ABSTRACT
This study assessed the knowledge and practices of adequate nutrition among adolescent pregnant girls in Umuahia South Local Government Area (LGA) Abia State. The study employed a descriptive survey study design. The sample size of this study comprised of four hundred and three (403) adolescent pregnant girls randomly selected in the s tudy area. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. The questionnaire was validated by lecturers in the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State. Data collected was analyses using descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage as well as presentation of results on tables and person correlation. The study found that; majority of the adolescent pregnant girls (39.0%) were within the age range of 10 to14 years, 28.8%), majority of the respondents had just primary education, majority of the respondents (26.1%) worked as sales girls. The adolescent pregnant has poor feeding habit. The result also showed that poor knowledge of good nutrition exist among the adolescent pregnant girls; few (12.9%) of the respondents had an excellent knowledge of good nutrition, more of them (24.8) had a good knowledge of good nutrition while 42.2% of the respondents had a poor knowledge of good nutrition. Also the study found that majority of the respondents (47.9%, 46.4% and 31.0%) while (40.9% and 49.2 %,) practiced poor nutrition. There is a positive relationship (r=0.307, p<0.05) between knowledge of good nutrition and the practice of good nutrition. Considering the findings and conclusion of this study, it was recommended that nutritionists and other health professionals should emphasize on good nutrition, practice of good nutrition and food habits during adolescent pregnancy during antenatal clinic.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Tables of Contents v
List of Tables viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 4
1.3 Objective of the Study 6
1.3.1 General objective of the Study 6
1.3.2 Specific objectives of the Study 6
1.4 Significance of the Study 6
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Concept of Pregnancy 8
2.2 Stages of Pregnancy 9
2.2.1 First trimester 9
2.2.2 Second trimester 11
2.2.3 Third trimester 12
2.3 Characteristics of Adolescence
2.3.1 Adolescent Pregnancy 20
2.3.2 Nutrition and Pregnancy 20
2.3.2.1 Improving Nutrition during Adolescent Pregnancy 20
2.3.2.2 Recommendations to Improve Nutrition during Adolescent Pregnancy 22
CHAPTER 3
MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Study Design 23
3.2 Area of Study 24
3.3 Population of the Study 24
3.4 Sampling and Sample Size Determination 24
3.4.1 Sample size determination 25
3.4.2 Sampling procedure 26
3.5 Preliminary Activities 26
3.5.1 Preliminary visits 26
3.5.2 Ethical approval 27
3.6 Data Collection 27
3.6.1 Questionnaire administration 27
3.6 Data Analysis 28
3.7 Statistical Analysis 28
CHAPTER 4
RESULT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 Personal and Socio-Economic Characteristics of Pregnant Adolescent Girls in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia State
4.2 Food Habit of Pregnant Adolescent Girls in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia State 33
4. 3 Knowledge of adequate Nutrition of Pregnant Adolescent Girls in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia State 42
4.4 Test Scores of Knowledge of Good Nutrition of Pregnant
Adolescent Girls 42
4.5 Practice of adequate Nutrition of Pregnant Adolescent Girls
in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia State 43
4.6 Correlation between Knowledge of adequate Nutrition and Practice of Good Nutrition 47
CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Conclusion 49
5.2 Recommendations 49
REFERENCES 51
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1: Personal and Socio-Economic Characteristics of Respondents 32
Table 4.2 Food Habit of Pregnant Adolescent Girls 35
Table 4.3a Knowledge of adequate Nutrition of Pregnant Adolescent Girls 40
Table 4.4 test score of knowledge of good nutrition of pregnant
adolescent girls 42
Table 4.5: Food Frequency Table for Pregnant Adolescent Girls 46
Table 4.6: Correlation between Knowledge of Good Nutrition and Practice of Good Nutrition 48
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Ochogu (2010) stated that nutrition can be defined as the science of food, its use within the body, and its relationship to good health. It includes the study of the major food components – proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals including water and more than 50 various nutrients of which they are composed. It is therefore clear that for somebody to eat healthfully he or she must have adequate knowledge of the different components of food we eat.
Daba et al. (2013) reported that all human beings need a balanced amount of nutrients for proper functioning of the body system. They further defined nutrition as a fundamental pillar of human life, health and development throughout the entire lifespan. Collins (2007) posited that there are approximately 40 different nutrients that are essential for health. If any one of these is deficient in the diet, the person will not be fully healthy and able to resist the agents of disease.
Subarnalata and Panda (2006) stated that pregnancy is a time of increased energy and nutrient needs for a woman in order to meet the needs of the growing fetus and of maternal tissues associated with pregnancy. Proper dietary balance is necessary to ensure sufficient energy intake for adequate growth of fetus without drawing on mother’s own tissues to maintain her pregnancy. Abdella (2010) posited that the poor health and nutrition of women and the lack of care that contributes to their death in pregnancy and child birth also compromises the health and survival of the infants and children. Shekar et al. (2006) purported that under nutrition has the most damaging effect on the fetus during pregnancy and in the first two years of life, and the effects of this early damage on health, brain development, intelligence, educability, and productivity are largely irreversible.
