Assessment Of Nutritional Attitude Of Pregnant And Lactating Mothers In The First 1000 Days Of Life In Different Antenatal And Post-Natal Centers In Ikwuano L.G.A. Abia State.:- Chibo, Ruth I

ABSTRACT A mother’s nutritional attitude and practices during the first 1,000 days of life can have a significant impact on a child's health and development. The first 1,000 days of life, from pregnancy to a child's second birthday, are a critical time for a child s growth and development. This study assessed the nutritional attitude ofmother s on the first 1000 days oflife in different antenatal and post-natal centers in Ikwuano L.G.A. Abia state. A cross sectional study design was adopted. The population comprised of all pregnant mothers in the selected antenatal and post-natal centres and sample size of 21o was used. In order to properly harness the study, the sociodemographic data ofthe mothers in different antenatal centers, nutritional attitude of mothers during pregnancy in different antenatal centers, nutritional attitude of mothers after birth (infant feeding practices) in different post-natal centers and maternal nutritional practices after birth in different post-natal centers in Ikwuano L.G.A. Abia state. The result indicated that the greater number ofthe respondents fall within the range of 18-22 years, (30.1%) followed by 23-27 years, (22.2%) and were able give account of nutritional attitudes ofmothers on their pre and post antenatal days. Majority of the mothers (74.1%) were from Igbo tribe and 55.6% were Christians. The greater number (45.4%) of the respondents have a household size of 1-3, 69.9% of the respondent live in rural areas and 39.8% have secondary education which affects the nutritional attitudes of both pregnant and lactating mothers in the first 1,000 days of life and child's growth and development. A total number of92.5% ofthe mothers had a positive attitude during pregnancy, 90.11% of the mothers had positive attitude during breastfeeding and 87.3% of the mothers had positive attitude during complementary feeding. The current study found that almost all mothers have good and adequate nutritional attitude towards complementary feeding practice. This study recommend that, intervention efforts to improve nutritional status ofpregnant and lactating mothers through nutrition and educational inputs should emphasize optimal nutritional practices and there is need for promotion of pregnant and lactating mothers’ health and nutrition as a strategy that will benefit child nutritional status. Moreover, it is suggested that improvements in the food grant program are needed to improve the condition oflow-income mothers.