Health workers should embark on a proper sensitization of pregnant women on the importance of good nutrition during pregnancy.
- Government should sponsor giggles that centers on the usefulness of good nutrition among child bearing age mothers 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.
- Child bearing age mothers should be empowered by government financially to improve their health living.
REFERENCES
- Abrams (2001), Tracking the progress of e-mail vs. snail-mail. Marketing Research, p. 30-35
- Abrams B, Hoggatt KJ, Kand MS, Selvin S. (2001) History of weight cycling and weight changes during and after pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol.p.153:536.
- Allen L.H., (2001), Pregnancy and lactation in: Bowman B.A., Russell R.M., eds. Present Knowledge of Nutrition. p. 403-415.
- Berkourlz, G. Papiernik (1993). Development of eating behaviors among children and adolescents. Pediatrics p. 539–49
- Biral, L. and Fishes. R. (1998) Nutrition during maternity cycle; Review article, University of Assiut, Faculty of Nursing. 18-22.
- Blesard, Y. (2002) Essential Health Sector Actions to Improve Maternal Nutrition in Africa.
- Cannella, O. (2006), Using the Internet for survey research. Sociological Research Online
