ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE ON THE HEALTH OF PREGNANT WOMEN IN MAYO-DASSA JALINGO, TARABA STATE

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of nutritional education on the health of pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State. The study looked at pregnant mothers’ knowledge of maternal nutrition, the extent to which pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State practice nutritional practices, the effects of malnutrition on the health of pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State, and the nutritional challenges pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State face. The survey descriptive research design was used in this study. Face of Taraba State The survey descriptive research design was used in this study. The survey yielded a total of 141 valid replies. The Pender’s Health Promotion Model was used in the research. Obstructed labor, premature or low-birth-weight babies, postpartum haemorrhage, and anemia are among the findings on the consequences of malnutrition on the health of pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State, based on the responses gathered and analyzed. Furthermore, most pregnant women are educated with maternal nutrition, according to the research. The data also found that pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State, engage in a wide range of nutritional habits. Health conversations should be promoted on each antenatal day, according to the report, and nurses should place a greater emphasis on nutrition.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Nutritional knowledge has been shown to be extremely important in adopting optimal nutrition habits in the health of all pregnant mothers. In fact, the health and nutritional state of a nation’s people is a significant indicator of the country’s development (Taleb, Kaibi, & Deghboudj, 2011). According to an Indian nutrition survey, the nutritional health of pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as babies, is poor. According to L.M. (2010), this is likely owing to a lack of fundamental nutrition understanding and incorrect community customs, as well as a lack of food availability and consumption. There are certain unfavorable socio-cultural and economic variables in Nigeria that have negative implications and limit women’s access to quality ante-natal care. The most significant of these are women’s low socioeconomic status, which prevents them from making informed decisions about their reproductive functions, female illiteracy, which is a leading cause of poor health seeking behavior for maternity services among Nigerian women, and a high rate of poverty, which disproportionately affects women and leads to inadequate dietary intakes, a high rate of pregnancy complications, and women’s limited access to evidence (Obionu, 2006). Before and during pregnancy, maternal nutrition is a key factor in determining birth weight. Poor maternal nutrition has been linked to a high rate of Low Birth Weight (LBW) in impoverished nations (Obionu, 2006). Pregnancy causes significant physiological changes, necessitating good food and lifestyle choices. The growing foetus requires a lot of energy and nutrients from the mother to help it develop physically and mentally (Oni, &Tukur, 2012). Low birth weight is mostly caused by the mother’s poor health and nutrition, and inadequate nutrition during pregnancy accounts for a major share of growth retardation in underdeveloped nations like Nigeria (Igbokwe, 2012). Malnutrition has been identified as a contributing factor in maternal death throughout the reproductive process. Malnutrition has a multifaceted and multi-factorial origin, with poverty, food insecurity, and maternal illiteracy being the main culprits in underdeveloped nations.

Because of the biological linkages that exist between mom and her kid during pregnancy and nursing, the mother’s health and nutritional status might have an impact on the child’s health and survival (Obionu, 2006).

There is a significant component under nutrition that contributes to high infant mortality, mother mortality, and low birth weight newborns. Appropriate nutritional practice, on the other hand, is critical in determining an infant’s optimal health and growth (Fasola, Abosede, & Fasola, 2018). Poor prenatal nutrition predisposes the offspring to problems later in life, according to epidemiological studies. Malnutrition is caused by a lack of proper nutrition, which can be characterized as either under nutrition or excess nutrition. Undernutrition, according to Corsi, Kyu, and Subramanian (2011), arises when there is not only insufficient energy but also a shortage or imbalance of specific food components and nutrients. To promote optimal growth, adequate amounts of macronutrients and micronutrients are required in addition to sufficient calories. Diet, food varieties, cooking time, and other factors all changed. Processed foods are gradually displacing organic foods today. Another shift is the rapid growth in the number of eateries and the public’s preference for quick food. One of the most crucial parts of a healthy lifestyle is proper eating (Daly, Azefor, & Nasah, 1993). Epidemiological research indicates that diseases such as (cardiovascular diseases, obesity, high blood pressure, and cancer) are on the rise, which can be ascribed to changes in lifestyle and nutritional habits. Nutritional education is another significant factor that contributes to nutritional knowledge by promoting awareness and, as a result, improving society’s health (Awosika, 2001). It is vital to gain and apply solid nutritional information in order to be healthy and physically active and to live a healthier lifestyle. In order to increase society’s health, expectant moms’ knowledge, attitude, and practice must be considered. According to Awosika (2001), pregnant and breastfeeding women have been acknowledged as one of the most nutritionally susceptible sectors of the population since time immemorial. Maternal malnutrition has negative consequences for both the mother and her children. An attempt was made here to provide an awareness regarding nutritional knowledge practices on the health of pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State, in order to bring about change in the level of nutritional knowledge and practices prevailing among people.

Statement Of The Problem

Even among the educated in our society, there is a strong connection to beliefs and cultural traditions (Arimond, & Ruel, 2004). While we agree that some of these ideas and behaviors are beneficial, we believe that others are not. Despite recorded breakthroughs in medicine and medical services, the majority of pregnant women appear to prefer diet and antenatal healthcare instruction from traditional birth attendants (Awosika, 2001). This variety of information has an impact on pregnant women’s health, necessitating the completion of this study on the impact of nutritional knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors on the health of pregnant women. Understanding what they consume and what they avoid will allow the health worker to create a balanced diet for them based on locally accessible foods. Finding a way to distribute health information about nutrition during pregnancy is also important.

Objective Of The Problem

The primary goal of this research is to determine the impact of nutritional education on the health of pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State. Other aims of this study include, but are not limited to:

1. To determine pregnant women’ understanding of maternal nutrition.
2. Determine the extent to which pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State, engage in dietary practices.
3. To investigate the impact of malnutrition on pregnant women’s health in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State.
4. To investigate the dietary issues that pregnant women in Taraba State’s Mayo-Dassa Jalingo experience

Research Question

This study will answer the following research questions that are related to the objectives:

1. Are pregnant women aware of the importance of maternal nutrition?
2. To what extent do pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State, engage in dietary practices?
3. What impact does malnutrition have on the health of pregnant women in Taraba State’s Mayo-Dassa Jalingo?
4. What are the dietary issues that pregnant women in Taraba State’s Mayo-Dassa Jalingo face?

Significance Of The Study

The findings of this study are expected to be extremely beneficial to all pregnant women, as they will act as a means of reducing the negative consequences of malnutrition on their health. The findings will also be beneficial to the Ministry of Health.