Abstract

The study title” Mothers Knowledge on the Importance of Good Nutrition in Pregnancy in District Hospital Limbe, was carried out in the month of August to September, 2020. The main objective of the study is to assess Mother’s knowledge on the importance of good nutrition in pregnancy in Limbe District Hospital.

Specifically, the study sought to assess knowledge on adequate nutrition during pregnancy in Limbe District Hospital, to assess mothers’ knowledge on the component of adequate nutrition during pregnancy in Limbe District Hospital and to assess the challenges mother faced in implementing adequate nutrition during pregnancy in Limbe District Hospital.

In order to achieved these objectives, the study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey research design to randomly sampled 100 correspondent’s pregnant women who visited the hospital for an ANC using a structured-questionnaire. Collected data was analysed in SPSS (2.00 for descriptive and inventorial statistics.

The study findings revealed that pregnant women had high-level of nutritional knowledge in the study area. 93.5% of the mothers are knowledgeable that lack of iron in their bodies can affects the health of both mothers and their infants. There was significant positive relation between level of education, monthly income and nutrition information during pregnancy and nutrition knowledge at p<0.05.

Hence, nutrition intervention such as nutrition education in different villages, health centers, health posts and women should continue to be organized in various community particularly for the pregnant mothers concerning nutrition during pregnancy to increase the nutritional knowledge of mothers in the study area.

The study also revealed that mothers faced a number of challenges during towards proper nutrition during pregnancy such as lack of finance (84.8%) hinder effective feeding of my baby, the absence of certain food diet in the market (70.7%), poor health as a result of a disease hinders the effective feeding of my baby, lack of knowledge on what food substances to consume during pregnancy (96.7%), work commitment hinders effective feeding during pregnancy (73.9%), household decision making of food intake of pregnant women (84.8%) and social misconceptions (77.2%) and inappropriate customs.

It was concluded that mothers have good knowledge of maternal nutrition. It was recommended that nutritional education programs ought to be intensified to empower antenatal mothers to understand the importance of nutrition in pregnancy, a vital determinant for optimal maternal and infant health outcomes.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1Background

All human beings need a balanced amount of nutrients for the proper functioning of the body system. Nutrition is a fundamental pillar of human life, health and development throughout the entire life span (World Bank, 2006). Proper food and good nutrition are essential for survival, physical growth, mental development, performance and productivity, health and wellbeing. However, the nutrition requirement varies concerning age, gender and during physiological changes such as pregnancy. Pregnancy is such a critical phase in a woman’s life when the expecting mother needs optimal nutrients of superior qualities to support the developing fetus. Naturally, the urge to eat more is experienced by nearly all pregnant women (World Bank, 2006).

The nutritional status of the mother at conception is a key factor for the development and foetal growth, so a healthy, balanced diet is essential both before and during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the mother’s diet provides energy and nutrients to both herself and the foetus’ growth and for future lactation (Paola and Rosa, 2017).

Nutrition during pregnancy has a major impact on the outcome of the pregnancy and accredited as an important determinant for a healthy and successful pregnancy including the life-long health of future generation (Adikari et al., 2016; Han et al., 2011; Bawadia et al., 2010).

According to the World Bank (2006), nutrition is a fundamental pillar of human life, health and development throughout the entire life span. Proper food and good nutrition are essential for survival, physical growth, mental development, performance and productivity, health and wellbeing. However, the nutrition requirement varies for age, gender and during physiological changes such as pregnancy.

Though nutrition is the intake of food necessary for optimal health, several studies have revealed that inadequate maternal nutrition could lead to malnutrition which causes poor pregnancy outcomes, such as fetal growth failure, low birth weight, preterm birth, prenatal and infant mortality and morbidity (Abu-Saad and Fraser, 2010; National Population Commission & ICF International, 2014). On the contrary, excessive nutrition intake during pregnancy can lead to complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, macrosomia, dystocia, and higher prevalence of cesarean section (Rocco et al., 2005).

Eating well during pregnancy means do more than simply increase how much the mother eats. The mother must also consider what she eats. The ability of the mother to provide nutrients and oxygen for her baby is a critical factor for fetal health and its survival (Westenberg et al., 2002). Failure in supplying an adequate amount of nutrients to meet fetal demand can lead to fetal malnutrition. The fetus responds and adapts to undernutrition but by doing so it permanently alters the structure and function of the body.

