ABSTRACTS
Improper dietary practices of pregnant women have apparently led to increased rates of stillbirths, premature births, low-birth weight, maternal and prenatal deaths. This study assessed the dietary practice and restriction among pregnant women that attend Federal Medical Center Umuahia, Abia State. A cross sectional descriptive survey design was adopted. The population of the study include only pregnant women that attend antenatal clinic at Federal Medical Center Umuahia, Abia State. A random sampling technique was used to select 200 pregnant women that attend antenatal clinic at Federal Medical Center Umuahia, Abia State for the study. Data collection was done using a closed ended questionnaire. IBM Statistical package for service solution (SPSS version 21), software was used to analyse the data. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviation) was used. Significant difference was judged at p<0.05.Result showed that half (50%) of the respondents were between the age range of 25-31 years, some (35%) of them between 32-38 years while few (15%) of them were between 18-24 years of age. Majority (85%) of the respondents had tertiary education as their highest completed level of education while few (15%) of them had secondary education as their highest completed level of education. many (65%) of them were civil/public servants, some (25%) of them were traders/business women. Less than half (40%) of the respondents earned a monthly income ranging from N 30, 999 – N 50, 000. More than half (55%) of the respondents do not skip meals while many (45%) of them still did skip meals. Lunch was the major meal skipped by some (40%) of the respondents while dinner and lunch were skipped by few (5%) of the respondents. Formed habit was the reason given by some (25%) of the respondents who skipped meals while lack of time was the reason given by few (20%) of them. Many (60%) of the respondents consumed in-between meals sometimes, some (20%) of them always consume in-between meals while few (5%) of the respondents never consume in-between meals. Majority (85.5%) of the respondents restrict some foods while few (14.5%) of them do not restrict some foods. Less than half (45%) of those who restricted or avoided some foods gave health as reason for avoiding or restricting them while some (20%) of those who restrict or avoid some foods gave culture as the reason for avoiding or restricting them. Among the foods restricted, many (60%) of the respondents restricted uda, 70% of them restricted alcohol, 60% restricted grasscutter, 70% restricted fatty meat while 55% restricted pica. The study concluded that although meal skipping and food avoidance and restrictions were prevalent, majority of those who restrict foods also skipped meals. Further recommended nutrition-related health education interventions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS v
LIST OF TABLES vi
LIST OF FIGURES
vii
ABSTRACT viii
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1
Background of the study
1.2
Statement of the problem 3
1.3
Objective of the Study 5
1.4
Significance of the Study 6
CHAPTER
TWO
LITERATURE
REVIEW 7
2.1 Nutrition in pregnancy 7
2.2 Characteristics of food
consumption by pregnant women in Nigeria 9
2.3
Cultural practices during pregnancy in Nigeria 11
2.4
Physiological adjustment of pregnancy 15
2.5
Energy and nutrient needs during pregnancy
19
2.6
Food taboos in pregnancy 26
CHAPTER
THREE
MATERIALS
AND METHODS 32
3.1 Study Design 32
3.2 Area
of Study 32
3.3 Population of
the Study 32
3.4 Sampling and
Sampling Techniques 33
3.4.1 Sample Size 33
3.4.2 Sampling
procedure 33
3.5 Preliminary Activities 33
3.5.1 Preliminary Visits 33
3.5.2 Training of Research Assistants 34
3.5.3 Informed Consent 34
3.6 Data Collection 34
3.6.1 Questionnaire Administration 34
3.7 Statistical Analysis 35
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 36
4.1 Socio-economic/demographic
characteristic 36
4.2
Dietary practices of the pregnant women 39
4.3
Dietary restrictions prevalent among pregnant women 43
4.4 Influence
of dietary restrictions on the dietary practices of pregnant women 47
CHAPTER
FIVE
CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATION 48
5.1 Conclusion 48
5.2
Recommendation 49
REFERENCES
51
LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1: The dietary allowances for most
vitamins and minerals during
pregnancy 26
Table 4.1: Socio-economic characteristics
of the respondents 36
Table 4.2: Demographic characteristics of the respondents 38
Table 4.3a:Dietary practices of the
respondents
39
Table 4.3b: Dietary
practices of the respondents 41
Table 4.4a: Dietary restrictions prevalent
among pregnant women 43
Table 4.4b: Dietary restrictions prevalent
among pregnant women 45
Table
4.5: Influence of dietary restrictions on the dietary practices of pregnant
women 47
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of the study
Pregnancy
is a very critical phase in a woman's life when the expecting mother needs
optimal nutrition to support the developing fetus naturally. It is a unique and
critical stage of life during which extensive anatomical, physiological,
biochemical and several other related changes take place (Chandraharan, 2012).
