KNOWLEDGE ON NUTRITION IN PREGNANCY AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC AT KISUMU COUNTY REFFERAL HOSPITAL, KISUMU COUNTY

Abstract

It is estimated that 41.8% of pregnant women worldwide and 57.1% of pregnant women in Africa have poor knowledge on nutrition in pregnancy. In Kenya knowledge on nutrition in pregnancy among pregnant women was 55.1% which is a severe public health problem based on the World Health Organization guidelines on nutrition during pregnancy. Despite interventions put in place there is no clear documentation on the proportion knowledge of nutrition in pregnancy hence the study sort to establish the factors influencing nutrition in pregnant women attending antenatal care at Kisumu County hospital, Kisumu County. The study was cross-sectional descriptive design. The sample for the study was 80 mothers and Questionnaires were used to collect primary data from the participants. Permission to carry out the study was sort from Uzima University ethical review committee and the from the health facility. Confidentiality was observed all throughout the study. Data was analysed using Excel Spread sheet (2013 version). Findings of the study indicated that women between age 18 -24 year were 25%, 44% women were between 25- 34years and 10% were above 42 years, majority of the women were employed. Regarding education level of the participants, 12(15%), 36(45%) and 24(30%) attended primary, secondary and tertiary education levels respectively. More than half of the mother (85%) had knowledge on nutrition in pregnancy while 15% had no information .70 % of mothers had all nutrients,20% one or two nutrients and 12% unsure. On conclusion, study revealed that lack of knowledge in pregnancy is caused by many factors, including, lack of formal employment and economic autonomy, lack of formal education, poor nutritional status and not taking iron and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy. On recommendation, Reproductive advice and education should be given to all reproductive-age women. There is a need for interventions such as mass media campaigns, outreach education, life skill programs to educate women on the importance of early antenatal clinic booking and compliance with the use of prescribed medications, consumption of more diversified extra meal and iron-rich foods during pregnancy than usual.