ABSTRACT

Improper dietary practices of pregnant women have apparently led to increased rates of stillbirths, premature births, low-birth weight, maternal and prenatal deaths. This study assessed the dietary practice and restriction among pregnant women that attend Federal Medical Center Umuahia, Abia State. A cross sectional descriptive survey design was adopted. The population of the study include only pregnant women that attend antenatal clinic at Federal Medical Center Umuahia, Abia State. A random sampling technique was used to select 200 pregnant women that attend antenatal clinic at Federal Medical Center Umuahia, Abia State for the study. Data collection was done using a closed ended questionnaire. IBM Statistical package for service solution (SPSS version 21), software was used to analyse the data. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviation) was used. Significant difference was judged at p<0.05.Result showed that half (50%) of the respondents were between the age range of 25-31 years, some (35%) of them between 32-38 years while few (15%) of them were between 18-24 years of age. Majority (85%) of the respondents had tertiary education as their highest completed level of education while few (15%) of them had secondary education as their highest completed level of education. many (65%) of them were civil/public servants, some (25%) of them were traders/business women. Less than half (40%) of the respondents earned a monthly income ranging from N 30, 999 – N 50, 000. More than half (55%) of the respondents do not skip meals while many (45%) of them still did skip meals. Lunch was the major meal skipped by some (40%) of the respondents while dinner and lunch were skipped by few (5%) of the respondents. Formed habit was the reason given by some (25%) of the respondents who skipped meals while lack of time was the reason given by few (20%) of them. Many (60%) of the respondents consumed in-between meals sometimes, some (20%) of them always consume in-between meals while few (5%) of the respondents never consume in-between meals. Majority (85.5%) of the respondents restrict some foods while few (14.5%) of them do not restrict some foods. Less than half (45%) of those who restricted or avoided some foods gave health as reason for avoiding or restricting them while some (20%) of those who restrict or avoid some foods gave culture as the reason for avoiding or restricting them. Among the foods restricted, many (60%) of the respondents restricted uda, 70% of them restricted alcohol, 60% restricted grasscutter, 70% restricted fatty meat while 55% restricted pica. The study concluded that although meal skipping and food avoidance and restrictions were prevalent, majority of those who restrict foods also skipped meals. Further recommended nutrition-related health education interventions.