Nutritional Knowledge and Practices Among the Expectant Mothers in Rural Area
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The main purpose of this study was to: determine the nutritional knowledge and practices among expectant mothers in Onitsha north and south local Government Area of Anambra State. The specific purposes were:-
- Ascertain the level of nutritional knowledge possessed by the expectant mothers in Onitsha North and South Local Government of Anambra State.
- Determine the level of nutritional practices, of those expectant mothers of study.
- Ascertain the relationship between the nutritional knowledge of these expectant mothers’ and those of their practices.
- Ascertain the nutritional knowledge of the subjects of study based on their level of education, age and parity.
- Determine the nutritional practice of the subjects of study based on their level of education, age and parity.
- Determine the relationship between the nutritional knowledge and practices of the subjects of study in relation to their education.
- Determine the relationship between the nutritional knowledge and practices of the subjects of study in relation to age.
- Determine the relationship between the nutritional knowledge and practices of the subjects of study in relation to parity.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Concept of Nutrition and adequate nutrition.
Nutrition according to Levy, Digman and Shirrefs (1984), Danatelle and Davis (1998) and Okafor (2002), means the study of food and the process of receiving nourishment from the food we eat after digestion and metabolism. According to them, the body needs food to build new tissues and to repair tissues that wear out as a result of hard work or play. They added that it serves as fuel, gives us energy to work and play and keep our bodies warm. People’s physical and mental development and their capacity to learn, work and play their roles in society are wholly dependent on nutrition (Levy et al 1984) Williams (1981) explained that nourishing foods helps organisms to sustain physical life such as in breathing, working, resting, plying and sleeping. But because human beings are much more than mere biological organisms, according to Williams, food had many meanings to them other than simply physical substance. However, he maintained that sustenance could be fully obtainable when nutrition was adequate. The world book encyclopedia (WBE) on health (1966) explained further that well nourished persons have strong bones, muscles, teeth and healthy skin and blood.According to WBE, they felt good, had enough for their activities and appear radiant and vigorous. Also, the food and agricultural organization (FAO, 1992) address to the international conference on nutrition (FAO, 1992) states that people’s health, their physical and mental development and their capacity to learn, work and play their roles in the society were wholly dependent on good nutrition. On the other hand, according to WBE, poor nutrition commonly called malnutrition result when a person eats too little, food or the wrong kinds of food. Schroeder (2008) further explained that malnutrition is caused by a deficiency in the intake of nutrients by the cells of the body and was usually triggered by a combination of two factors namely; and also by frequent infections. All those according to the author, lead to deficiency disease attacks like children growing slowly or not at all they (children) may develop bowed bone and enlarge joints, dry/flaky and rough skin, may have decayed teeth, inflamed eyes and dry hair. According to Schroeder, they were likely to be anaemic tried and listless, and may even suffer nervous disorders. Makinde (1980) observed that in Nigeria, the average child has been assessed to start life at nutritional disadvantaged problems of developing countries that are compounded by high rate of population growth corresponding increases in food production and as a result there has been high incidence of malnutrition. Danjuma (1987) expressed that the most affected groups are pregnant women, lactating mothers and pre-school children. Makinde (1980) further stressed that the quality of the child’s nutrition during pregnancy and lactation was directly related to the nutritional status of the mother. Also, they stated that if at these periods the mother did not feed well, the child would also be malnourished. Makinde (1980) observed that in Nigeria, the average child has been assessed to start life at nutritional disadvantaged state. According to him malnutrition is one of the most devastating problems of developing countries that are compounded by high rate of population growth without corresponding increase in food production and as a result there has been high incidence of malnutrition. Danjuma (1987) expressed that the most affected groups are pregnant women, lactating mothers and pre-school children. Makinde (1980) further stressed that the quality of the child’s nutrition during pregnancy and location was directly related to the nutritional status of the mother. Also, he stated that if at these periods the mother did not feed well, the child would also the malnourished. Makinde (1980) observed that malnutrition affected the child’s mental and physical development, made him have weal immunity and as such, felt as victims of infections.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to nutritional knowledge and practices among the expectant mothers in rural area
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information on nutritional knowledge and practices among the expectant mothers in rural area. 200 selected married women in Onitsha North and South Local Government of Anambra State was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain nutritional knowledge and practices among the expectant mothers in rural area. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of nutritional knowledge and practices among the expectant mothers in rural area
Summary
This study was on nutritional knowledge and practices among the expectant mothers in rural area. Eight objectives were raised which included: Ascertain the level of nutritional knowledge possessed by the expectant mothers in Onitsha North and South Local Government of Anambra State, determine the level of nutritional practices, of those expectant mothers of study, ascertain the relationship between the nutritional knowledge of these expectant mothers’ and those of their practices, ascertain the nutritional knowledge of the subjects of study based on their level of education, age and parity, determine the nutritional practice of the subjects of study based on their level of education, age and parity, determine the relationship between the nutritional knowledge and practices of the subjects of study in relation to their education, determine the relationship between the nutritional knowledge and practices of the subjects of study in relation to age and determine the relationship between the nutritional knowledge and practices of the subjects of study in relation to parity. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 women in Onitsha North and South Local Government Areas of Anambra State. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made pregnant women, elderly women, students and nurses were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
The following conclusions were drawn: Knowledge does not definitely imply practice. Some mothers possessed knowledge of their nutritional needs and the sources of food items yet, did not include them in their diet always. Generally, educational qualification, age and parity significantly influenced the expectant mothers’ knowledge and practices of nutrition. The Knowledge and practices of nutrition between those that attended only secondary and those with tertiary education was not significantly different. The knowledge and practices of nutrition between the expectant mothers that were ages 15-21 and 34 years and above were not significantly different.
Recommendation
The system of health talk on nutrition in all hospitals (both mission and private) in Onitsha North and South should be revised. It should cover deeply the actual nutritional needs as it relocates to pregnancy outcome bearing in mind and emphasizing that every expectant mother has a very significant role to play in making sure that her pregnancy is successful and that she remains healthy after birth. Health educators and nutritionists should be invited to give health talks to pregnant women. The job should not be left alone for the nurses. The educators should put into consideration those nutritional food substances which were poorly taken by the expectant mothers. The methods of preparing some local foods that are nutritionally rich and readily available should be explained. They should be taught how to prepare a good food menu, which will include nutritious foodstuffs that they hardly take notice of or the ones they ignore because of superstition. Food substances that supply B vitamin and folic acids should not substitute for their intakes.
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