Maternal overnutrition also has long-lasting and detrimental effects on the health of the offspring (Westenberg et al., 2002).

Malnutrition is one of the most serious health problems affecting children and their mothers. Undernourished mothers face greater risks during pregnancy and childbirth, and their children set off on a weaker developmental path, both physically and mentally. Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections (IYCN, 2011). Those who survive may be locked into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth, often with irreversible damage to their cognitive and social development. Malnutrition prevents individuals and even the whole country from achieving full potential and is closely related to survival, poverty and development (IYCN, 2011).

The incidence of dietary inadequacies as a result of dietary habits and patterns in pregnancy is higher during pregnancy than at any other stage of the life cycle (O’Brien and Davies, 2007). It was shown that nutrition knowledge was predictive of change in dietary habits and health advice encouraged expectant women to advance their food intake (Rao et al., 2006).

Knowledge of nutrition is a vital element to ensure positive pregnancy outcome and is integral to achieve healthy dietary behaviours and subsequently improves their diet quality (Mugyia et al., 2016). Mitra et al. (2012) highlight the importance that antenatal mothers could benefit through nutritional knowledge.

Despite maternal nutrition during pregnancy is crucial in reducing maternal mortality and infant mortality which are the target area in achieving the Millennium Development Goal in most African countries especially Cameroon, a study has been conducted to assess the level and associated factors of nutritional knowledge during pregnancy among antenatal mothers. It is thus important to investigate this issue. This research study aims to fill this gap in knowledge and share it at the national, regional and international level to contribute to the evidence base for informing future antenatal care when dealing with maternal nutritional knowledge.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Studies have shown that each year, more than half a million women die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Nearly 4 million new-borns die within 28 days of birth (UNICEF, 2009). Many of the 200 million women who become pregnant each year, most of them in developing countries, suffer from ongoing nutritional deficiencies repeated infections and the long term cumulative consequences of under nutrition during their childhood (Mora and Nestel, 2000; Huffman et al., 2001; UNICEF (2009).

Many women suffer from a combination of chronic energy deficiency, poor weight gains in pregnancy, anaemia, and other micronutrient deficiencies, as well as infections like HIV and malaria. These along with inadequate obstetric care, contribute to high rates of maternal mortality and poor birth outcomes.

Maternal under-nutrition diminishes a woman’s productivity, causing repercussions for herself, her family, her community, and the broader society (AED-LINKAGES, 2004). Maternal malnutrition is influenced not only by lack of adequate nutrition but also influenced by factors like socio-demographic factors, nutritional knowledge of mothers during pregnancies (Daba et al., 2013).

Although, several types of research have been conducted on pregnancy and maternal health worldwide, very few pieces of literature have looked at the issues of maternal nutrition in the area.  Research, program reports, and other materials specifically related to maternal nutrition principles, practices, and programs are not available either in the study area.

Even though maternal nutrition during pregnancy is crucial in reducing maternal mortality and infant mortality which are the target area in achieving millennium development goal, no study has been conducted to assess the knowledge of mothers on nutrition and associated factors during pregnancy in the study area. As a result, there is a lack of comprehensive information regarding nutritional knowledge and factors associated with it in the study area. Therefore, motivating the researcher to be involved in this research.

1.3 Research Question

1.3.1 Main Research Question

What knowledge do Mothers have on the importance of good nutrition in pregnancy in Limbe District Hospital?

1.3.2 Specific Research Questions

The specific research of this study would be;

1. What knowledge do mothers have on adequate nutrition during pregnancy in District Hospital Limbe?
2. What knowledge do mother have on components of adequate nutrition during pregnancy in District Hospital Limbe?
3. What are the challenges mothers faced in implementing adequate nutrition during pregnancy in District Hospital Limbe?

1.4 The objective of the Study

1.4.1 Main objective

The main objective of the study is to assess Mother’s knowledge on the importance of good nutrition in pregnancy in Limbe District Hospital

1.4.2 Specific Objectives

1. To assess knowledge on adequate nutrition during pregnancy in Limbe District Hospital
2. To assess mothers’ knowledge on the component of adequate nutrition during pregnancy in Limbe District Hospital
3. To assess the challenges mother faced in implementing adequate nutrition during pregnancy in Limbe District Hospital