ABSTRACT

This study assessed the food consumption pattern and micronutrient intake of pregnant women in Aba South Local Government Area ol Abia State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study are to: assess the personal and socio-economic characteristics of the women; evaluation of dietary intake of pregnant women using 24 hour dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire; identify the risk of nutritional inadequacy among pregnant women using questionnaire; and to determine the food consumption pattern and micronutrient intake of pregnant women. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistIcs using SPSS version 22.0. The preserit study shows that 23.7% of the respondents consumed rich food sources of vitamin A and result revealed that 51.2%, 51.7%, and 55.1% of the respondents consumed rich food sources of Folate, Iron and Zinc respectively weekly. Many (42.5% and 42.5%) of the respondent consumed rich food source of Vitamin. B12 and Vitamin D weekly respectively. The study revealed an improvement in dietary intake during pregnancy and (18.4%) consumed flour based snacks and pastries weekly. The study concludes that nutrition education and counseling given during each antenatal visit should be intensified especially for uneducated pregnant women. The study recommends that Food based interventions aimed at increasing production, availability and access to vitamin A, vitamin andiron rich foods through promotion of home production, nutrition education, communication and behavioral change programmes should be encouraged. Nutrition education programs and interventions should be designed to improve knowledge of food and nutrition as well as to enhance food consumption pattern. This program could increase the awareness of health in order to prepare women for better or appropriate health during pregnancy.