Pages: (41-50 )
Abstract
Background: Maternal nutrition plays a critical role in pregnancy outcomes and child development. In Nigeria, inadequate knowledge and poor dietary practices among pregnant women remain public health concerns. This study assessed the level of knowledge, perception, and practices of maternal nutrition among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State. It aimed to evaluate how well pregnant women in the area understand maternal nutrition, their perceptions of its importance during pregnancy, and the extent to which they engage in appropriate nutritional practices. Methods: Primary and secondary data were sourced for the study. Primary data were collected by administering questionnaire. The sample size of 146 from the study population of 200 encompass pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State. Secondary data were obtained from relevant textbooks, academic journals, newspapers & magazines and the Internet. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected in the course of the study. Results: The findings revealed a high level of nutritional awareness among the respondents. All participants (100%) acknowledged the importance of a balanced diet, hydration, and prenatal care classes. Additionally, 98.6% agreed that protein is essential for fetal development, 93.2% believed maternal diet affects fetal brain development, and 90.4% understood the dangers of consuming raw or undercooked meat. A significant 87.0% believed a healthy diet could prevent nutrition-related health problems, and 50.7% strongly agreed it could improve their baby's health. There was a statistically significant relationship between maternal nutrition knowledge and maternal nutrition practices (Sig = .001, p < 0.005). Conclusion: The study concluded that pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State, possess good knowledge of healthy nutrition and practice it extensively.
Keywords: Antenatal clinic, Knowledge, Maternal nutrition, Perception, Practices, Pregnant women,