Ochogu (2010) stated that pregnancy is the fertilization of an Ovum and its implementation in a woman’s uterus. She noted further, that for approximately nine months the mother carries the developing child within her and that the pregnancy terminates with delivery of the child, Nash (2002) observed that the relationship that exists between the mother and her unborn child is much. According to her, “even while the child is still in the womb, its genes engage the environment of the womb in an elaborate conversation, which is a two-way dialogue that involves not only the air the mother breathes and the water she drinks but also what drugs she takes, what diseases she contacts and what hardship she suffers”. Furthermore, she reported that once the beginning embryo is able to obtain good nutrition directly from the mother, development can proceed more rapidly. But if what is obtained from the mother is not nutritional healthy or balanced, so many complications are bound to arise in pregnancy.
Adequate nutrition is essential to maintain health at every stage of life. Nutritional needs differ across various age groups and with certain health conditions. Pregnancy is one of such instance in which nutritional needs differ. The growing adolescent also has distinct nutritional needs (Montgomery, 2003).
The World Health Organization (WHO) defined an adolescent as any person between ages 10 and 19 years (WHO, 2019). Adolescence is a transitional phase of growth and development between childhood and adulthood (Csikszentmihalyi and Nakamura, 2014). This age range falls within WHO’s definition of young people, which refers to individuals between ages 10 and 24.
Lenders et al. (2000), suggested that comprehensively addressing the developmental characteristics of adolescents to improve nutrition during pregnancy is likely to improve eating habits. Improving nutritional habits during pregnancy may also improve birth outcomes and develop positive eating habits in the adolescent.
Knowledge, as defined by Agbo (2003), is the sum of conceptions, views and propositions which have been established and tested. In the context of this study, knowledge refers to the act of having adequate information and understanding of the concept of adequate nutrition among pregnant girls. This knowledge can be obtained through health education, electronic media, prints and health education programmes.
Practice is an actual application or use of idea, belief or method as opposed to theories relating to it. Nutrition knowledge without practice is not meaningful (Ideyi, 2002).
The extent of practices of nutrition is dependent among other things on the level of knowledge one has about nutrition. According to Ayo (2003) Nutritional knowledge refers to that aspect of education that prepares one for meaningful nutritional practices. Ayo emphasized that every living thing has the right to have access and the right to affordability of nutritious food and at when due.
Nutritional knowledge and practices are being emphasized upon according to Williams (2007), because of their role in determining the pregnancy outcome as well as the state of health of the mother after childbirth. In support of this, Karger and Basel (2010) emphasized that nutrition is important to expectant mothers because it can spell the difference between a healthy new born and a sickly child. Karger and Basel (2010) advised the expectant mother should follow scientifically proven practices to make sure that the baby is healthy and strong when it is born. This according to them will be achieved by eating food rich in vitamins and nutrients.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Early pregnancy among adolescents poses major risks, not only for the girl but for the child yet unborn too. Adolescent mothers bear a double burden: one involving their own growth and development, and another involving the intra-uterine growth and development of their offspring (WHO, 2006). Yassin et al. (2010) reported that pregnancy in adolescence increases nutritional risk due to higher demand of nutrients for maternal and foetal growth. Greater risk of anaemia and other nutritional deficiencies can have negative effects on the outcome of the pregnancy as well as on the growth and development of the adolescents themselves. Poor pregnancy outcomes are more often observed in pregnant adolescents who have poor nutritional and low socioeconomic status (WHO, 2006).
According to Lenders et al. (2000), adolescents who become pregnant can be nutritionally at risk. Many adolescents do not have good eating habits, and their diets are often high in fat and calories. Convenience foods that are high in fat and low in nutritional value are often (e.g., fast food, snack food) eaten (Montgomery, 2003). Lifestyle factors characteristic of adolescence (e.g., school attendance, after-school jobs, hanging out with friends) often contribute to these food habits. Adolescents may not have adequate knowledge of nutrition (Lenders et al., 2000), and their present-focused orientation may inhibit them from easily linking current behaviours (e.g., eating poorly) to later outcomes (e.g., obesity, cardiovascular disease). Adolescents often do not believe they are at risk. They have difficulty imagining negative consequences happening to them (Montgomery, 2003). It is against this background that this study was designed.
1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
1.4.1 General objective of the Study
The general objective of this study is to determine the knowledge and practices of adequate nutrition among adolescent pregnant girls in Umuahia South Local Government Area (LGA) Abia State.
1.4.2 Specific objectives of the Study
The specific objectives of the study are to:
1. assess the socio-economic characteristics of adolescent pregnant girls in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia State.
2. assess the nutritional knowledge of the subjects in study
3. determine the practices of the subjects in study towards adequate nutrition
4. correlate economic characteristics of the adolescent pregnant girls with their nutritional knowledge
5. correlate their nutritional knowledge with practices of nutrition.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will give the adolescent pregnant girls insight to what constitutes adequate nutrition. This information will be useful to other health professionals who are seeking ways of improving health care. To the government ministries of health and education, this study will help the planners to know the state of knowledge of these women and make preparation for their enlightenment. It will help the curriculum planners to incorporate nutrition in school curriculum as well as findings ways of making the students appreciate the need for good nutrition and practice them. Fellow researchers reviewing literature and who wish to learn from the experience of previous researchers on a similar subject will also find the work both useful and stimulating. For future researchers, it will form a baseline for those interested in such areas of study.
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