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Dietary intake knowledge and reasons for food restriction during pregnancy among pregnant women attending primary health care centers in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

3.2 Dietary Knowledge of Respondents

Respondents’ level of knowledge relating to dietary intake in pregnancy is shown in Figure 1. Par-
ticipants had a mean knowledge score of 23.6 ± 4.2 years and about three-quarter (75.5%) of them
had good knowledge of dietary intake during pregnancy. Respondents with fair and poor knowledge
of dietary intake were 21.5% and 3.0%, respectively.

Figure 1. Dietary intake knowledge of respondents during pregnancy
Note: Mean knowledge score = 23.6 ± 4.2.

The proportions of respondents with correct responses about statements relating to food issues
during pregnancy are presented in Table 2. Majority (88.3%) of the respondents were knowledgeable
about the fact that food intake is supposed to increase during pregnancy. Almost three-quarter
(73.4%) of the respondents understood that there is a need to take more protein during pregnancy.
Nearly all (96.2%) respondents had the knowledge that food rich in proteins such as beef, fish, egg,
and beans are essential for body growth and repair. Majority (88.5%) of the respondents were know-
ledgeable about the fact that food rich in fat and oil such as palm oil, groundnut oil, butter, and mar-
garine are essential for tissues and organ protection. A large proportion of the respondents (87.7%)
had a good understanding that food rich in vitamins and minerals such as fruits and vegetables are
essential for good health. Many (44.7%) respondents incorrectly mentioned specifically that carbo-
hydrate should be taken more during pregnancy. Slightly above one-third (36.0%) of the respondents
mentioned specifically that there is a need to take more minerals and vitamins during pregnancy.
Only 28.9% of the respondents mentioned fats and oil as a type of essential food that should be taken
during pregnancy.

Table 2. Proportion with correct responses about statements relating to food issues during pregnancy
Statement No. responded % correct
Food intake is supposed to increase during pregnancy 468 88.3
There is a need to take more protein during pregnancy 389 73.4
Food rich in proteins such as beef, fish, egg, and beans are essential for body growth and repair 510 96.2
Food rich in fat and oil such as palm oil, groundnut oil, butter, margarine are essential for tissues and organ protection 469 88.5
Food rich in vitamin and minerals such as fruits and vegetables are essential for good health 465 87.7
Carbohydrate should be taken more during pregnancy 293 55.3
There is a need to take more minerals and vitamins during pregnancy 191 36.0
Food rich in fat and oil such as palm oil, groundnut oil, butter, margarine are essential during pregnancy for tissue 153 28.9
and organ protection, and conservation of body heat

108 International Journal of Population Studies | 2016, Volume 2, Issue 1