The urge to eat more is usually experienced by nearly all pregnant women. Although inadequate intake (food insecurity) and diseases
are the predominant cause of malnutrition, traditions and cultural beliefs
surrounding dietary practices during pregnancy can impact the nutritional
status and pregnancy outcomes. Acknowledging these cultural beliefs and
traditions is an important global health consideration when trying to improve
maternal and child health outcomes.
A number of studies (Marchant et al., 2002; Wulandari and Whelan, 2011; Arzoaquoi et al., 2015; Adamson, 2015) considered
traditional prenatal practices highlighting both diversities and commonalities.
Wulandari and Whelan (2011), state that there is a wide range of ‘should and
should not be eaten’ lists for pregnancy which are indigenously informed. Food
avoidance among Ghanaian pregnant women were found to range from avoiding meat,
snails or certain vegetables to avoid a drooling or a ‘spirited’ child
(Arzoaquoi et al., 2015). A study
conducted in southern Tanzania revealed that 69% of the women avoided fish and
farm meats (Marchant et al., 2002).
Foregoing of eggs in parts of Tanzania and throughout parts of Africa is to
assuage fears related to the animal’s characteristics being transferred to the
child or sterility (Adamson, 2015).
Long‐standing
local dietary practices can affect food intake during different life stages,
including pregnancy. Local dietary taxonomies, referring to the segmentation of
food items into categories based on social functions rather than nutritional
profiles, can dictate the quantities and types of food women consume during
pregnancy. Many of these taxonomies emerge from sociocultural associations of
specific foods with poor health outcomes in pregnancy, such as miscarriage and
complicated delivery (Mothupi, 2014; Lennox
et al., 2017; Riang'a et al.,
2017; Wulandari and Whelan, 2011). Across country settings, perceptions of
nutrient‐dense foods as
harmful to the developing fetus or undervaluing of locally available nutritive
food items have been linked to poor maternal and newborn nutrition (Onyesom et al., 2008; Heidkamp et al., 2015). There is some evidence
for the contribution of these local dietary taxonomies to suboptimal maternal
dietary practices. Studies conducted in South Asia have attributed particular
maternal food consumption behaviours, including intentional food intake
restrictions (referred to as “eating down” in
pregnancy), to both physiological and sociocultural factors, such as food
aversions during pregnancy, fears of an oversized fetus resulting from
excessive food intake, and perceived pregnancy/childbirth complications
associated with unhealthy pregnancy diets (Christian et al., 2006; Harding et al.,
2017). Similarly, research in Nigeria has documented the influence of
culturally bound food proscriptions on intentional reductions in food
consumption during pregnancy (Maduforo, 2010; Ugwa, 2016).
1.1
Statement
of the problem
Malnutrition
is ranked as one of the major causes of maternal mortality and it is a major
determi-nant of a successful pregnancy and a healthy well-nourished baby
(Sholeye, Badejo, and Jeminusi, 2014; Maduforo, 2010). Developing nations
account for 99% of all maternal deaths in the world (World Health Organization,
2015). Nigeria has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world with
the current rate of 576 deaths per 100,000 live births (National Population
Commission, 2013). These staggering statistics show that while it is important
that the major avoidable causes of maternal mortality and adverse pregnancy
outcome are eliminated by looking into the feeding practices of women due to
their traditional beliefs and taboos, and also to determine its effect on their
nutritional status.
