KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES ON PROPER NUTRITION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CARE CLINIC AT SOROTI REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL, SOROTI CITY. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71020/jwhr.v2i3.30Keywords:
Knowledge and Practices, Proper Nutrition, Pregnant Women, Antenatal Care Clinic, Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, Soroti CityAbstract
Background
There has been an increase in malnutrition among pregnant women attending the Antenatal Care Clinic at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital (SRRH). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of these women regarding proper nutrition.
Methodology
The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design that included quantitative data. A simple random sampling method obtained a sample size of 35. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The results were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program version sixteen (16), and findings were presented in the form of tables, graphs, and pie charts.
Results
35 respondents participated in this study, most of the respondents were between the ages of 26-35 years while a minority 2.9% were aged 45 and above, 57.1% were married 28.6% were single, 51.4% were Catholics and 5.7% were Muslim, the study revealed that 71.4% of the respondents knew about proper nutrition, 51.4% relied on healthcare for information. 57.1% reported that food should be kept in granaries/stores for a healthy pregnancy, and 51.4% took folic acid as a prenatal supplement.
Conclusion
Although the respondents knew about proper nutrition, they had fair practices on adequate nutrition.
Recommendation
The Ugandan government should train healthcare workers on nutrition counseling and support and integrate nutrition services into primary healthcare.
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