Assessment of Anthropometric Status and Dietary Pattern of Pregnant Women in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigerian.
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Date
2015-02
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Home Economics Council of Nigeria (HECON).
Abstract
Abstract
This study examines the anthropometric status and dietary pattern of pregnant women in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara state. The proportionate sampling technique was used to select one hundred respondents. A descriptive survey method was adopted using a four point Likert type questionnaire. Dietary data were obtained by means of a daily/weekly recall questionnaire (D/W/RQ). Each subject was required to report on all the foods consumed daily/weekly. Four objectives and four research questions guided the study with one hypothesis formulated. Data were statistically analyzed using percentages, mean score and standard deviation, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PMCC) was used to test the formulated hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The result revealed that 47.92% pregnant women were mostly between 5 and 5.5ft tall, while, 46.88% weighed 61 to 70kg; 62.5% of them took fruits and vegetables regularly. The result further revealed that the respondents understood
what nutrition and balance diet meant, were able to access balanced diet and monitored their nutritional status during pregnancy. It was also discovered that poverty has effect on ability to access adequate nutrition during pregnancy, which may be responsible for their irregular meals with 2.45 as the criterion mean. Result of PMCC revealed a significant (p<0.05) positive correlation between nutritional knowledge and dietary pattern (r= 326, p<0.05). Socioeconomic status also had significant correlation on the dietary pattern of respondents,(r=0.842, p<0.05). While, anthropometric status was positively correlated to dietary pattern (r=0.326; p<0.05). The study therefore, concludes that nutrition knowledge is an input to and foundation for better dietary pattern and anthropometric status of pregnant women. It was recommended that government should implement mechanisms to help provide adequate nutrition for pregnant women.
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Keywords
Nutrition knowledge,, Anthropometric status,, dietary pattern,, socio-economic status