According
to World Health Organization (WHO), 585,000 deaths resulting from pregnancy and
childbirth related complications occur globally with about 1,500 deaths
recorded daily. However most of these deaths occur in developing countries
(Shole, 2015). In Nigeria, there still remains dearth in the number of
published studies showing the exact number of deaths recorded. However, an
incidence rate of 10–40% has been reported in a rural community in the northern
part of Nigeria (Ugwa, 2016). Also 75% of pregnant women from the western part
of Nigeria was reported to have had inadequate dietary energy intake
(Ojofeitimi et al., 2008). Nevertheless,
Poor nutrition in pregnancy negatively affects the woman’s health and that of
the unborn child (Ojo and Briggs, 2010). To the woman, it causes weakness and
lethargy, anaemia and loss of life for both the mother and the foetus and also
reduces the woman’s lactation performance (Abu-Saad and Fraser, 2010).
In
Nigeria too, improper dietary practices of pregnant women have apparently led
to increased rates of stillbirths, premature births, low birth weight, maternal
and prenatal deaths (Ramakrishnan, 2004). Food consumption practices of
pregnant women in Nigeria are highly influenced by many socio-cultural factors
such as food taboos, family food distribution, food beliefs, and food
restriction practices (Ojofeitimi et al., 2008; Ogunjuyigbe et al., 2008; Maduforo, 2010; Sholeye et al., 2014). In a study conducted by
Maduforo (2010) in Nwangele Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State,
southeastern Nigeria, it revealed that 15.0% of the respondents mentioned some
foods as taboos in the study area and 38.0% of the pregnant women were
malnourished. Maduforo (2010) observed that pregnant women held onto the food
taboos handed down from generation to generation, including prohibition of
grass-cutter meat, cassava meals (fufu), spaghetti (pasta), noodles,
cocoa beverages, eggs, and snails. Some of the prohibited or avoided foods are
common sources of essential nutrients that are essential for improving maternal
and child health (Ojofeitimi et al., 2008).
As
a result of the well-entrenched traditional food taboos and socio-cultural
beliefs relating to dietary intake during pregnancy, many pregnant women have
misinformation about the harmful effects of these taboo foods (Kavle et al.,
2014). In some sub-Saharan African countries including Nigeria, it is commonly
believed that sexually transmitted diseases or complications during childbirth
are the result of the violation of food taboos (Maimbolwa et al., 2003;
Maduforo, 2010). An earlier study conducted in Nigeria by Odebiyi (1989)
observed that Yoruba traditional healers in Nigeria often interpreted the
occurrence or persistence of illness as a punishment for the violation of food
taboos. It will therefore not be surprising if some pregnant Yoruba women have
inadequate knowledge and misperceptions relating to necessary diets. Issues
relating to knowledge and socio-cultural factors influencing dietary intake
among pregnant women especially in south-eastern parts of Nigeria have not been
well documented. Addressing these issues have the potential of facilitating the
design and implementation of interventions and polices that would address the
problem of malnutrition among pregnant women. It is as a result of these that
this study seeks to assess the dietary practices and restrictions among
pregnant women that attend Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Abia State.
1.2 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The
general objective of the study is to assess the dietary practice and
restriction among pregnant women that attend antenatal clinic of the Federal
Medical Center Umuahia, Abia State.
1.2.1 Specific objectives of the study
The
specific objectives of the study were to:
i. assess
the socio-economic/demographic characteristics of pregnant women that attend antenatal
clinic of the Federal Medical Center Umuahia, Abia State.
ii. determine
the dietary practices of the pregnant women;
iii. identify
the dietary restrictions prevalent among them; and
iv. determine
the influence of dietary restrictions on the dietary practices of the
respondents.
1.3 Significance of the study
This
study will benefit the Government and policy makers as it will provide valuable
information on the socio-economic/demographic characteristics, dietary
practices and restrictions of pregnant women, this will inform better policy
formulation and implementation that will address the problems been faced by
this group. This study will also benefit the women as it will highlight the
faulty practices and restrictions among this group thereby informing correct
practices by showcasing the dangers involved in those restrictions. Findings
will also benefit the academia as it will add to the existing body of knowledge
and also serve as a reference material for future researches in this area.
Click “DOWNLOAD NOW” below to get the complete Projects
FOR QUICK HELP CHAT WITH US NOW!
+(234) 0814 780 1594
Login To Comment